Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Lifeguard (11/09/06)
-
TITLE: The Guardian | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kristie Derksen
11/13/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Angela lay in the hospital bed, exhausted, cradling her newborn baby to her chest, whispering an old nursery rhyme her mother used to sing to her.
“Don’t you dare sing that song to that- that- thing!” her mother insolently exclaimed. “It doesn’t deserve it.”
“But Mama…” she began.
“Not another word Angela! You’ve done quite enough. Why didn’t you get that abortion like I told you too?”
I watched as the young girl hung her head in shame. Her face contorted into a mask of regret.
***
After the parents left for the night, Angela went to where the nurse had left her child, and she carefully lifted her into her arms.
“Hey sweetie! Don’t worry, everything will be okay. I’ll take care of you. I promise.” Placing a soft kiss atop her head she set her baby down and returned to her bed for rest.
***
The morning light streamed onto her bed, warming her exhausted body. A smile creased her lips as she thought of the new gift in her life. Looking over to her daughter’s bed, she was alarmed to see it empty. Quickly calling the nurse, she asked her about it.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Don’t worry Miss. I’m sure someone has just taken her for some testing.”
***
Mrs. Leucs clutched the baby in her arms, the child screaming in confusion. None to gently she sped along, the child’s head bouncing around freely. Finding a box about the right size, she placed the child in it. Shivering, the innocent babe looked into the eyes of her betrayer, silent as a lamb ready for the slaughter.
“Don’t look at me like that. You ruined my daughter’s reputation. If you stay around, you’ll ruin her future too! I will not allow that to happen. No way, missy!” Folding the box shut, she trudged over to the hospital’s disposal area and placed her among the trash. Without looking back, she walked away.
***
I watched the horrific scene unfold, tears filling my eyes. The human mind is a hard thing to fathom. Selfish ambition pushing them to do the unthinkable. Ambling over to the silent box, I sat down beside it, noiselessly caressing its roughened shape. I whispered songs of happiness and love, sent prayers of salvation, all the while guarding that valuable box.
After a few days had passed. After the Leucs had returned home, with a compliant and depressed daughter. I still remained, guarding a most precious gift.
Until finally the day came when the garbage truck arrived. A man in a green jumper whistled as he threw each and every box and bag into the back of the truck, until there was only one small box remaining. The box containing the life I guarded. He lifted it into his strong arms, ready to toss it over, but something froze his arms in place.
I stood there resisting his strength, refusing to allow him to terminate the little life. Befuddled, he set the box back on the ground, staring at it, mystified. Curious, he folded back the folds of the box, to find a child barely conscious shivering and hungry, its lips blue from the cold. Grabbing the child from its cardboard prison, he whipped off his jacket, wrapped it around her frozen form and rushed into the hospital to get the help she needed.
***
I walked away, glad to have taken part in saving a life. With the knowledge that that baby angel was going to live. I set out on my next job, disappearing into the sunrise.
***
Some may call me their guardian angel. But I just do my job. I guard the lives of those who can’t necessarily take care of themselves. In that sense, I’m a guarder of life.
Your own personal life guard.
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.
I had a few problems with the logistics, though: hospitals have many security measures these days which would make the "kidnapping" impossible, and at any rate, they would have noticed the missing baby and brought in the police. And the "few days" timeline seems unlikely (even with a guardian angel).
These things could easily be fixed, and I'd encourage it; this story has lots of great potential.
Keep writing!