by J Niessen
REDEMPTION SEED
By
J. Niessen
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Published By:
Redemption Seed
Copyright 2010, 2013 by J. Niessen
Cover Page by J’s Art Emporium, Copyright 2013
Thank you for downloading this eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the material remains in its complete original form.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and discover this collection of stories. Any questions, comments, or concerns regarding such material can be forwarded to [email protected]
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Author’s Note
This story would not have been possible without the leadership of two great gentlemen. It’s through the teachings and inspiration of Billy D. Edson, that this project came forth.
In addition I wish to thank Pastor Matt Sparks for his generous encouragement and support.
The following mission parameters are what set the influence for Redemption Seed:
“Write a story or an article centering on the lessons of Easter: new life, bereavement, rejoicing, sacrifice, atonement, the advent of spring with its manifestations…and no more than five pages.”
The progression of the story brought on new ideas. As its vision grew so did its page content. With each installment I sought for independence, providing individuality for each part.
After spending countless hours working on the rough drafts, storyline, the design of these three episodes, and the cover art, I can take in a relaxing deep breath of refreshing spring air, slowly exhale, and confidently state that the current assignment is complete.
This collection is one of several works I’ve written, as a student and instructor of a small-group creative writing class held at Highpoint Church, of Tierrasanta, CA from winter 2009-present.
I give thanks once again to these two great mentors, for taking the time to go over these manuscripts, and for adding their helpful insight and suggestions. I greatly appreciate the hard work and the dedication you each have interjected in the midst of this endeavor. I will always value, and hope to exercise, the numerous lessons you have taught me.
--J. Niessen
Table of Contents:
Part 1: From a Seed
Part 2: The Chair
Part 3: Three Days of Hope
From a Seed
“You have to wake up,” Bill Redding says to his hospitalized wife.
As he holds her still hand he wonders whether the testimonies told by coma survivors are true. Is Madelyn able to comprehend what is going on around her?
“Bill,” the doctor tenderly announces to the man seated beside his wife. Bill turns and takes notice of the physician addressing him. Dr. Bradcliff’s suspicions are confirmed by examining the dark circles beneath the worried man’s eyes, and he politely finishes. “You should get some rest,” indicating that despite the unfortunate circumstances, Bill can no longer stay.
After placing a delicate kiss on his wife’s unresponsive cheek, Bill stifles the stinging grief threatening to stream from his eyes. He somberly nods to the doctor in passing, and makes his way to the second receiving room.
Bill and Madelyn would explain their bond as “Two hearts beating as one,” yet since her tragedy Bill has felt a dark emptiness consuming the hope to ever experience spousal affection.
“Please, Lord, I feel helpless, and I don’t want to lose her,” Bill despairingly prays aloud, falling to his knees before the cross on the wall, within the ward’s meager Chapel.
Each night the chaplain places a comforting hand on Bill’s shoulder, as the man is knelt in prayer. With each visit Bill avoids direct communication. Chaplain Jeremiah confides, “My brother and I grew up the best of friends, making it all the more difficult for me when he came back from his military tour shell-shocked, and in a comatose state.”
The thought of losing his wife stings bitterly. Bill struggles with his emotions. Looking up at the chaplain’s sympathetic ambiance, Bill wonders if Jeremiah was ever told, during his brother’s hospitalization, that the life-support-system would be shut down.
The chaplain’s other hand is cupped tightly closed. Then a voice from within Jeremiah’s head says to him, “You are to carry out your objective, Lt. Ronsen.”
Jeremiah calmly responds by sharing with Bill, “There is a way to be with your wife again.” Jeremiah opens his hand to reveal what appears to be an apple seed. “What I hold is a remarkable answer to prayer. This can bring loved ones out of their coma. It has been kept a medical secret because those who awake only have 40 days to live.”
Jeremiah’s words speak clearly, “Tonight is your only opportunity. Place this in your wife’s mouth if you hope to see her awake again.”
Bill stares up at the chaplain, speechless and shocked. This kernel yields redefining opportunity.
A hot tear streams down Bill’s face as he takes the tiny wonder from Jeremiah’s still palm. “Her passing will be painless,” the chaplain reassures Bill, inducing another tear to spill.
As he makes his way down the hallway Bill holds his breath with the object clenched in his fist. He anticipates Dr. Bradcliff stepping out from his wife’s room. If detected he will not be gently coaxed to leave--however the entire wing appears unoccupied by medical staff. Bill’s breaths are short and sporadic as he approaches Madelyn.
Standing over his wife Bill hesitates, before a moving image comes to mind of Madelyn beaming with joy. This kindles a desperate longing to share and relive newfound moments. He quickly slips the supposed medication into her mouth, expecting to hear a hysterical “Bill! What are you doing?” from behind him. A hot flash of fear pulses through his body as he realizes his wife could choke and suffocate, causing him to be found out and accused of attempted murder.
Bill forces open his wife’s mouth, finding that the seed is gone. With her breathing yet to falter, Bill exhales a lifting sigh of relief, and then kisses his wife’s still forehead before leaving.
The night is long as Bill returns focus on the digital clock, noting the time that’s passed since he last checked. There are no comforting retreats into sleep. His gut twists from burdening guilt.
Before leaving, Bill washes up, puts on a clean pressed outfit, and heads to the hospital.
“I apologize, Mr. Redding!” the receptionist frightfully exclaims, prompting Bill to nervously hurry by with multiple scenarios racing through his head.
“You must have just missed each other,” Dr. Nobel says to the frantic man. A sickening flutter curdles in Bill’s stomach from seeing a freshly-made, unoccupied bed, before an enthusiastic and destabilizing voice cries, “William!” Bill’s heart stops, then jumpstarts, as within seconds his adoring wife is in his arms, and saying to him through joyful sobs, “I’m so happy to see you, it was supposed to be a surprise,” followed by fervent kisses.
Eager to leave, Madelyn’s husband asks from beyond her shoulder, “Is there anything more, Doctor?” Looking up from the clipboard Dr. Nobel instructs, “Remember to come in for your checkups.” Madelyn turns to nod, then lets out another heartfelt sob while hugging Bill tightly.
The two leave holding one another close, as the chaplain watches from the back of the hallway.
Considering their final days together may b
e better enjoyed if Madelyn were unaware of her fate, Bill struggles with keeping the secret. Sitting his wife down, days after her recovery, he finally confesses the daunting insight.
With a tender smile she replies, “I know, dear. This will sound strange, but I can sense the change developing inside me. I’ve known since the moment you placed the cure into my mouth. Let’s not worry about tomorrow. I’m thankful for the time we have right now.”
As the date grows closer, Madelyn’s physical appearances change. The light blue veins beneath her skin become darker, and the pigment below her nails turns green. It’s as if the composition of her body were undergoing a metamorphosis.
“There’s so much more I wish we could have done,” Bill confesses from Madelyn’s hospital bedside. She places her branch-like hand onto his and whispers, “One day soon our hearts will beat as one.”
During their last days together, Bill regularly prayed for emotional strength. As Madelyn’s eyes close his willpower dissipates and a wave of sadness crashes over him. His nerves tremble as he presses his hands against his face and tries to muffle the cries. After spending a moment in mourning a desperate hope ignites that Jeremiah may have uplifting news.
Jeremiah is standing to the back of the humble sanctuary and greets Bill with a sympathetic smile. Bill desperately pleads, “Is there anything more we can