May 3rd, 185-
My dear Lydia,
It feels as if ages have passed since I moved away from you, and oh! how my heart still aches with missing you. But God knows best, and I am sure that this will be a better job for Papa than the last one was. He is already busy building the new school for the neighborhood, and drawing out the plans for our new home. Right now we are renting a small house in the middle of town, but Papa has bought about 25 acres five miles out of town.
One night I dreamed a strange and awful dream. I dreamed that I died and my spirit stood at heaven's gates dressed in a filthy, ragged garment. As I stepped up to the throne of God, I looked down at myself and wondered how I came to be wearing such a disreputable gown. I looked up into God's face with a smile of self-righteousness, fully expecting (in my vanity) to hear the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
*Author's Note: This is the sequel to a book I wrote last year entitled "The Whispering Gallery." If anyone is desperate enough to read the first book, email me at thetravelingmagpie @ gmail. com and I'll send you a PDF copy of The Whispering Gallery, with the stipulation that you have to give me a bit of a critique. :D Enjoy, and as always, any questions, suggestions, or comments are welcome!*
This is my story for a challenge Laura made up. The story has to start with this sentence 'it had been raining all night.' And end with 'it had finally stopped raining.' So if you want. To do it that would be awesome. But anyways, here's mine.
“Sir Edward the Brave!” the page announced as the aforementioned person entered the throne room, bowing low. He was unquestionably an impressive person, with his armor and long sword hanging on his belt. The king rose and stepped forward.
“Welcome to our kingdom. Be sure that thou art welcome in our palace. I trust that thou understandest our reason for thy presence?”
“Yea, even so, your majesty. I have been told there was an enemy to fight. There is no enemy too large for me.”
Chapter Four
IT TOOK HIM THE REST OF THE DAY to get to the border of the hunting territory. He scavenged for berries and holly trees before dark and gorged down roasted squirrel. He made a bed out of fallen willow branches and a bed of mossy rocks. Cad thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep until his eyes gave away out of weariness.
Notes: I have been working on this for about two months. It's been a journey, and still I am not satisfied with this final draft. But I still feel like I should post this. I am asking that if you comment, to please, please give your most honest feedback. It may hurt, but it will build. I need advice on grammar, content, and mainly how to write more powerful short stories. I've put my heart and my soul into this story, and I have prayed and prayed on how to write this, because some parts were just - so - hard.
1. Summer Wine
My dreams still taste like summer and wine
Vivid flashes of sunsets and freedom
I looked out into the horizon and remembered
The words you whispered in my ear too many years ago
And I smiled.
2. On the Horizon
Vivid wild taste of freedom
Open my eyes to a never ending horizon
If this is what the future looks like
I can’t get there fast enough
3. Bliss
You make me forget
Who I am
And who I want to be
I’m someone else entirely
I think I might like it
A partly fictional re-telling of my ballet experience. This is "A Developing Passion" taken to the next level. Please critique and comment! God bless you. Megan
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The curtain wings enveloped her, smothering her guilt. “The Lord's Day is a day of rest to glorify God,” the pastor's words in the morning sermon echoed in Ernesha's mind. Of all the days someone could preach about the keeping the Sabbath holy! If Jesus came back right now…Ernesha gulped.