Suicide Note

by LilyJamey

Published January 31, 2009

Not my best ever, but I needed to post something with all these points! Just kidding. Please review!

My Dearest Mother,

I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you have to bear this. I truly am.

It’s not your fault, I want – no, need you to know that. It’s completely mine, and I'm to blame for not telling you, for not being a better daughter than I was. I guess I felt it was time to take matters into my own hands, time to relieve you of the burden dumped on you fourteen years ago. I hope you’ll be happier now, seeing as that’s one less mouth to feed. It’s hard to raise ten children on a single, meagre salary, isn’t it?

You don’t need an irresponsible girl who fails in almost everything. You don’t need a wheelchair-confined girl who either can’t or won’t do the merest task to help you. You don’t need a self-pitying girl who can’t draw, or sing, or even play to save her life. You don’t need me. I saw that.

You’re right. I was useless. I was hopeless. I knew it, and I knew that you knew it. Don’t you think I saw how you pent it up inside? I could always tell, whether I was going out for , supposedly, a stroll, or taking an unnecessary afternoon nap, I could tell that you were frustrated, that you wanted to break down after your day of work. That you were dying for a rest instead of the pile of house chores for your pains. You always saw through me. You always knew that I was just avoiding work. And yet, you kept mum.

It hurt. Maybe that’s why you did it – it hurt more than any yelling could. Or maybe you just knew that old habits die hard, and even if you did say a word, I wouldn’t change my ways.

Every night I’d sob myself to sleep, scolding myself, tearing myself apart, when the real one who should’ve been crying was you. You were so strong. You bore all. I never lifted a finger, yet I was so, so weak.

Remember the toys you bought me when I was little? Remember the pretty little teddy bear, the one I lost? I found it. It was in the drawer, under all the old photos.

If you see any tearstains there, I'm sorry. I couldn’t help it, especially when I saw the pictures of Dad with us. I wish Dad was still here. It doesn’t change anything, does it, this pointless wishing? They never come true. We would still be living in luxury if they did. We would be happy, we would be together.

I’ve made a wreck of my life. Irreversibly. There is no starting over; no “undo” button. That’s why I threw it away. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t undervalue life. I cherish it. But mine was beyond repair – there was no reforming possible for me.

It must’ve hurt to bring me into this world, but I hope it hurts less still to see me out. Grant me a few things, will you, please? A few whims of a worthless daughter. Donate my organs, if they are still whole. Sell everything of mine that can’t be used by Joanna, Daniel, Suzy or Angela. Keep my savings, which I left under my bed sheets.

And lastly: Be happy, because, though I didn’t show it, I love you.

Felicity.

Comments & reviews · 20
User avatar
Dreamwalker
Review
Dreamwalker wrote a review Review · Feb 19, 2009

After reading this through a couple times, I realised there really is no way I could morally critique this piece. It was very sad and emotional to read and I give you props for taking up such a heavy topic for one of your works, but I just cant find myself saying you wrote anything wrong. It's like spell checking a suicide note in a sense. You just cant do it.

So I'll just give my overall impression. I found it very believable. It ran well and it was very sad and emotional. It took on a very interesting vibe to, and you made your character sound so strong in a sense. I know if I was in her shoes, I would never have been able to give everything up so easily.

Some say they hate this life and fear it, but to be honest, the greatest fear is in death itself.

This was well done and again, I congradulate you on taking on such a hard and contraversial subject!

Random avatar
dapper Review
dapper wrote a review Review · Feb 16, 2009

This was very a good letter. Even though you were obviously very full of emotion when you wrote, you did not express enough of the characters full emotion.
Donate my organs, if they're still whole.
Where is Felicia feelings? She writes out all of her feelings in the beginning, but where is her feeling in her final requests?
Sell everything of mine that can’t be used by Joanna, Daniel, Suzy or Angela.
These examples prove that you did not put in enough feeling in the requests. Your piece of writing is good but it can improve. :lol:

User avatar
fluteluvr77
Review
fluteluvr77 wrote a review Review · Feb 15, 2009

Heyy,
I didn't have many nitpicks in this, but the few that I did are in caps in the quote

LilyJamey wrote:I hope you’ll be happier now, seeing as that’s one less mouth to feed. It’s hard to raise ten children on a single, meagre IT IS SPELLED AS MEAGER salary, isn’t it?

You don’t need an irresponsible girl who fails in almost everything. You don’t need a wheelchair-confined girl who either can’t or won’t do the merest task to help you. You don’t need a self-pitying girl who can’t draw, or sing, or even play to save her life. You don’t need me. I saw that.

You’re right. I was useless. I was hopeless. I knew it, and I knew that you knew it. Don’t you think I saw how you pent it up inside? I could always tell, whether I was going out for , supposedly, a stroll, or taking an unnecessary afternoon nap, I could tell that you were frustrated, that you wanted to break down after your day of work. That you were dying for a rest instead of the pile of house chores for your pains. You always saw through me. You always knew that I was just avoiding work. And yet, you kept mum.

It hurt. Maybe that’s why you did it – it hurt more than any yelling could. Or maybe you just knew that old habits die hard, and even if you did say a word, I wouldn’t change my ways.

Every night I’d sob myself to sleep, scolding myself, tearing myself apart, when the real one who should’ve been crying was you. You were so strong. You bore SHOULDN'T THERE BE AN IT HERE?all. I never lifted a finger, yet I was so, so weak.

Remember the toys you bought me when I was little? Remember the pretty little teddy bear, the one I lost? I found it. It was in the drawer, under all the old photos.

If you see any tearstains TEAR STAINS ARE 2 WORDS there, I'm sorry.


Wow, I'm really impressed with this! It was really emotional and something that I could imagine a girl writing. I couldn't find any other nitpicks that the other reviewers hadn't covered and I'm simply amazed! Oh, and I love that Felicity means happiness! The irony in that was the perfect ending to an amazing story! Gold Star for you!

fluteluvr77<3

User avatar
LilyJamey
Comment
LilyJamey commented Comment · Feb 13, 2009

Edited after much consideration.

Yay! A gold star!!
Actually, the note was supposed to include how her dad died and her uncle cut them off, but it sounded so corny I had to cut it off.

Thanks for the reviews!

User avatar
LlamaDuck
Comment
LlamaDuck commented Comment · Feb 12, 2009

I liked it, very emotional though i wish i knew a bit more about how they lost their life of luxury and where the dad was. Did he die? Did he go missing? Did he run away with someone else? Anyway that's just my opinion so feel free to ignore it.

How2EataRhesus wrote a review Review · Feb 7, 2009

This actually brought tears to my eyes. Really moving.

It’s not your fault, I want – no, need you to know that. It’s completely mine. The blame rests wholly on my shoulders, for not telling you, for not being a better daughter than I was. I guess I felt it was time to take matters into my own hands, time to relieve you of the burden dumped on you fourteen years ago. I hope you’ll be happier now, seeing as that’s one less mouth to feed. It’s hard to raise ten children on a single, meagre salary, isn’t it?

The first thing that struck me about this is how descriptive and well-worded it is. When someone writes a suicide note, they normally try to make it as emotionless as possible, thinking that they don't want to hurt whoever it's addressed to (unless that person is the reason they're killing his or herself). They also try to sound very self-assured.

You don’t need me. I saw that.

The little parts like this make all the difference. The above was very true to life and somehow simple in...well, how sympathizing it makes the reader. This was about when the tears started to come, actually. :]

whether I was going out for, ostensibly, a stroll,

As I mentioned earlier, someone who is suicidal wouldn't use words like "ostensibly." :]

Remember the toys you bought me when I was little? Remember the pretty little teddy bear, the one I lost? I found it. It was in the drawer, under all the old photos.

This was to me the best part of the piece. So sad.

All in all, this was an awesome piece that needs very little work. :] A gold star for you!

User avatar
LilyJamey
Comment
LilyJamey commented Comment · Feb 7, 2009

Whoa! Review influx!

Kiki: I decided to keep all the sentences in past tense. Thanks for pointing out the extremely embarassing "all" - I forgot to erase that!
Writerbabe: Relax. You are on a writer's site after all. Even if what you post isn't good, we'll [s]rip it apart[/s] critique it for you, so don't worry too much. You'll improve in time.
music: Thanks!
foxfire: I wanted to make her as useless as possible - you know, the kind who can't do some things and thinks she can't do anything.
EmmaJ: Nope, not anymore.
Lil_Pau: You wanted to cry? This sounds so wrong, but yay!

Also, I didn't elaborate on the other depressing parts of her life because it had nothing to do with her mother. It would be weird if she did mention them, don'cha think?

Thanks for all the reviews, they really buoyed me up! I've been feeling a little down - life's too hectic at the moment.

Cheers,
Lily.

User avatar
Lil_Pau
Review
Lil_Pau wrote a review Review · Feb 7, 2009

Wow. That was really touching. Though you did not really emphasize Felicity's depression that led her to kill herself, it was good work. It needs some revising...but so far, good work. I felt like crying.

Keep it up, and keep writing.
:)

User avatar
EmmaJ
Comment
EmmaJ commented Comment · Feb 6, 2009

Oh my , I almost cried. I hope your not planing on killing yourself , that would be talent gone to waist.

User avatar
foxfire
Review
foxfire wrote a review Review · Feb 6, 2009

It is a beautiful story

you ahev grasp the mood of the story by doing excellent descriptions of teh character.

though the description of teh actual character was a bit incomplete, it was still enough when you mentioned that she was ina wheel chair.

that was enough and in some way it works

overall, i like the story. there is the mood which is sad and despressing and a hint of hopelessness, and how you fully describe the story.

i do love sad stories and you ahev portrayed it well.

User avatar
music
Review
music wrote a review Review · Feb 6, 2009

That was good. It was oddly original and very interesting. Here's a suggestion though....


You don’t need an irresponsible girl who fails in almost all everything. You don’t need a wheelchair-confined girl who either can’t or won’t do the merest task to help you. You don’t need a self-pitying girl who can’t draw, or sing, or even play to save her life. You don’t need me. I saw that.




I think you should reverse those two words. Good job!

User avatar
Writerbabe101.9 Comment
Writerbabe101.9 commented Comment · Feb 5, 2009

OMG that was so touching I nearly started to crie now I'm nervous about posting I hope I can At least come close to this.

SpencerNolanRivers wrote a review Review · Feb 4, 2009

LilyJamey wrote:Not my best ever, but I needed to post something with all these points! Just kidding. Please review!

My Dearest Mother,

I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you have to bear this. I truly am.

It’s not your fault, I want – no, need you to know that. It’s completely mine. The blame rests wholly on my shoulders, for not telling you, for not being a better daughter than I was. I guess I felt it was time to take matters into my own hands, time to relieve you of the burden dumped on you fourteen years ago. I hope you’ll be happier now, seeing as that’s one less mouth to feed. It’s hard to raise ten children on a single, meagre salary, isn’t it?

You don’t need an irresponsible girl who fails in almost all (cross that out) everything. You don’t need a wheelchair-confined girl who either can’t or won’t do the merest task to help you. You don’t need a self-pitying girl who can’t draw, or (cross that out) sing, or even play to save her life. You don’t need me, and I saw that.

You’re right, I was useless, and hopeless. I knew it, and I knew you did too. Don’t you think I saw how you pent it up inside? I could always tell, whether I was going out for, ostensibly, a stroll, or taking an unnecessary afternoon nap, I could tell that you were frustrated, that you wanted to break down after your day of work. That you were dying for a rest instead of the pile of house chores for your pains. You always saw through me. You always knew that I was just avoiding work, and yet, you kept mum.

It hurts. Maybe that’s why you do it – it hurts more than any yelling could, or maybe you just knew that old habits die hard, and even if you did say a word, I wouldn’t change my ways.

Every night I’d sob myself to sleep, scolding myself, tearing myself apart, when the real one who should’ve been crying was you. You are so strong. You bore all. I never lifted a finger, and I was so, so weak.

Remember the toys you bought me when I was little, the pretty little teddy bear, the one I lost? I've found it, in the drawer, under all the old photos.

If you see any tearstains there, I am sorry. I couldn’t help it, especially when I saw the pictures of Dad with us. I wish Dad were still here. It doesn’t change anything, does it? This pointless wishing? They never come true. We would still be living in luxury if they did. We would be happy, we would be together.

I’ve made a wreck of my life. Irreversibly. There is no starting over; no “Undo” button. That’s why I threw it away. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t undervalue life. I cherish it, but mine was beyond repair – there was no possible reforming for me.

It must’ve hurt to bring me into this world, but I hope it hurts less still to see me out. Grant me a few things, will you? Please. A few whims of a worthless daughterp, donate my organs (if they are still whole), sell everything of mine that can’t be used by Joanna, Daniel, Suzy or Angela, and keep my savings, which I had put under my bed sheets.

And lastly: Be happy, because, though I didn’t show it, I love you.



Felicity.

Overall: Even though this was written fairly well I can't help but feel that you should've elaborated a bit more on Felicity's personal pain, she kept talking of her mother, and I'm sure anyone who have committed suicide haven't done it soley to help their parent(s) out in a way, she must've felt depressed with herself also.

User avatar
LilyJamey
Comment
LilyJamey commented Comment · Feb 4, 2009

Ah, another review while I was away!

I'm just throwing in a personal opinion here. In the earlier sentences of this paragraph, Felicity seems truly bad for her mother. These sentences seem very bitter and sarcastic, especially with words such as "burden dumped on you." Is that what you were going for?

Yeah. I think so.

Um, what? This doesn't make any sense.

Oh, it means, you kept quiet. You didn't comment. Whichever you prefer.

Are you planning to develop it into a story?

I didn't intend to, but now that you mention it.. Maybe. Just maybe.

Thanks for the review!

Cheers,
Lily.

Antigone Cadmus wrote a review Review · Feb 1, 2009

Heelllloooooooo, Lily!

I guess I felt it was time to take matters into my own hands, time to relieve you of the burden dumped on you fourteen years ago. I hope you’ll be happier now, seeing as that’s one less mouth to feed. It’s hard to raise ten children on a single, meagre salary, isn’t it?


I'm just throwing in a personal opinion here. In the earlier sentences of this paragraph, Felicity seems truly bad for her mother. These sentences seem very bitter and sarcastic, especially with words such as "burden dumped on you." Is that what you were going for?

And yet, you kept mum.


Um, what? This doesn't make any sense.

Felicity.


I love how her name means happiness.

Overall, Lily, this was very good. I didn't see many errors -- and I love to nit-pick. It was very heartfelt and interesting. Are you planning to develop it into a story?

Hope this helped,
~~~Sakura~~~

User avatar
LilyJamey
Comment
LilyJamey commented Comment · Feb 1, 2009

Yup. Pent: Confined in a pen, imprisoned.

Thanks for the review too!

Cheers,
Lily.

User avatar
Just_Listen
Review
Just_Listen wrote a review Review · Jan 31, 2009

I have to agree, this letter is very emotional and i could see someone actually writing this. There was just one thing i saw

Don’t you think I saw how you pent it up inside?

Are you trying to say:

Don't you think i saw how you kept it all inside?

But that's about it. Nice job

User avatar
LilyJamey
Comment
LilyJamey commented Comment · Jan 31, 2009

Thanks! I changed the weird line into something more likely. I think I should go to sleep now, anyway.

This was kind of based on my own clinical depression when I was younger. I guess I would've written it better then.

Thanks again for the review!

Cheers,
Lily.

Random avatar
ookayjessica Review
ookayjessica wrote a review Review · Jan 31, 2009

I think its an extremly emotional heatfelt letter and i could easily see someone actuallty leaving a note like this to someone they care about.
the only thing it think is a bit strange is the part where it says "girl who failed everything almost all her exams" i think someone who was commiting sucide would bring up exams in her last good bye to her mother. it seems out of place. other than that its really good



In the past I would definitely say who you would find inside. Not so much today. Place is bonkers …. As is everywhere
— Greg Specter