u probably don't read these reviews anymore, (considering this story is older than I am!) but I have to say that this is an amazing story! It is so well written, and the part when Helga and Brainy bonded made me cry. This story was a big inspiration for mine and I admire your writing style so much 3 I hope ur doing big things where ever u may be now!

This was a hard read, for a multitude of reasons. It was incredibly well written but hit far too close to home.

I noticed a startling similarity between Helga and me. All of her emotions, and shut downs, and... destruction and just..being a shell of her former self. It spoke to me (and at me) on a level I'm not prepared to comprehend.

I've done what she did. Prepared for death, destroyed my writing and anything personal...I've stared out at the water on a dock and just...imagined life without me and how much better it would be for everyone.

Every word you wrote stabbed at a little piece of my soul, and has made me uncomfortable in that i...I need to try and acknowledge it.

But right now I'm just so tired. Maybe one day.
For now, just know that this story is so hauntingly well written. It will more than likely plague my thoughts for an indiscernible amount of time.

Thank you.

From the very beginning we see a great change in Phoebe and Helga's friendship. Phoebe is more talkative, opinionated and less tense. Phoebe has become her own person and Helga is proud of her. You've slowly shown that the former fourth graders are growing up and finding their individualism.

Helga needed Phoebe and Phoebe, for a change, wasn't there for her. An extreme different approach. One that had me extremely disappointed in Phoebe's behavior toward Helga but her actions were innocent rather than malicious. But what made it that more difficult to forgive Phoebe's character was the troubling situation Helga found herself in.

What set this story apart from the other "Bob is physically abusive" was that you showed the emotional turmoil that came with it. You showed the slow spiral downward that had everyone clutching their chest in anticipation and despair, at least that's how it were for me.

This was hard to read.

It deserved to be a sentence of its own, the former sentence. This was hard to read because it was inevitable to become emotionally invested in this story. It's like becoming a bystander, one helpless to a a foreboding situation. And man did it become foreboding.

Helga slowly loses herself. It starts with her friendships, her tough exterior, her dreams, her writing, her will to survive. It all goes piece by piece and I'm helpless to it all.

This was easy to finish.

Easy to finish because one was motivated to see how it will all end. We've watched a strong, passionate, loving girl slowly die then attempt to die. It was unsettling. Specially the scene she faces Arnold on the docks. I can't seem to fully imagine what it was like looking into her eyes but I FELT what it would have been like looking into Helga's eyes at that moment.

It was wonderful you incorporated that people did still care for Helga though she couldn't see it. There were people watching her. Arnold, Phoebe, Gerald and the most important character, imo, Brainy. If Helga were able to be aware she would see them watching her and maybe find some comfort in this knowledge but her sense of reality was clouded. Having Arnold save her, like he had done in her early life was such powerful symbolism. He always seems to "save" her. Phoebe never her losing her loyalty to Helga and Brainy always seeing. It was what kept hope in this story. Without their input this story would have lost its light.

The moments that followed after were rushed but the worst was over. Now there needed to be healing in every sense of the word. And you took us there very thoroughly but firmly.

This was a beautiful story. Believable. Loved it.

BRAINY! *cries and glomps him*

Wow... where to begin, where to begin... this story was absolutely beautiful. I love the way you crafted it, I love the way it flowed, and I loved the emotion you put into it. I cried through most of it and I really, truly felt for Helga and her situation. I myself have never been battered by my parents (though one of my exes is another story entirely) but I have friends who were and still are and this story makes me understand the situation they are in a bit better. In fact, one of my friends just recently escaped this situation because I make her read this story and forced her to call a help line. She's fine now and in foster care in town, and for that I am extremely happy. I feel that you put alot of your own experiences into this, either direct experience as the battered or as a friend watching helplessly on the sidelines. This was, I would like to say, the best piece of work I have ever read. I respect you for wishing to withhold you true identity and have deep issues with those that ridicule you for it. Writing something this emotional must have impacted you greatly and it's understandable that you wish to remain without mention of your name. If you ever wish to talk with me, please feel free to email me at Once again I feel that this story was truly beautiful and I want to thank you for posting it on the internet - you helped me emotionally and you helped my friend out of a very bad situation. God bless you.

wow, that was an awesome, yet terribly sad fanfic. I liked it a lot. I cried because i felt so sorry for Helga. Abuse of any kind is a terrible thing :(

Beautifully written, and I can easily see Bob capable of doing this, he craves control. I think fics like this represent Helga's life the most, her life is clearly not as peacefull as some H/A fic make it out to be. Thank you for writing this, it's been an informational ride.

so...sad

oh no-

Very beautiful, I think you ended it perfectly. Agreed with the "true love doesn't solve everything" theory too. Wonderful piece of art. Please keep writing!

thank you for making us aware

Wow...this was an incredible story. It captured all the main players charateristics incrediblly well. Just from the show you can tell Bob Pataki has a serious problem with what could be called emotional abuse. And I could totally see him skipping right over two steps to the left to physical. It isn't a hard jump.

Thank you for writing this story. Even the readers must know that there are so many angles any one of us could take with any of the characters on this show outside the Helga/Arnold relationship. This is just a small one, that makes a big splash, and I'm glad you threw it in.

Please, when your muses are rested from this story, write us another one. I know I"ll be waiting.

Laurel

OMG. This was so... different... from the other fics. This lets people know, and at the same time, scares them. I liked it, and I will always remember this one. This is informational, folks. Read it.

Man, I'm just glad Helga nor Arnoldo died. You are such a good writer, seriously!

This is one of the most moving and powerful stories I have ever read on . You really know your characters . I adored the serious mood and suicidal attitude throughout the story. The afterward was very satisfying . letting us draw our own conclusions was the best way to end this wonderful godsend of a story. You have a wonderful talant for writing that shouldn't be left unused . I hope to see more of your work on in the futer.