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pullingcandyHow To Say Goodbye
Published: 2012-03-05 18:53:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 21733; Favourites: 872; Downloads: 614
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Description Dear Unborn Child, Whom I Let Go;

When I was thirteen and four months old, and you were thirteen years younger, I decided to let you go. You squirmed in opposition beneath my ribcage, up against my pelvis, and I licked my lips and tried to smile while I leaned my forehead on the cool glass of the car, hellbound.

I remember sea weed insertion, dilation, cramps and bleeding. Orange smoothies from Dairy Queen that I threw up, and I hoped you were mingling in the remains of my summer day treat, so I could put this behind me. Pretend I was 'moving on'. I laid in the bathtub of a hotel room for six hours, trying to melt you away in scalding water from a rusty tap, yet you clung on, holding tightly to the walls of my pelvic region. Wiggling upwards, towards my throat. Past my teeth. You're trying to get out, but my family has decided you won't breathe when you're released from your bloody shackles; you may as well settle down now, sweet son, settle down.

The rest of this, to me, is a blur. There is a car ride, and protestors. I know you had finger nails, eyelids, heft and weight. I know how you were created. I am (was) just stupid, and I knew (thought) I was in love with a deviant, and a bastard, but after you are expelled I will go back to him. I think we both knew that. There is a chair, and an elderly woman, forceps, an injection. And after...there is a hazy forty-five minutes where I believe that I have died. Hope I have died. Realize I have not, and blink slowly under the glare of clinical lighting.

I caught a glimpse of you, my boy, before you were completely removed from this world; bloody chunks quiet and gleaming, no longer moving, no longer clawing your way up my windpipe to exit through the gaps in my teeth.

I don't know if I will miss you.

Antibiotics. My mother cried as she handed me the bulky package. I don't know if she cried for you, or for me, or for herself at my age. I will never know, I won't ever care. I don't even know why I remember that she asked me, after, if I was sure. I believe the proper question would have been are YOU sure, Mother. Are you sure the steps you've taken in your life that have brought us to this point were the ones you intended. Are you sure?

I remember you, small being, as I hold my daughter's hand, now. In a crowded mall, or sweeping dust bunnies from the floor in my kitchen. When my youngest wears blue, I wonder if she looks like you would have, and when my eldest stares at me in that unsettling way, that way only children know how to do, I believe that somewhere, somehow, you're staring at me like that too.

Always;
Your Mother
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Comments: 1187

Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to ??? [2012-04-13 04:12:33 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Owner

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:37:54 +0000 UTC]

I did. It does. It says so.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 04:44:08 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Owner

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:04:20 +0000 UTC]

I am sorry, but I won't be changing anything in the deviation. It is a finished piece of work. The day it has in the spotlight is almost over, though. My suggestion to you is to ignore those who are commenting back at you. This isn't worth it. It really isn't. It's alright that drama ensued - but it isn't worth retaliating over.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 05:07:25 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Owner

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:19:49 +0000 UTC]

Don't be sorry for having an opinion.
The only thing to be sorry about is for spamming other people with it. It's unfair to assume that people would want to hear about it after they have expressed their own.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 05:21:24 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Owner

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:23:00 +0000 UTC]

I understand that. I do.
Lashing out isn't going to solve anything though. It's the internet - you'll just get bullied back. It's not worth fighting over, even if you feel you must defend yourself. Be the bigger person.
I know what you asked of me, and you know what you asked of me, and we've both explained our sides, and we both understand. And that is all that matters in this case.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 05:26:21 +0000 UTC]

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:32:05 +0000 UTC]

If it makes you feel any better at all, if it had been an option, I would have considered adoption over any other. I felt maybe you should know that, in case you didn't come across any of my other previous replies. I'm not pro-abortion. You at least deserve that.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 05:34:01 +0000 UTC]

okay, thank you that means a lot. So you never wanted to get the abortion?

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:39:50 +0000 UTC]

I was 13. I was addicted to drugs. I was homeless. I was in an abusive relationship. What I wanted was to never have gotten pregnant in the first place - but things happened, I was ill informed, and I had a family that was one notch under the Devil's own. At least, my Grandmother was...it would have been better if I had had the baby and given it up for adoption, but there was something wrong with the fetus. I was, like I said, addicted to drugs - it was wrong. The baby would have been mentally retarded, or deformed.
I wish things had happened differently, though. I do know that.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 05:43:11 +0000 UTC]

ah okay, That actually makes me feel quite a bit better and makes me feel rather bad for some of the things I said.

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:45:20 +0000 UTC]

You should never apologize for yourself unless you're truly in the wrong. You weren't wrong; well, maybe the spamming was wrong. But your opinions aren't. They are part of what makes you you.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 05:48:00 +0000 UTC]

I know. I'm sorry for spamming. I assumed YOU wanted it, that you didn't think of any other way. I was unaware of all the drugs and such and how your parents made you.

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pullingcandy In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 05:49:48 +0000 UTC]

I realize that. Please don't be sorry any longer, though. It's truly just fine.

And of course you were, it wasn't in the story. That was a story for another time, another place.

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ikazon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:18:48 +0000 UTC]

I'd think that the first line would do that just fine, no? It's not exactly avoiding the point, by any means.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to ikazon [2012-04-13 04:24:09 +0000 UTC]

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ikazon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:28:36 +0000 UTC]

I'm not sure how that would make things better? In including that fact, it should make more clear to the reader how difficult of a situation it really was. When it comes to nonfiction, the truth is just as consequential as the story being told. All aspects of a good story serve a purpose.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to ikazon [2012-04-13 04:29:41 +0000 UTC]

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ikazon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:35:04 +0000 UTC]

I suspect that even if it had been presented the way you're suggesting here, it would have bothered you, simply based on how you're conversing with me, but I'll let that be.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to ikazon [2012-04-13 04:22:53 +0000 UTC]

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ikazon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:27:07 +0000 UTC]

Then that was your own fault for misreading. It says "unborn child" quite clearly in the first line. Beyond that, your personal opinion on abortion is irrelevant to the story and the events told within said story, which were and are more complicated than a simple yes or no decision. As such, if your intent in commenting on the work was merely to condemn the writer for what transpired, then I suggest you simply walk away from this story and leave it be.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to ikazon [2012-04-13 04:28:37 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Owner

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ikazon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:33:56 +0000 UTC]

Given that most readers found it on the Daily Deviations page, they'd be likely to see the first line before they saw the artist's comments. Regardless, I stand by my original point, that being that it's made clear in the first line of the work. I'm not attacking you in saying so, I'm just explaining.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to ikazon [2012-04-13 04:36:00 +0000 UTC]

Hidden by Owner

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 06:33:56 +0000 UTC]

Don't mean to be rude here or anything, but putting "THIS IS ABOUT ABORTION" in bold at the top of the story would honestly take away from it. Seriously, it wouldn't have as much depth and meaning if she did that. You are being very close-minded and sensitive if you demand this of her. Honestly, it was pretty obvious from the beginning, and if you had such a problem with it, you could have stopped reading it.

Honestly, this was more than likely hard for her to write, and demanding she add or take away from the story is very selfish of you. Just because you can't even handle the thought of an aborted child (I know it's hard to deal with but this is hardly the way to react) to the point where not mentioning the gender makes it easier on you, then you should just stop yelling about it.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 06:43:35 +0000 UTC]

Why are you coming to me with this? Me and here talked it out and figured everything out, I never DEMANDED anything of her. I just kindly asked if she could maybe put a better warning or caps or bold her current one. I demanded nothing of her, I never yelled at her, I yelled at no one until they attacked me. Reply to me with something rude like this again that has been settled long before you show up and I will gladly block you. Just keep in mind I kindly asked her, we talked about, she said no, I'm okay with that I was just asking if she could. I just wished to have other people like me avoid the sadness I had to go though. I did stop reading it thank you very much. How is it very selfish? Just cause I ASKED if she could do something? I never DEMANDED anything. So please just leave me the fuck alone. As for this comment it was to SOMEONE ELSE not her. This person ATTACKED me so I was merely saying.

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 06:50:26 +0000 UTC]

I don't know why you keep using the word "ATTACKED" No one attacked you. No one is insulting you. And in my opinion, you did demand, because you stated it several times in a very strong manor. And please do block me, looking at your profile actually made me angry. Hunger Games rules

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 16:40:48 +0000 UTC]

Frankly you kinda did. I don't get why people keep using the word DEMANDED when I simply asked and me and her talked it out. As well I don't care if you like the hunger games that's what you think and that is fine I personally don't like them, maybe if all the characters that died where female or the main character was a guy I'd like it more.

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 16:48:11 +0000 UTC]

You're opinion on things is quite ridiculous. Putting all of the abortion things aside, is the reason you don't like hunger games because a lot of people died? I'm very curious, but are you afraid of any kind of novel where an emotionally attached character dies? Like this unborn child, or Rue in the series? Why can't you handle boys dying, but can totally handle girls dying? I find it very interesting what's happening with your psyche here.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 16:53:18 +0000 UTC]

My opinion isn't any more ridiculous then yours or any other person in this world. No, I'm not. I couldn't give two fox when Rue died in the Hunger games, there are several books I've read where 'emotionally attached character died' And guess what? Didn't effect me, mostly cause they one either where only there for a second and died so I didn't or two they where female. Yes a unborn child dying, especially from you know what rather ticks me and makes me said. Perhaps it is because I very, very, very, very 99% of the time HATE female characters in books and could care less what happened to them, meanwhile I normally like every single male character to some extent.

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 18:53:56 +0000 UTC]

Are you a girl?

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 18:58:30 +0000 UTC]

no.

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 19:45:14 +0000 UTC]

That explains it.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 19:46:02 +0000 UTC]

that explains what?

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 20:28:50 +0000 UTC]

it would be pointless to try and explain it to you.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 20:41:13 +0000 UTC]

Well I wish to know what me being a guy freakin explains.

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 21:10:44 +0000 UTC]

The aborted baby being a girl would have been easier to handle. If it was only girls who died in Hunger Games you would have liked it, and would have liked it if the main character was male. You are obviously either sexist, or uncomfortable with your sexuality.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-13 21:13:14 +0000 UTC]

being a girl or genderless yes it would of. Maybe I am, dosen't really matter.

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the-pink-dragon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-14 02:34:46 +0000 UTC]

I suppose it doesn't matter, I just find it interesting.

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Toxic-Plasma666 In reply to the-pink-dragon [2012-04-14 02:35:42 +0000 UTC]

*shrugs* XD

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Feelin-free In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:47:50 +0000 UTC]

Just because you dont like it doesnt mean iits not worthy of a dd

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ikazon In reply to Toxic-Plasma666 [2012-04-13 04:43:59 +0000 UTC]

It got there because I featured it, and the reason for the feature is presented in the feature text. It isn't the writer's obligation to make readers read the work as it's presented. Beyond that, the writer has no obligation to give warnings for things that are presented upfront in the text. You feel that she ought to make changes, but by the same token, she's entirely entitled to feel otherwise, and I think that what you're considering to be a reasonable demand is less reasonable than you see it to be.

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TheCriticofInnocence In reply to ??? [2012-04-13 04:10:47 +0000 UTC]

Well...I'll admit, I'm on the other side of the debate, but it still is sad that you had to go through that.
It is a sad, raw, heart-wrenching piece... and a good goodbye to the child.

Transcendentally Perfect; and definitely worthy of a DD.

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pullingcandy In reply to TheCriticofInnocence [2012-04-13 05:05:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you.

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TheCriticofInnocence In reply to pullingcandy [2012-04-13 20:05:56 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome.

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HopeSwings777 In reply to ??? [2012-04-13 04:07:33 +0000 UTC]

Concise and haunting. This is entirely wonderful. You're courageous for writing and posting such private things.


Bravo. You deserved the DD.

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pullingcandy In reply to HopeSwings777 [2012-04-13 05:05:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much.

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lazulitehalcyon In reply to ??? [2012-04-13 04:05:02 +0000 UTC]

This was beautiful. Termination is never an easy decision. Some people seem to think that woman decide to have them with the same capriciousness we may choose a new outfit. It is always a difficult thing that stays with you for the rest of your life. You deserve compassion for your pain and respect for your life and what you've made of it.

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