Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Life (06/15/06)
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TITLE: A Season for Everything | Previous Challenge Entry
By Trina Courtenay
06/21/06 -
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Olivia sat in her patent leather chair and poured herself yet another vodka into the crystal tumblers she’d received from her husband for Christmas. Tired of being alone she yelled, “Father, are ya here?”
No response came so she continued with her drunken ramblings. “Hey, it’s me, Isinalot. A.K.A. Idrinktoescape. Remember me?” Olivia downed the rest of her poison. “Ah, most likely not, I’m not worth remembering. There’s no hope left for me and my so called life. I guess that’s what happens when you live for prosperity and not for You.”
She stumbled from her chair to the window, fell to the floor and whispered, “Hey God, do ya even love me anymore cause I don’t think Michael does?”
Autumn
In a heat of rage Mrs. Olivia Fortune spun the lid off the vodka flask she clinched in her hand to pour herself a much needed drink but instead of pouring her poison into the tumbler she smashed the tumbler against the bedroom wall and started to guzzle the burning liquid straight out of the bottle. As she reached the bottom, Olivia caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror causing her stomach to churn.
“Father,” she cried out, “Michael’s moved out. I’m a drunk and have no where to turn. I don’t think I can pull through this on my own; I have no inner strength left.”
Turning on the bathroom facet Olivia splashed her face with cold water. “Lord, help me. I need You more than ever. Please forgive me for not coming to You sooner.”
Winter
Liv came away from her weekly support group with a renewed sense of purposefulness. Her life had changed so much through the course of the last year. During the summer months she thought she found personal peace in a bottle of vodka. Autumn brought shorter days that darkened when Michael left causing Olivia to walk away from her self inflicting abuse and straight into the arms of her beloved Father. Winter prepared to bring forth new growth in the spring, stirring the same within her.
As Olivia walked up her porch she noticed a package in her mail box. With shaky hands she reached for it. Looking heavenward she mouthed, “Please, no Father. I still love him.”
Olivia tore open the envelope and revealed her worst nightmare, divorce papers. “Lord, why.” She cried out, “I have a new focus on life and had to go through so much to achieve it. Please don’t tell me all of this hard work has been for nothing.”
“Olivia.”
Quickly scanning her surroundings for the person who might have called her name she realized she was alone. Fearing she was now hearing voices she questioned, “Father?”
“Yes, it is I. My darling daughter do you not know by now life changes must be for thy self, for to do so for any other reason will have been done in vain.”
Exasperated she exclaimed, “But Lord, it did do it for myself, I just thought in the end if Michael was able to see the changes as well, he’d come back to me.”
“Patience child, there is a season for everything.”
Spring
From her office window Olivia noticed a florist van pull up in her driveway. Excitement caused butterflies to form in her stomach as she opened the door to a bouquet of long stemmed yellow roses. Reaching for the card she prayed they were from Michael.
“Father, Michael forgives me and he even signed the card, Your Husband.” Olivia fell to her knees, as she thanked the Lord for all He’d done, and had yet to do in her life.
Liv’s new grasp on life filled her heart with joy. She had finally found true fulfillment while she placed her trust in Him. She’d been given a second chance. As this new found knowledge set in Olivia could feel the Lords abundant love as it wrapped warmly around her heart gently reminding her she had a good life, one in which could was now proud to live.
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Interesting take on the topic - a year in the life. I really like how you broke it into seasons.
I think the character is quite believable, and the situation is all-too real. I guess my only critique is that given the tight word allowance, there's not really enough room to develop this in enough depth to do the plot justice. In the interest of saving words, you had to just tell us what was going on instead of taking the time (words) to let us experience it for ourselves.
But be encouraged! You've got a lot of good elements here: the emotional intensity, the message, the resolution. Keep it up, 'cause you're on the right track!