Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TASTE (07/01/21)
-
TITLE: For bitter or for worse | Previous Challenge Entry
By Danja Cawood
07/03/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Wait your turn,” she yelled and shoved her elbow into the ribs of the heavyset man behind her. There was no way she’d be pushed aside after waiting in the queue for 46 hours straight.
The guards kept their fingers on their batons as the crowd thronged through the doors.
Kathlynn scanned the shop’s interior feverishly once inside. Large signs pointed to various aisles. Ambition, Love, Hope, Joy… they seemingly had it all.
Her desperation increased. Would she make it in time? People were literally shoving each other aside to get to the tiny vials.
Two women were fighting over a vial marked “Kindness”.
Kathlynn rolled her eyes at the irony. Personally, it was the last thing she wanted. It would hinder her goals.
She spied the word “Success” and rushed forward. Even at that exorbitant price, there was only one vial left. Kathlynn slyly put her foot out and the lady in front of her fell over it and onto a bin of marked-down vials labeled “Self-control”. They were clearly going out of fashion.
She stepped onto the lady to reach the Success vial and clutched it to her chest. She ran to escape the lady’s grasp and murderous threats. At the cashier, she hesitated for a brief moment. Should she really spend her and Tony’s life savings on this tiny vial? What if it didn’t work?
She took a deep breath. No, it did work, she reassured herself. The Dream Shop had thousands of positive reviews. The only catch was you could only buy one vial ever. It made you immune to all others, so you had to choose carefully.
Safely back in her car, she ripped the blister pack open with her teeth. The tough plastic bit into her hands, but she hardly noticed. She opened the vial and poured the contents down her throat. The astringent taste nauseated her, but she managed to clam her hand over her mouth. She forced herself to drink every gall bitter drop. The taste didn’t matter if the success was sweet.
She laid back against her seat. Finally, she’d have the success she dreamed of as a little girl. She would be able to travel overseas with Tony and the kids. No more scrimping and saving.
***
Kathlynn gazed out over the River Thames from her luxurious corner office. She bit her lip. An equity partner at a respected law firm was what she’d always wanted, wasn’t it? Then why did her life feel so miserable and meaningless? The endless flights and hotels. Her lonely apartment…
Her mind flitted to Tony and the familiar bitter taste nauseated her. If only she’d realized that this acerbic aftertaste would be a lifelong side-effect after taking that Success vial.
What was Tony doing tonight? Who was he with? What were the kids eating? She remembered how riotous mealtimes had been and smiled. Tony could conjure up amazing Italian cuisine. The way he lovingly smiled up at her when he said, “Bon appétit!” Loud conversations, laughing, impromptu singing.
It had irritated her then, especially if she had to work. But now the longing for them all consumed her.
She’d see the kids over the holidays, but it was different now. They were distant, distrustful and their eyes full of blame.
Kathlynn shook her head. It never helped to think about them. For this position some sacrifices were inevitable. The bitter taste spilled over from her mouth into every fiber of her being when a familiar question tormented her. “Was it worth it?”
A homeless man grinned at Kathlynn as she stepped out of the building.
“Revival meeting at Victory Chapel tonight,” he beamed. “Free joy for all who accept Jesus. Fully paid for by His blood. It changed me, ma’am. Look, I can’t stop smiling!”
His eyes seemed aglow with an inner light, but she smirked. If this toothless wretch clothed in tatters was the poster boy of this magnanimous joy, she wouldn’t have any. And to say that something as precious as joy could be dished out for free… laughable.
Her heart stirred unexpectedly with longing. If only she’d bought joy that day at the Dream Shop.
She pushed the longing aside. “No thanks,” she said loudly and got into her sports car. Since success had altered her taste buds she’d had no taste for churches whatsoever. For bitter or for worse, her bed was made…
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Well done.