for If We Weren't Broken5/4/2021 c1 Kaizer1008
For such a great story, a lot of audience must read your book. You can publish your work on NovelStar Mobile App.
For such a great story, a lot of audience must read your book. You can publish your work on NovelStar Mobile App.
12/21/2020 c1 
27Drumboy100
Thanks for the shout-out!
And thanks for this Christmas gift! Good portrayal of Nancy's vicarious trauma, how she can't sleep, how she has to check that it wasn't all a dream. (I can't believe anybody ever fell asleep that night!) "The bed was too soft," I have clients with a homeless history who also can't adjust to beds, they sleep next to their beds, on the floor. Sounds like Ned is refusing to be comfortable until ALL the military personnel can be back home and comfortable; I think he might stick to that decision.
I feel hypocritical, trying to mentally comfort Ned, yet knowing that I would have the same survivor's guilt that he has now! Nancy's comment of "it's over now, you can leave it behind" made me wince in its simplicity; what she says is true, that is the goal, but the emotional part of Ned's brain will take a long time to catch up to the logical part. I thought it was particularly effective that Ned never told Nancy what happened, nor did she press him for details. She trusts his character so much that it's irrelevant to her, and not worth making him upset by forcing him to talk about it when he's not ready.
Nice symbolism of the cross over the manger, the new dawn...it's only missing my personal favorite-Santa kneeling before the manger! ;) I suppose that wouldn't happen in a church. A good reminder for all of us, that trying to earn forgiveness makes us unworthy of forgiveness, all we need to do is humble ourselves to receive the free gift. Imagine how much longer it would have taken Ned to begin to recover, without Nancy's kindness and patience here.
Merry Christmas!
27Drumboy100Thanks for the shout-out!
And thanks for this Christmas gift! Good portrayal of Nancy's vicarious trauma, how she can't sleep, how she has to check that it wasn't all a dream. (I can't believe anybody ever fell asleep that night!) "The bed was too soft," I have clients with a homeless history who also can't adjust to beds, they sleep next to their beds, on the floor. Sounds like Ned is refusing to be comfortable until ALL the military personnel can be back home and comfortable; I think he might stick to that decision.
I feel hypocritical, trying to mentally comfort Ned, yet knowing that I would have the same survivor's guilt that he has now! Nancy's comment of "it's over now, you can leave it behind" made me wince in its simplicity; what she says is true, that is the goal, but the emotional part of Ned's brain will take a long time to catch up to the logical part. I thought it was particularly effective that Ned never told Nancy what happened, nor did she press him for details. She trusts his character so much that it's irrelevant to her, and not worth making him upset by forcing him to talk about it when he's not ready.
Nice symbolism of the cross over the manger, the new dawn...it's only missing my personal favorite-Santa kneeling before the manger! ;) I suppose that wouldn't happen in a church. A good reminder for all of us, that trying to earn forgiveness makes us unworthy of forgiveness, all we need to do is humble ourselves to receive the free gift. Imagine how much longer it would have taken Ned to begin to recover, without Nancy's kindness and patience here.
Merry Christmas!
12/21/2020 c1 Bkworm4life4
Wonderful story! A good study of some of the thoughts and emotions that soldiers face when they return home.
Wonderful story! A good study of some of the thoughts and emotions that soldiers face when they return home.