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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Hard and Soft (04/23/09)
Liz stood in the dark. There was enough light to bounce off the gold in the necklace she held in her hands. Tears fell down her cheeks as she remembered the night 42 years ago when her husband, Scott, had proposed. There wasn’t enough money for a ring. Scott’s father had added what money he had to Scott’s meager savings to purchase the necklace.

”The delicate flowers on this heart match your soft, gentle heart,” he told her that night.

Scott bought her several rings through the years, but the necklace was what she cherished. She remembered their two kids who had brought much joy to their lives.
There were so many happy memories that flooded her mind.

Liz put the necklace down and turned on the light.

Sitting on the edge of the bed she read and reread Scott’s note. “I’m leaving. I have found someone else. There is no need to talk.”

Just an unsigned note and everything was gone. “His heart is so hard,” she thought as she settled under the blankets into one of many restless, tearful nights.

Scott moved to another state disappearing out of the lives of his family. No one understood the cold, hard, distant response that blocked their attempts to communicate.

The family had no choice but to move on without him.

Liz had her faith. God rescued her soft heart. He dried her tears and gave her comfort, peace, and strength to get through her remaining years.

After Liz had passed, her daughter, Jenny, was going through her mom’s things and found the box with the necklace inside. She knew the story about the necklace.

One time her mom had put the necklace around her neck. “Jenny, isn’t it beautiful. Someday the necklace will be yours.”

Jenny touched the heart. Her eyes filled with tears but she wouldn’t let them fall. It didn’t matter now. They were both gone. Her heart felt free for the first time. She put the necklace back in the box.

“Hi, Sweetie, how’s it going?”

“Just fine,” she said as she tossed the small box into a storage container.

She turned and tightly hugged her husband.

“God, help our hearts remain soft in love and never grow hard,” she prayed.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Linda Payne
05/05/09
It is important to keep our hearts soft. I did find it a little awkward when you changed from Liz to Jenny. Perhaps it would have flowed smoother if the whole thing had been told from Jenny's POV.
Glenda Lagerstedt
05/06/09
Touching story and great point. Liked the prayer at the end.