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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Lock and Key (08/21/14)
Tubes, IVs, and cords, like tentacles, extended from Jessie's unresponsive body. The whoosh of the plunger pushing air into her comatose shell and the steady beeping of the heart monitor were the only noises Jessie's mother, Alice, could hear. Clasped tightly against her breast was a pink diary with the key inserted in the lock. “Should I...no...I...I need to know,” cried out Alice as she turned the key.

Christmas day, 2008, Jessie was elated at her gift, a diary. Turning thirteen, one month earlier, was a new responsibility. A teen age girl now, but safeguarded by a loving Christian family.

Dec. 25th, 2008 Hello diary, you are my new best friend. I am so happy to meet you. My life is wonderful and I can't wait 'till New Years Eve. I get to stay up with our church group and welcome in the new year.

Jessie's step had a spring to it; all she could talk about was the New Year's Eve party.

January 1st, 2009 “OMG, OMG! Billy sat by me at the New Year's Eve party. OMG, he kissed me on the cheek at midnight.

Every night as Alice would come into Jessie's room to kiss her goodnight, she would see Jessie writing in her diary. Alice was glad Jessie connected with the gift she had received, she said, “ You will one day look back at that diary and laugh, yes, and you will cry.”

Alice sat down next to Jessie and talked to her about her heart's diary. A gift from God to memorialize and store her soul's yearnings and desires. Then she told her a poem she had created:

Angels voices nestled safely at first exit from the womb

Only giggles and smiles would caress the bars of this tomb

Sweet laughter was God's plan while joyful days turned into years

Keys of purity and innocents barred sorrows and tears

Jessie's heart would change. Years passed and the devil enticed her to relinquish her keys.

August 5th, 2010 My parents don't understand me. I feel like I am in prison, “Don't do this. Don't do that.” I am sick of it.

Jessie became distant. Church activities lost their luster; and then she met a new friend.

Dec. 1st, 2013 I met a new girl, Alex. Weird! She has black hair, black nails, black lips. But oh so cool! She totally agrees with me about the prison parents put you in. She says God is a farce.

Jessie's world was turned upside down with drugs, sex, devil worship, and a suicide pact.

Alice would try one more time, she pleaded, “Jessie your heart's chambers lock away and accumulate secrets like impregnable vaults. It conceals your passions, your desires, and every one of your sins. Your secrets are as inaccessible as the whispers from the ocean's depths. It is your soul's treasure chest of good and of evil. God has the master key and one day He will unlock your heart's diary. One day all will be revealed.”

Beep, Beeep, Beeeeep, Beeeeeeeeep...Alice stroked her wayward child's hand as her life slipped into eternity, “Oh Lord she is yours now. I am so sorry that I failed you and her. I tried...oh... oh Lord I tried. I prayed, dear Lord, that I would guard her heart's lock and keys. I have failed!”

Alice wept for hours still clasping that diary. Her hand trembled as she opened it and read every word.

“Oh, dear Jesus,” she screamed, alarming the nurses who left while she mourned.

“What's wrong?”

Alice held up the diary. She began reading.

August 22, 2014 Mom was right. I am soooooo sorry that I had let the devil into my heart. I prayed tonight to God, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psa. 51:10 (KJV) I cried for hours. I love my Lord and am so sorry I disappointed him. I feel like a new born baby. I am going to tell Alex I am done with her and her ways. I love my family.

The next day Alex maliciously stuck Jessie with a needle filled with a fatal dose of heroin. So said the police report.

Alice took a pen, opened the diary and inscribed the following words on the last page:

August 25th, 2014 “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” Matt 5:8 (KJV)

She placed the key into the lock, never to be opened again.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Terry Atchison
08/28/14
I liked the little twists and turns. Strong story with a good message, but with a bittersweet ending for the mother.
Brenda Rice
08/28/14
Oh so touching, so chilling and then so miraculous.

Nicely done.
C D Swanson 
08/29/14
Wow---an amazing story that was sobering and jarring... Yet, the ending was inspiring and uplifting.

Excellent job with this piece.

God bless~
Toni Babcock 
08/31/14
I think you probably meant to use the word innocence in the phrase: Keys of purity and innocents
Thanks for sharing a moving story with important moral attached.