Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: NEWS (07/05/18)
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TITLE: The Good News | Previous Challenge Entry
By LeslieJean Anderson
07/12/18 -
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“What are you doing here?” she barked at the woman. “Visiting hours ended a long time ago.”
“I was just delivering some news to my little sister,” the woman growled. “Our mother has died, thanks to her stupid negligence.”
Rose pushed past her, and ran to the girl, whose heart monitor was fluctuating wildly. A doctor ran into the room, and together they worked to stabilize the comatose girl. Rose could see the woman standing in the hall, glowering at them as they worked.
“Doctor,” said Rose when the crisis had passed. “I think that woman in the hall said or did something to this girl to cause her heart to go into fibrillation. Sometimes comatose patients can hear what people are saying.”
“You finish up,” he said. “I’ll speak to her. She shouldn’t even be here at this hour.”
Walking out into the hall, the doctor approached the woman. “Are you a relative of Miss Williams?” he asked.
“I am her sister, and her closest living relative – now,” she replied coldly.
“And your reason for being here in the middle of the night?”
“To tell her she killed our mother, who was a passenger in the car she was driving.”
The doctor’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the woman. “The police report said it was an accident. Your sister is barely clinging to life, and you chose to deliver this devastating news when her own survival is so precarious? I think you are a danger to her recovery, and I should probably call security.”
“Don’t worry. I’m leaving,” the woman spat out. “I always knew the little brat would screw up our family. And now I have to plan my mother’s funeral.”
“You go do that,” the doctor stated flatly. “And I would advise against any further contact with my patient. We will locate another relative when she is released from this facility.”
Three weeks later, the girl’s eyes flew open. She looked around and saw Rose adjusting her IV bottle.
“I’m a murderer,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes. “Why are you helping me?”
Rose turned around and began gently stroking her hair. “No, no. Don’t say that. It was an accident, young lady. I read the police report. You were a new driver, but the police did not cite you in any way.”
“But my sister said...”
“I know. We chased her out of your room weeks ago. She was very confused and probably in shock.”
The girl’s tears began to flow faster. “Is it true my mother...”
Rose stroked the arm that was not in a cast. “Sheila, your mother did pass away from her injuries. That much is true. But you almost died too. I am sure she would have wanted you to survive.”
The girl turned her face to the wall as Rose administered some medication. Soon she was asleep again, and Rose returned to the nurse’s station where she picked up the phone.
“Please connect me to the staff pastor,” she said.
The next day Sheila had her first visit from Reverend Wright. He returned every day after that, bringing her flowers, cookies and spiritual pamphlets. His visits finally brought a smile to her face, and one day she began to talk about the accident.
“Reverend, what if I really did cause my mother’s death? Isn’t that a terrible sin? Won’t I go to hell for that?”
“Dear girl – even if you were guilty of some terrible negligence, there is a way to escape the punishment for it.”
“Really? How?”
“Simply confess your sins to the Son of God and promise to follow Him for the rest of your life.”
Sheila looked at him, incredulous. “Nobody ever told me that. Is that true?”
Reverend Wright nodded and showed her some scriptures in the Bible.
“We all make mistakes - we can’t help it because we can never be perfect. But Jesus was perfect, so He came to Earth to rescue us from the punishment we deserve.”
“Now that’s the best news I've ever heard! I want that!”
So in that very hour Reverend Wright led Sheila in the prayer and the promise that gave her a brand-new life in Christ.
750 words This is a work of fiction.
Scripture: John 3:16-18
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approach to a 'Good News' story made this a good read.
Congratulations.