Oh, Zach!
This isn't awful of you, but it is a loss for the rest of us who love reading your work.
I wish there were a way to work this out, like a "get one week free" pass or something. This seems to be Crazy Week for most of us - but for you most of all. I want to encourage you to stay in the contest, but I also know what it's like to be pulled in five directions at once and have to prioritize (and flights to China - yeah, that's kind of an unworkable deadline). For what it's worth, I had you picked for the final three.
You are a
phenomenal writer; every time I read anything you write, I'm always left wanting more. You have such a gift, and I hope you continue to use and develop it. You're so much better at 21 than I am at 38; I just know we'll see you in The New Yorker and winning all sorts of literary prizes. (Oh yeah, and bestseller, too - so you can live lavishly and not need a day job.)
Please keep in touch - I don't know how good Internet access is in China (five years ago, it was incredibly restricted, except in Hong Kong), but don't disappear on us.
Sarah
p.s. You're also damned cute, so don't put yourself down, okay?