I’m Not Crazy - Comments

Annnd here again as the judge for the ‘Genre Contest’, don’t mind me.

This was such a bittersweet piece that overwhelmed me in details, like wow. I spent most of the entire time being confused and conflicted about the scenario. Mostly because I have this tendency to try and guess how something’s going to go if the content itself is angsty and mysterious. I’ll admit that I also do this thing where my eyes skip ahead before I’m ready to read that specific part because it’s killing me to not know. It was honestly killing me to not know if Oliver was alive or even real or something because Hayley’s emotions were so overwhelming. I went back and read it all the way thoroughly though, so it’s good. It’s cool. Everything’s FINE.

No. No it is not actually.

The whole disorienting, terrified vibe you created with Hayley’s emotions and the desolate house was absolutely amazing. The rotten fruit, the blanket, the phone, Oliver’s bedroom and the dust, the smells and the sounds, everything. You basically submerged me into everything and toyed with my emotions and whatever ideas I had.

The ending! It was so, so bittersweet. Because this has happened before, because Oliver knows that it’s not going to be easy taking care of Hayley but he cares so damn much, because Hayley is scared of her own mind and what it means. It was loving, but it also carried a sad weight in the last paragraph. I loved the seamless balance between the two.

So all in all, I really loved this a lot. It was a fantastic concept with beautiful writing.

First off, your descriptions are beautifully written! You painted such a lovely picture for us readers. I was really into the story and couldn't wait to get to the next paragraph! I was feeling anxious when she was trying to find Oli and then I was able to let out a sigh of relief at the end. I think you ended this Oneshot very well. Sometimes oneshots have awkward endings, but you executed it perfectly! Definitely recommending :)

This is just...wow. I really have no other words to describe it except for: beautiful, wonderful, fantasric, amazing and just wow. One of the best Haylivers I've read. Just...I'm mezmorised by how wonderfully written it is. Amazing.

I AM SO SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG THIS TOOK I JUST AND LIFE DECIDED TO AND WHOA AND HELLO. AND SO WE BEGIN.

Okay, of course I am in a deep love with your descriptions, as is everyone, but they're just so wonderful that I can't help but gush over them. They out me right there and it's just so absolutely perfect.

"As she did, she started babbling to him, despite his obvious absence." I was already unsettled just a bit when she asked if he was going to let him in and got no reply. THAT IS NOT GOOD OKAY THAT IS BAD THAT IS DEFINITELY BAD. But what is not bad is the disbelief Hayley had over the bedroom being so clean because she couldn't believe a boy could be so neat and tidy.

Ahhhhh, no, rotting fruit, let's not. It had me wondering just how long this home has been unattended to and what even is going on and how scared should I be because help and fear and terrified and feels. THE PANIC THAT HAYLEY EXPERIENCED AS SHE FAILED TO FIND OLIVER IS NOT VERY PLEASANT AT ALL OH GOD WHAT IS THIS ALL BUILDING UP TO OH LORD HELP.

OLIVER WHERE ARE YOU STOP PLAYING.

The beach memory ceased my panic momentarily because it was just so cute and fluffy and made me feel so fuzzy (NOT ROTTED FRUIT FUZZY JUST NICE LOVEY FUZZY) aw, how adorable are they? Very. Very adorable.

THEN THE PHONE RINGS SO HELLO.

Goooood, yes, he is found and I can breathe but wait this has happened before oh my goodness, but Oli is so wonderful and he sees that looking after Hayley may not be easy, but he cares enough to understand that it is a lifetime job and he is ready for it so I MUST SQUEAL YOU AMAZING HUMAN YOU'VE GOT THIS OLI YOU AND HAYLEY CAN ROCK THIS OUT TOGETHER BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

Ah my gosh, I may have out off getting ready for school to read this, but it was only right. I was so excited when you announced it, and I had to read it and it was fantastically amazing and it took me on a roller coaster of SHE IS OKAY SHE IS NOT OKAY SHE IS JUST FINE FUCK WAIT NO SHE ISN'T and it was lovely. <3333

Alright, let me start this off with a little groveling about how I wasn't able to read & comment right away
because I had to go to class. Now that the groveling is over, on to what I think and feel about this story.

I am a sucker for all the descriptive elements you incorporated into the story. I really cringed over the
fruit just laying around wasting away, the sense of disarray that is likened to how Hayley is feeling
(aka like a crazy girl). All that symbolism. Especially in regards to the peaches. THE PEACHES.

Now, hear me out on the peaches. Peaches are a sign of fertility because of the resemblance of the peach
to the female sexual organs; in my Chinese culture, I'll have you know that I've seen too many peach figurines
and statuettes that are supposed to be for good luck. Thankfully, I have not seen any in someone's house
because then I'd feel really awkward knowing all the meaning behind it. Anyway, the symbol of the peaches
felt like a link to Pressing Flowers because of Hayley's pregnancy.
I am making connections.

Really though, the rotten peaches made me fear for Hayliver because that baby cannot cease to exist
in the fictional world. It just. It would destroy me. & I don't even like babies or children that much.

Anyway, moving on from that. When she sees all the different fabrics in there---the curtains, the laundry---gah,
when she has all those scents getting through to her. Especially freshly cleaned laundry scent, mhm, that's my
favourite and I could picture it so well. Her gaze sweeping the house, wondering where the hell Oli is and why
everything seems so bare and lackluster without him. Ah. My heart. It could not be any more conflicted.

Then there's the memories, both the ones captured in photographs and those that are not. When they went to the
beach, ugh, I felt my heart constrict. Because I've had those kinds of beach days with friends, just imagining
the Hayliver beach days is too much. Too much sugary sweetness with a hint of salt.

I also cannot get over the whole "Oliverisms" used like the ever present "love" that he calls her. But that's an
obvious one so I'll just try not to fixate on that too much. Those little quirks from both of them are very
well thought out though so props to you.

I'm glad it didn't rip my heart out too badly. It offered enough of a cushion before the falling action and ending
that I let out a sigh of relief. Because despite what Hayley goes through in your Hayliver fics, this one included,
there is that sense of calm for me. This is probably due to the fact that they're both strong characters
that don't allow themselves to get caught up in whatever affliction they're experiencing. They figure shit out
and they do that together. That right there is what I think Hayliver is all about. The fact that their relationship
seems perfect on the surface but damn, perfect is a far cry from it. But that's what we adore about it.

Because perfect is much too overrated for Hayliver, yes.

First things first: I still love you after this.

Ah, this was very bittersweet. But it was still beautifully written. Your descriptions are flawless as always and the memory of Hayley and Oli at the beach just did things to my heart. Poor Hayley, though. She's one of those crazy girls (YOU AND ME BOTH HAYLES), but Oli's doing all he can do take care of her. It shows how much he cares for her, even though things aren't really the best for them.

And I wasn't hurt, so that's good.

Once again, you've amazed me with yet another beautiful Hayliver. I am still a proud Hayliver Momma.

YOU'RE JUST NEVER GOING TO STOP TORTURING THE POOR DEAR. YOU'RE EVIL, I SWEAR IT. Aww but poor Hayley :( She's off the rails again but this time Oliver is taking care of her. It's still devastating but not as much as The Rushing of the Water was. Overall though, brilliant job. This was fantastic. <3