Hello!

Thank you for submitting this piece for review for the MHWA review challenge.

I think you did a really great job with this piece, examining and explaining part of what it's like to be in an abusive relationship. You found a good balance of empowerment (I'm stronger than this, I know my worth) and despair (yet I can't figure out why I can't seem to quit).

A lot of pieces that I see cover this topic are too much to one side of that spectrum. It's good to be empowering, but it's also important to acknowledge that there is that strong, psychological component that keeps people from acting too much, too soon. On the other side of that, you don't want to glorify a relationship that's harmful. It's a difficult line to walk in prose covering this topic but you did a great job, especially in that ending.




It's hopeful, there's that familiar reluctance that keeps it realistic. What I like best about the piece is that it shows there's a process.

The only thing that I would have really liked to see would be a little more explanation in the Author's Note. The prompt really piqued my interest, and it would have been interesting to know if the prompt had been that song specifically or if you'd gotten to choose your own song? Maybe even just a link to the contest, so interested (nosy) parties like myself can go read up on that.

In terms of the piece though, it was perfect!

All the best,

Cat

















My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .