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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Flowers (10/03/05)
Iris woke with a start. “Where am I,” she thought. Confused, she desperately tried to recall how she got to wherever she was. Her dark, confining prison pressed in on all sides.

“The last thing I remember…hmmm…I was with mom.” Bits and pieces of her memory percolated to the surface of her mind. “We were home…what was she saying? …I remember, now! She said if I want to live, I must die first. Why would mom want me to die?”

Panic surged through her; Iris struggled against the weight holding her down as another memory flickered to life. “Someone took me from mom!” she gasped.

She didn’t see who had grabbed her. Her focus was her mom’s calm, confident voice. “Trust God Iris,” she had said. “He will never leave you no matter how bad things seem.”

An urgency to escape from her prison grew stronger by the hour. She continued to fight against the restraint that kept her still and felt it loosen ever so slightly with her efforts. “I have got to get out of here.”

Another scene wafted through her mind. She remembered the confusion she felt when her captor put her in that dark, quiet room and the feeling that an eternity had passed before he came back. But he did return; the one who had taken her from her home. A shudder coursed through her. Cold fingers of fear wrapped around her brain as the memories assailed her.

“Why did you let this happen to me God?” she cried as she continued to struggle to free herself. She was making some progress, but not fast enough for her liking.

“Oh God!” she cried as the reality of what happened to her surfaced to conscious thought. The memory of falling into a dark, black hole and then her captor pushing dirt on top of her was suffocating her. “Stop!” she had screamed. But he didn’t stop.

She relived the panic she had felt as she remembered her life ebbing from her body. Her last words, “God help me,” were muffled and unheard. Cold blackness surrounded her, then nothing, until just a little while ago when she woke up here. “Wherever here is,” she thought.

Her valiant struggle for freedom continued. Above her she could see a diffuse light and strained to move toward it. Her struggle wearied her but she was determined to get out of the prison that held her captive.

“God you promised never to leave me. If you are really out there, then please help me to freedom,” she grunted, as she struggled toward the light.

“I don’t understand why you let this happen to me. I don’t even understand what happened to me. I need answers!” Her angry prayer fueled by the realization that she was weakening.

Exhausted, Iris stopped. “God, I can’t do this by myself. I need your help and your strength to continue. Please help me,” she whispered.

A gentle peace warmed her thoughts. She started again along the path she hoped would lead to escape. Inch by inch Iris worked her way toward the light. Finally she broke through her prison walls. The sun’s warmth felt good on her tired body. She reached toward the sky.

Looking around she saw the one who took her from her home. There was no escape. He had seen her.

“Jenny,” he called to someone else. “Look, your flowers are finally sprouting!”

“Little Iris flower, I am so happy to see you,” said Jenny as she gently watered her. “Your beauty will brighten up this old flower box. I look forward to seeing your pretty, purple blossoms when you grow a little bigger.”


John 12:24 (New Living Translation)

The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone--a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels--a plentiful harvest of new lives.
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This article has been read 1198 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Beth Muehlhausen
10/10/05
I should have known! But you held me (a clueless captive) to the end. Personifying the iris worked!
Garnet Miller 
10/10/05
Nice. I kept reading hoping for the truth to be revealed and it was- in the form of an iris. Thank you for a touching story.
Lynda Lee Schab 
10/11/05
Very creative and clever entry! I guessed the flower perspective early on but loved how it played out.
Well done!
Blessings, Lynda
Suzanne R
10/11/05
Very clever. It took me a while to twig to the story line too. A good way of reinforcing that biblical truth. Well done!
Amy Michelle Wiley 
10/12/05
Whoa! I wasn't expecting that ending! :-) This one made me think--good job.
Linda Watson Owen
10/12/05
Great job! It took me a while too, and the realization of who your 'leading lady' is was delightful!!
Tammy Johnson
10/14/05
At first I was scared of another dark story - loved the end and the brightness. Very creative way of portraying "flower".
Cassie Memmer
10/16/05
You had me fooled to the end, even when the dirt was put upon her! LOL! This is good!
Deborah Porter 
10/18/05
Have to admit Jan, I was with Tammy there for a while thinking, "Oh my! This is a really dark entry." You did this so well that the twist wasn't obvious until we drew close to the end. That deserves a pat on the back all by itself.

But, you also did very well in the Flowers Challenge anyway - you actually ranked 7th in the Level 3 awards, and 13th overall (out of a total of 145 entries). So well done!

With love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)