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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Don't Cut off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (without using the actual phrase or litera (02/14/08)
Phillip looked from the woman and small child standing in his doorway to the letter the uniformed stranger had placed in his hand. The handwriting looked like some mutated form of Karen’s handwriting, but the letters were cramped and shaking as if she had no strength.

“Dear Phillip,” he read, “The day you told me to leave, that you wanted a divorce and nothing would change your mind, I wanted to tell you I was pregnant. I was afraid you would just think it was a ploy to hang on to you.”

“You’re right,” he groaned inwardly. “I wasn’t listening to anything you said that night.”

As he continued reading, Phillip tried to fight the tears forming in his eyes until the pressure felt like an explosive force, and he felt the moisture flowing down his cheeks. “I knew you were angry with me,” the letter resumed, “but I did not understand why. I thought you must have found someone else, so I just left like you wanted. I had only wanted to bring you happiness, not pain.”

“Oh, Karen, I wasn’t angry with you. I was angry with my life. Everything seemed to be falling apart, and I took it out on you. I should have talked to you instead of yelling at you. I did think I had found a love interest at work, but I was so wrong.”

Phillip read the end of the letter through his tears. “This is your daughter, Phillip, and I have nowhere else to send her. Her name is Cherish Joy, and she brings joy to everyone she knows. I pray that you and your new love will take her and raise her with tenderness and affection.”

Phillip glanced down into the small face of his daughter, who peered back at him with Karen’s eyes perched on his round cheeks. Stealing a look around the woman holding the child’s hand, he held out hope Karen might be lurking in the background, waiting for him to read the letter before she came forward.

“Where is Karen? There was never really anyone but her. I never should have sent her away like that. I’ll make it up to her. Where is she, anyway?”

“Mr. Johnson, I’m sorry. Your wife passed away two months ago after losing her battle with breast cancer. She had no other living relatives, and her dying wish was for us to find her child’s father. You had moved several times, so it has taken us this long to find you.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
02/21/08
How sad!

I was a little bit confused throughout, thinking that the girl's mother was there with her, and I couldn't figure out why he was reading a letter when she was right there. But it all became clear at the end.

If only, indeed! Regrets are so painful...
Marlene Austin
02/21/08
You describe these tender emotions well. Good job. :)
Yvonne Blake 
02/22/08
Ohhhhh! So sad...
I liked how you told the story with a letter, good technique!
I would have liked more description of your characters.
Good writing. Keep it up
Seema Bagai
02/23/08
Creative format with using the letter to tell the story. Great job. Keep writing.
Celeste Ammirata
02/26/08
I like this story and its message. It bothers me, though, that his ex wife, when knowing she was dying, didn't try to get in touch with him. For her sake, his sake, and mostly for the little girl's sake.

Nice writing. :-)
Karin Beery
02/27/08
I enjoyed your story, but found it hard to follow. Perhaps designate the difference between the letter and his thoughts by itallicizing one. It'll make it easier for the reader to get through. Otherwise, it was well written.