Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: ENOUGH (01/07/21)
-
TITLE: Emancipation | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lorie Coffin
01/14/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The blackness of her quarters threatened to engulf her. The stench was overwhelming, an aberrant concoction of perspiration, smoke and refuse. The ceiling, smeared with soot like a dirty secret, loomed all too low. It haunted her even when she wasn’t there, in the nightmare. She wouldn’t stay long.
Alarm began to rise as she rifled through her garments in the fading light, flinging her gaudy, red dresses across the room in haste. She didn’t want to miss him. She peered around the crude bed and hoisted the coverlet. Nothing. Did someone abscond with it?
The inebriated debauchery going on just outside seemed to threaten her wellbeing now. How odd. Just a few days ago, this was normal life. Now, the unbearable odor of spilled spirits and human waste wafting into her open window was a stark reminder of her humiliation…and emancipation. She must hurry. But she could not depart without her most prized possession.
Compelled as if by an unseen hand and a greater purpose, the woman persevered in her search for the treasured chest. Many minutes passed and her anxiety grew as every hiding place turned up hollow.
Discouraged, she sat down on the filthy bed to think about where she had hidden it and reached for the implement to light the oil lantern. The wick caught and a bothered rodent scurried at once across the dirt floor as if to escape it’s revealing. Darkness receded like the dawn at the brilliance of the lamp but the gloom of the brothel could not be quenched.
The single bed, laid out for its purpose, took the space under the tiny window. A small table, some clothing, a few coins scattered on the floor. Not much else.
Then, she spotted it, up high in the corner. A small ledge and on it, her beautiful box. She rose from the bed excitedly and her long legs carried her to where it lay. She’d never been so happy to see anything in all her life.
Bringing it down carefully, she opened it and glanced inside. Its contents intact, she concealed it in her cloak for the journey. It would take some time to get to the other side of town, especially considering the harassment she knew would confront her along the way. It always did so why would tonight be any different. Would they be able to tell she had changed?
Stepping out into the cool night air, she walked briskly, head down, brushing past the drunkards and the regulars without looking up or responding to their whistles. They pinched her and pressed into her as she moved on ahead. Obviously, they couldn’t tell it was over, that she’d had enough. Steadily and with increased confidence and determination, she strode on, drawing ever more closely to the house where she had heard her emancipator would be dining this evening.
Upon entering the house, a horrified gasp released from the mouths of those inside. The priests and teachers of the law, reclined around the table with the one her heart loved, rose to confront her and escort her out. Spying Him, her eyes filled with moisture as she ran towards Him, shaking off her tormentors along with her shame. He was beaming and she sensed her gift would be welcome, just as she was the other night when He spoke wonderful words of love and forgiveness to her.
Collapsing on the still dusty feet of the one they called Jesus, her tears flowing freely like the river Jordan, she worshipped Him and blotted his feet with her long, flowing hair, oblivious to the scandal unfolding. She didn’t care what they said or what they screamed at her. She was here at His feet with her precious alabaster box, the lavish and expensive perfume inside betraying all the worldly proceeds of her sinful work. It was everything she had and she poured it upon Him with grateful abandon, the scent of sin now the scent of salvation, a beautiful aroma wafting up to heaven before God.
Luke 7:36-50
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 wasn't able to see anything that could improve what you have already written:)
I didn't realize until the end that it was a Bible story. It could have been a current story as that is a frequent current experience. I thought is was going to end as a story of a southern slave.
Keep writing. You're good at it.