As I told Alex prior to her post, I did have some problems with the incorporation of abortion into this story, knowing that it is a definite hot button for many people. I also know that such issues as snuff, mutilation, scat and child abuse are also lightning rods for some readers. As a writer I reserve the right to use anything that makes sense to me in order to preserve the story's integrity. Naturally I also try to stay within the guidelines that a particular site has established. As far as I'm concerned, this issue has been addressed properly, and should be brought to a close.
Now to correct a few misconceptions that were recklessly thrown about during this discussion. Joyce's "passenger" never went through an abortion and survived! Whoever said that wasn't reading what I wrote. This annoys me to no end! Where do medical students learn to perform abortions, if not in medical school? My embellishment in this SPOOF was to add a student, Joyce, to the process. Finally let me add a few words concerning my story "True Love", which is now completed. You are so wrong it hurts! The first half of the story was my usual crash and burn, take no prisoners, approach to writing. I had some kind of epiphany at that point and was unable to continue the story because I knew how it had to end from the beginning, but didn't have the courage to write what had to be written in order to give the ending some meaning. All those terrible things that Beverly suffers in excruciating detail in the second half are necessary for the story to end properly. Obviously I did not telegraph the ending, and therefore am grateful and willing to take some misguided sniping from some critics. The next time you have a hot flash or some magical insight into my private world, remember the story of the blind men and the elephant.