Monday Minute Challenge

Here's my entry for the Monday Minute Challenge using the picture prompt. 295 words.

Even now, the mark on my palm haunted me, though it was only a symbol of my past. I despise the five letters imprinted on it.  When Luke rescued me from slavery, we ran to a safe place and never looked back. But the mark was still there. It constantly reminded me of who I was, who I feared to become again.

In our village, no one knows that I was a slave. It’s best that they don’t. For my first birthday with him, Luke gave him a pair of fingerless gloves. They cover the mark; yet my fingers are free to move about. I wear them all the time now. No one asks questions.

Expect our children.

They were born some time before we came to the village. Luke and I swore to tell them nothing the night our first daughter was born. It was too risky. My secret could be revealed. Slaves aren’t allowed to be kept in our village, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying.

Luke tells me not to fret. My masters are long gone. They will never bother me again. But I’ve heard rumors. Tales of masters invading free lands, catching their old slaves and taking their whole family with them. Every time I watch my children play, I think of this. They’re free. But freedom is fleeting.

So when they ask about my gloves, I smile and say I like the way it feels on my hands, smooth and warm. They giggle and ask for a pair. I will not tell them. Not now, at least. Because if I did explain anything and the wrong ears happened to hear it, everything they know will be ripped from them. Their peaceful lives, the laughter, the painless days… all gone.

Hope you like it!

 

Monday Minutes Challenge

Here's my entry for the Monday Minutes Challenge! I'm starting with the sentence: Everyone told me not to blame myself, but I knew, deep down, I could have prevented it. 181 words.

It wasn’t my fault.

Jenny told me so. And the doctors. Plus, Coral’s grandparents.  I wasn’t the one driving. It was pitch black out there, not to mention her lights had been going out. There was nothing I could have done.

Their assurance didn’t make me feel better. Even if I did believe it, I still would’ve felt hopeless, like I was being sucked into a black pit. My parents said it’ll be hard. The first days would be like this. But I will get better. Someday.

I should believe them when they told me I wasn’t to blame, that I would get better. After all, I always trusted them.  Before this, I hated being sad. Now that’s all I am. Just when I think I can convince myself that it wasn’t my fault, a voice inside reminds me of the truth. It’s three little words, yet it echoes in my mind.

“They don’t know.”

 Nothing matters once I hear that. Nothing ever will. Everyone told me not to blame myself, but I knew, deep down, I could have prevented it.

 

Thanks for reading!

In Christ,

Sarah

Monday Minutes Challenge

Here's my entry of Monday Minutes Challenge, using the dialogue: You have one chance to make your decision. What's it going to be?" (298 words)

At the sight of my friend attacking Colton, I freeze. Hayden was fierce, but she wasn’t unjust. As she kicked him, he cried out.

The blood running down his cheek pulls me into reality. I get up and tug at her. “Stop! He’s not what you think!”

“Get off me!” she scream, shoving me backward. “You don’t know who he is!”

I barely manage to keep my footing. Once again, I charge. “You’re insane!”

In a flash, her eyes bore into mine. “I’m insane? If you knew who he was, you wouldn’t protest!” She places her hand on the stone wall, breathing heavily. “Why do you care anyway?

“I—”

Her voice softens. “We’ll talk about this later. Let’s get out of here before they come.”

I look in Colton’s direction. He shakes in his corner, meeting my gaze. The blood is drying now, making a stain on his pale face.

I can’t hear his voice, just read his lips. “It’s okay. Just go.”

“Prescott! Get over here! We’re leaving, remember?” Now at the doorway, she stomps her foot and points to the exit.

“We have to take him,” I insist. “You don’t know what they’re doing to him here.”

“Absolutely not.” She steps towards me.

He captures my attention once again. “I’m not leaving without him.”

Rough hands grab shoulders, forcing me to meet her gaze. “I risked my life to save you. Either you leave him or I’m leaving!”

 “But—”

"You have one chance to make your decision. What's it going to be?" she hollers. “They’re coming!”

 My head jerks backward, seeing him. I recall her words. No. She was wrong. I promised myself I’d save him. Right now, his scars and trembling hands pain me more than ever before.

“I’m not leaving without him.”

Hope you like it!

In Christ,

Sarah

Monday Minute Challenge

Today I'm starting my Monday Minute Challenge with this sentence prompt: What (s)he said next could have the power to change my life forever.  293 words.

In the lightless room, I wondered how it came to this. I felt stupid for trusting that woman. Maybe I should be used to being trapped, but that wasn't what worried me. The fact that I didn’t know if the person I cared about most was alive or not—that’s what haunted me.

But none of it seemed to matter once he walked in the dark room.

I hadn’t seen him since the night Mother died, the night he abandoned me. Resentment crept into my heart, but it was overcome by longing. Despite denial, I missed him.

His lips formed my name. The dim light from the door revealed his body’s outline. He had grown taller, more muscular. So much time had passed.

“Caleb,” I managed to whisper. “What… what are you doing here?”

His hands dropped to his sides. “I need to explain things.”

Before I could stop them, questions rolled out from the tip of my tongue. “Who is she? Why does she want me?” By the time I stood up, my whispers had turned to yells. “What are you doing here?”

“Jacob, she’s my wife.”

As my anger against him became stronger, part of me wished the darkness would swallow me up. That way I could tell him how much pain he caused me.

He spoke up. “She’s been looking for you. She wants the rich inheritance from Father. That’s one of the reasons why she married me.”

At the thought of my brother marrying someone who wanted him for money, a sharp pain invaded my chest. Something else was wrong. “If she’s married to you, she doesn’t need me. You’re the oldest! You’ll get it, not me!”

What he said next had the power to change my life forever.

Monday Minutes Challenge

I'm a day late, but I'm still doing Monday Minutes Challenge. (Link) I'm doing the sentence prompt. I always knew this day would come—I just didn’t expect for it to get here so soon. 298 words.

From the window, I watch her walking in the yard, just like I did when she was a girl. Bouncy brown curls. Smiling face. Everything about her appearance reminded me of Dominic. Not so much with her personality. She’s kind like him, but not as quiet. Deep down inside is my young, adventurous spirit. She’s grown up now. Her curls are straightened She doesn’t laugh as much.

Watching her brings back two words as they speak into my mind like an unwanted friend.

Tonight, Addison.

I always knew this day would come—I just didn’t expect for it to get here so soon. The night where Dominic and I will have to tell her everything. None of our children know of the happenings before they were born, when he and I was a young couple. Like kids, in fact. Kids who only found peace in each other, while their world was a cruel place.

If I had to chose, I would never tell our daughter about it. Hide it forever. I promised Dominic and I’ll never break another promise to him.

Why am I so afraid? She’s almost seventeen now. Something tells me it’s because I didn’t know anything about it until I was a few years older, but I know the truth. Ideas will come to her. Even though our story is terrible, it won’t stop her. She’ll want to know more. That’s something she didn’t inherit from Dominic. Her recklessness. Already she knows that we’re not normal, that something was going on when we met.

Tonight we will unlock the dark door to our past. I would think if we told her every pain we felt, she would stay away. But hardly anyone truly understands all we went through.

Footsteps enter the kitchen. It’s time.

In Christ,
Sarah

 

Monday Minutes Challenge

For this week's Monday Minute Challenge (link), I'm using the sentence: I'd told myself I would never come back here again ... yet here I am.

I'd told myself I would never come back here again ... yet here I am. My eyes close and I’m back in her house. Our last conversation. The last day.

Why do I even bother?

I open my eyes. Mom says I shouldn’t live in past. Move on. Forgive. Usually, I can handle those things. With her, simple things are complicated.  Mom’s words come back to me. “Are you sure things are complicated? Or are you just making them complicated when they don’t have to be?”

Megan said I had trust issues. We called it quits. I wish I could leave it like that. Before I know it, I’m on her front porch again, staring at the door.

It hasn’t changed. On my left is a swing. That swing. Her laughter echoes in my mind, the happy days.

“Megan,” I call, knocking on the door.

There. I did it. Here we go again.

But a few seconds later, the silence is still there. I know she’s here. Her red car is in the driveway.

I hit the door again. Creak.

The door is cracked. Did she know I was coming? She couldn’t have. I know her. She wouldn’t leave the it cracked on accident.

If she catches me coming in without an invitation, she’ll know how much I miss her. That’s not what I wanted. I step into her house and remember to take off my shoes. The white carpet feels soft against my bare feet.

I listen for her footsteps in the kitchen. Nothing. In the living room, the color red sends my mind in a daze.

A circle shaped blood stain on the carpet. Other than that, the room looks normal. But something’s missing here.

Megan.

Hope you like it!

In Christ,
Sarah

Monday Minutes Challenge

During this week's Monday Minutes Challenge, I'm doing a prompt based on this picture. 285 words.
 
 

By the time I reach the top of the hill, I catch his red shirt disappearing out of my sight. “Oh, Darius Knight, you are in so much trouble!” I shout, even though he can’t hear me.

I kick a little rock and watch it roll. My parents are so thoughtless. Mom knew I just got back from the worst dance in my life, but she sent me here anyway. She would kill me if I come alone and the day would become worse.

Every step I take I almost stumble. This dress will be ruined when I go in that dark tunnel under the stone bridge. That didn’t sound too bad. Messing up this beautiful, blue dress would be the highlight of my day. That way I could throw it away. Never be reminded of that horrible dance.

The pollen blowing in the wind makes me sneeze in my black hair.  What is Darius thinking? He knows that the wanderers live under the bridge. Or used to. Rumors says that they left. Feet away from the entrance, the grassy ground turns to dirt and gravel.

I imagine what my ‘friends’ would say if they saw me here. The thought reminds me that I don’t care. “Darius, get over here if you know what’s good for you!” My echo startles me. I listen for his laugh, but I hear nothing. Usually, I hear the wanderers’ voices.

I bend over and place my hand on the brick frame. I’m in.  Despite the mud sticking to my dress, I stand. Darkness encases me. My mouth opens to say his name again. Words escape me when a hand clamps over my mouth. Something sharp pokes at my throat.

Monday Minutes Challenge

Monday Minutes Challenge. (Click on the link!) I'm writing a story based on this picture. 297 words.

My hand grasps tighter on the burlap fabric that keeps me from losing my balance. Drops of water wet my toes. I’m careful not to let the swing shake. The sunlight reflects off the lake, making me glad I pinned up my hair today. I hate it when it gets in my face.

“Elina!” his light voice calls. A rustling sound comes from the trees as he appears, pushing the branches out of his way.

“How’d you know I was here?”  My head turns and the swing moves slightly.

“You’re always here.” Aiden’s straight face spreads into a smile. He takes a step closer, letting his hood fall off his head.

I notice his brown hair that is now clearly seen without the hood. “You ought to stop wearing that. I’m surprised you’re not burning up.”

His smile fades before his eyes drop to the ground. “You know why I have to,” he whispers.

“No one cares about that now,” I insist. I make a point to stare at him until he looks at me.

“I do.” Our eyes meet. A feeling of guilt hardens my chest. I look back and pretend to make sure my dress isn’t in the lake.

“Well, I came here to tell you something.” He puts his foot in, causing a little splash.

The thought that still haunts me comes back. “Is this about your dad?” Please no, God, I pray silently.

“It’s not about anything Dad did,” he says immediately, not assuring me. “He told me yesterday.”

I scoot to the left of the swing. “What?”

 “We’re moving.”

A flood of thoughts entice me. Without thinking, I let go of the ropes.  My legs shoot up from under me. For a second, I feel nothing. Then water shoots from all directions.

Hope you like it!
In Christ,
Sarah

 

 

Monday Minutes Challenge

For this week's Monday Minutes Challenge, I'm continuing my story from the second time I entered the Challenge. Scroll below to read it. I'm using the phrase: "We will never be the same again" as dialogue.  210 words.

"We will never be the same again," I whisper. Our beloved childhood days were behind us. The days when we would race each other through the forest are only memories now. I remember those long walks to school, laughing with him, never thinking it would be more than it was.

He stands in front of me with eyes that were still blue. His smile was the same. That’s how I’ll never forget those days that made us who we are. I grasp the bonnet of flowers in my hand, but his face never leaves me gaze. The words of the pastor seem to be stuck in my head. Promise. Commitment. Until death.

If he wasn’t here, those words would scare me. Since we’re together, the words remind me that I’ll never have to let go till the end. Sure, things won’t be perfect, but they’ll be better than perfect because he’ll be with me through everything.

When we embrace, I whisper, “I’m never letting you get away again, Samuel Peters.”

He laughs softly in my ear. “Oh, Jessica, you don’t have to worry about that.” I wrap my arms around as we kiss.

Yes, we would never be the same.

And I would hate to be anything else.

Here's the old one:

Jessica carefully flipped the page on the photo album that she shared with her best friend. The picture of them together instantly captured her attention. Though it was only a few years ago, so much had changed between her and Sammy. The picture was a reminder of it.

“That’s a good picture of us,” Sammy said as his hand rested lightly on her shoulder. “It seems like that was a lifetime ago.”

She lifted her hand to turn the page, but stopped herself. “I think this was the last one we did.”

“Yeah, I think so,” he removed his hand to take a sip of his tea. “Well, I think I better go. I got a test tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she nodded, getting up and taking her cup to the sink. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

When she turned, he was already walking to the front door. “That sounds good. Bye.”

“Bye.” She wondered why he left so quickly while she put the cups in the dishwasher. Just as she was about to walk away, she looked at the photo album left on the table.

It was open on a new page, one she didn’t recognize. In the center was a more recent picture of her and Sammy along with a note. “Jessica, I know you’re the one for me because I know I won’t make you happy all the time. But I know without a doubt that you’ll never let go of me. I will do the same for you.  I promise you forever. By God’s grace, I’ll love you until the end.”

Before she could react, she noticed a little box left on the table. She grabbed it and ran to her widow. Happy to his headlights still in her driveway, she ran to meet him.

Hope you like it! Thanks! I want to thank Tessa and all the authors that help judge the contest. I really appreciate you guys. To find more prompts, click here.

 

In Christ,

Sarah

 

 

 

 

Monday Minutes Challenge

Here's my entry for this week's Monday Minutes Challenge. To enter and read everyone else's amazing entries, chick here.

I am doing the prompt based on this picture.

The sky darkens. Thoughts flood my head.  We’re not going to make it.

His voice keeps me going. “Run!” Just am I’m to look back, he grabs my hand. “Keep moving!”

I open my mouth to speak, to tell him that it’s hopeless. An eerie sound captures my attention. The sound of birds, familiar birds. It pounds in my ears. I realize the truth. It’s calling to me.

I pull away from him. That sound. I hate it, but I must go.  No one can stop me. I peer upward.  Black birds soar towards a black hole in the sky. They screech haunting sounds. I almost trip over my gown as I run. The grass withers. My red hair flies up in front of my face.

Drops of sweat wet forehead. I keep running. Even now, my old life has a tightened grip on me. I can’t escape them. Surrendering to the dark is all I can do to survive. My eyes lock on the black hole.

The grassy ground is now rough. I look straight ahead. I’m running towards the edge of the cliff.

The wind pushes against me. My bare feet stop at the edge. But I lose balance. My hand turns white at the sound of my own scream. Still, I grasp on to the rocky edge as I hang in the air.

There is no hope. No one will save me now. Jacob is gone. He’s smarter than to go after me. I need to fall now. This is my fate. To be controlled by the darkness, a darkness that is the end of me. Words come to me, his words. “Sometimes survival is not worth it in the end.”

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Minutes Challenge

Here's my entry for this week's Monday Minutes Challenge!

The one thing that was destroying me was the very thing I couldn’t seem to let go of. The room seems to spin. Pain shoots through my arm. Despite that, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She shoves me forward.  I shield my face with hands, knowing I can’t hurt her. Flashbacks capture my attention. She saved me. She loved me when no one else did. Now she was trying to kill me.

Before I can run, she grabs my wounded arm and thrusts me on the floor. All the hope that remained while she was like this is gone. My eyes close as I feel the weight of her body on my chest. I should stop breathing now, give up.

“Well, that didn’t take too long,” the sound of her voice makes my skin cringe.  “I actually thought it’d be more of a challenge.”

I can’t look her in the eyes. This is how the good guy feels when he’s betrayed by his best friend. The most horrible thing about this is that she didn’t betray me. This is my fault. I did this to her. Because of me, she’ll do the thing the real Addie hated the most. Killing the innocent. She will know no alternative.  There will be no escape from the evil inside of her.

Something pursues me to look into her eyes. “Don’t worry, Dominic. It won’t hurt that much.”  The voice that used to call me out of the darkness was now sharp and hateful. She raised the knife

No matter what the case, I believe somewhere inside, she was there.  I couldn’t die now. I couldn’t leave her like this. I’m the only person who can bring her back. My hand stretches out and grasps the knife in her hand.

To enter learn more about this awesome weekly prompt, click here.

Hope you like it!
In Christ,
Sarah

Monday Minute Challenge

Once again, I'm entering the Monday Minutes Challenge. If you want to find out more about it, or want to enter it yourself, click here. It's really fun so please check it out!

“This is not turning out the way I planned,” I whisper as I hear Jasmine’s perky laugh coming from the other side of the door. Why does he always make my plans fail? Maybe I should know that Isaac is unpredictable. I never thought he’d do anything like this!

Before I can mentally beat myself up, I hear footsteps coming from behind me. I turn around and Isaac meets my eyes. His straight face tells me it’s true.  He asked her out! Usually I have so many things blurt out, but he is the only one who leaves me at a loss for words.

“Audrey,” he says. He bobs his head to move his blonde bangs out of his face. “There’s something I need to tell—”

“Isaac!” Just the sound of her voice gives me goose-bumps. I have a second to move away before Jasmine runs into the room. Her dark eyes that are covered in mascara stare dreamily into his. She holds up a manicured finger. “I’m so glad to see you!”

Andrew, a.k.a, Mr. Heartthrob, walks in behind her. I give him my meanest ‘you failed’ stare. If anyone could have stopped the thing going between Jasmine and Isaac, it was Andrew. He’s wearing his muscle shirt. Any girl like Jasmine could have fallen for him. But no. Isaac had to ask her out last night. My plan failed.  You’d think the fact that I know the words to every Taylor Swift song could have helped.

“Did he tell you?” Jasmine says to me. “Isaac and I went to dinner last night.” Her blush-covered cheeks glow with excitement.

 Deep down inside, the hard truth bug is biting. This is my fault. My best friend is dating a girl who hates me. I should have told him.

I wrote this just for fun.

In Christ,
Sarah

Monday Minutes Challenge

I entered the Monday Minutes Challenge at the amazing blog Christ is Write. It's by a teen author named Tessa Emily Hall. She's has some really good writing advice and she does this contest every week. It's supposed to get your creative juices flowing and it's really fun. For more information, click here. This is my entry.

The noise woke me up right after I’d drifted off to sleep. A car door slam. For a second, a terrifying thought paralyzed me with fear. Oh, no, Lindsay, no. I rushed out of bed to my bedroom window, overlooking the gravel driveway. The wind seemed to pound in my ears as I ran out of my room. Every breath was precious to me because I felt like I was going to run out of them.

When I got outside, the bright headlights shined in my face. I waved my hands aimlessly in the air and screamed her name.
My sister got out of the car. Dad’s red jacket was too big for her shoulders. “Go back to bed, Kayla,” she ordered over the roar of the car engine.

“You can’t go,” I protest. I ran to her, ignoring the jagged rocks against my bare feet. “Don’t leave me here.”

Her eyes lowered to meet mine. “They like you more than me,” she said. “It’s best that I leave, best for both of us.”

The wet feeling of a tear made me choke down a sob. “I need you here, Lindsay. If you leave, what will happen to me?”

“You can’t rely on me. I can’t be with you forever.” In the light of the headlights, I saw her shoulders moving up and down in a frantic motion.

“Take me with you.” My voice cracked and I tried to hug her. “I don’t want to be without you.”

Her arms stretched around me for a moment before she pushed me away. “I’m sorry. I have to leave, Kayla. If they’re ever mean to you, call the social worker.” Again, I heard the abrupt sound that had woken me. I backed away as she drove down the dirt road.

I hope you like it! Make sure to check out her blog!
In Christ,
Sarah