I RECEIVED FLOWERS TODAY
I RECEIVED FLOWERS TODAY!
Translation by Zayury
Pictures by Zayury
This Sim story is based on a poem my dear mother read in the Spanish newspaper, "El Latino American", March 11, 1998 issue. The title was "Hoy Recibi Flores", but unfortunately the author's name was not listed. This poem means a lot to me so I translated it in order to share it with you. WARNING: Not suitable for children, contains adult situations and violence.
I received flowers today! It wasn't my birthday or any other special day;
We had our first argument last night; He said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me; I know that he regrets it and that he did not want to say the things he said;
Because he sent me flowers.
I received flowers today! It wasn't our anniversary or any other special day;
Last night he pushed me against the wall and he started to choke me; it seemed like a nightmare, but one wakes up from a nightmare and realizes it isn't real;
I woke up this morning, aching and with bruises all over my body, but I know he regrets it,
I received flowers today! It wasn't our anniversary or any other special day;
Last night he pushed me against the wall and he started to choke me; it seemed like a nightmare, but one wakes up from a nightmare and realizes it isn't real;
I woke up this morning, aching and with bruises all over my body, but I know he regrets it,
because he sent me flowers today.
I received flowers today! It wasn't Valentines Day or any other special day;
Last night he beat me up and threatened to kill me;
This time not even make-up nor long sleeves could hide my cuts and bruises; I couldn't go to work...I didn't want anyone to find out, because I know he regrets it;
Last night he beat me up and threatened to kill me;
This time not even make-up nor long sleeves could hide my cuts and bruises; I couldn't go to work...I didn't want anyone to find out, because I know he regrets it;
Because he sent me flowers today.
I received flowers today! And it wasn't Mother's Day or any other special day;
Last night he hit me again,
and it was worst than the other times;
Last night he hit me again,
and it was worst than the other times;
But if I leave him, what am I going to do,
how am I going to take care of my children?
And money?
I'm afraid of him, but I'm scared because I depend on him for everything!
But he regrets it.
Because he sent me flowers today.
I received flowers today...
Today was a very special day -
And money?
I'm afraid of him, but I'm scared because I depend on him for everything!
But he regrets it.
Because he sent me flowers today.
I received flowers today...
Today was a very special day -
today was my funeral;
Last night he finally killed me -
he beat me to death; If only I would've had the courage and strength to leave him;
The shelter for abused women could have helped me, but I did not seek their help;
That is why for the last time...I received flowers.
(Dedicated to all abused women)
3 comments:
Beth 10/4/08 9:14 PM
I love your work. Powerful writing. Extraordinary shots. Beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
I'd love to link from my blog, if that's acceptable to you.
http://bethssimspage.blogspot.com/
Orig posted October 16, 2007 11:07 AM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:14 PM
Dear Beth, eve and I would be honored to be linked by your blog! I am very flattered by your wonderful comment! I knew that it would be a very delicate and difficult topic to write about, but that poem touched me and I just tried to make it justice with my screenshots! Thank-you again!
Orig posted October 16, 2007 11:22 AM
eve70 10/4/08 9:15 PM
Beth, I am adding my voice to Zayury's. Gayl speaks very highly of you, and we'd be honored to have you link to us!
Zayury, what can I say my friend? Your pics always blow me away, and these are truly haunting. Their placement with the text is perfect, and her eyes convey all her pain. The shot with the gravestone says it all.
Orig posted October 16, 2007 1:48 PM
lildebbye75 10/4/08 9:16 PM
Oh my God, truely amazing and touching and horrifying and all too real. Great job illustrating this wonderful poem. I'm at a lost for words. Wow!!
Orig posted October 16, 2007 2:32 PM
Beth 10/4/08 9:17 PM
Link going in right now.
Believe me, I know what you're talking about. I've been there.
Orig posted October 16, 2007 3:08 PM
drew 10/4/08 9:17 PM
Amazing, I was blown away, my feeble stories seem to pale next to this emotional poem and it's astounding shots.
I am speechless
~~Karen~~
Orig posted October 17, 2007 2:32 PM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:18 PM
lilldebye75: Thank-you my friend I knew you would be able to see what I tried to capture with each picture! Thank-you for your loving support!
beth: Thank-you for the link to your blog. I'm sorry that you can relate to this story in personal ways, unfortunately, so can many of us... We are strong now my sister!
Karen: Eve and I are huge fans of your work, don't you dare call your stories "feeble"! You are grounded young lady, go to your room! LOL! ;) Thank-you Karen, this poem meant a lot to me and to hear that it made an impression on someone I admire so much means a lot to me...I'm glad you liked my illustration of it, thanks again!
Orig posted October 17, 2007 8:02 PM
Gayl 10/4/08 9:19 PM
Not the first time I have been completely confused but I left my comment for this post on the other one. Perhaps I was distracted...
I won't repeat my comment again but do want to say this was very moving. Sad that it was clear what the outcome would be but wonderfully written and illustrated.
Orig posted October 17, 2007 10:18 PM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:19 PM
Gayl: Comming from you such a wonderful writer, it means a lot to me that you liked it, thank-you!
Orig posted October 18, 2007 2:11 AM
SamCactus101 10/4/08 9:20 PM
Very strong meaning behind the poem. Where'd you get all that cuts & bruises? How did you do as if the husband was hitting her? I bet you wanted to post this at TSR but because of PG-13 issues, its not allowed?
Orig posted October 19, 2007 12:10 AM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:20 PM
SAM: Correct TSR would have said no way, lol! Thanks for your sweet comments and for your support, Eve and I really appreciate it. The 'hitting' I achieved by using a hack from aikea guinea at MTS2, it's a picture frame, you click it and choose boxing/roundhouse. The cuts and bruises I get them at MTS2 also, they are by Bruno called Bruised, Battered and Wounded - Blood FX masks, you'll find them under make-up/special effects! If I can help you with anything else let me know!
Orig posted October 19, 2007 8:53 PM
Anonymous 10/4/08 9:21 PM
X said....
Okay, now this story sends a message to all women. I am glad you wrote this. Of course the pics went really well with the powerful illistration. Great job!!!!
Orig posted October 27, 2007 1:04 PM
Anonymous 10/4/08 9:22 PM
Wow, this was very eerie. For some reason you always expect these things to happen elsewhere. But I believe that the background of the gravestonepics are from the western part of Norway, my home country. At least the simularities are streaking. Great message and I'm so glad you're sharing this with us. Your pictures brings such a powerful "highlight" to the poem and you should be proud of yourself!
Ophelia.
Orig posted October 30, 2007 12:38 PM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:24 PM
My baby X, thank-you baby girl for your lovely words! I LOVE YOU my baby girl! :wub:
Ophelia, this poem means a lot to me and I am thrilled that it touched you! Your comments meant a lot to me! Thank-you!
Orig posted October 30, 2007 8:19 PM
Sandy 10/4/08 9:25 PM
Great job with the translation and the pictures, amazing job!
Orig posted November 4, 2007 9:13 AM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:25 PM
Thank-you for your support Sandybvv, it means a lot to us! :)
Orig posted November 6, 2007 11:50 PM
Leah 10/4/08 9:25 PM
Horrible, beautiful... very touching.
Both the text and the screenshots.
Orig posted January 4, 2008 3:50 PM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:26 PM
Leah, to receive such a comment from a writer of your caliber is a huge compliment! THANK-YOU! :)
Orig posted January 9, 2008 10:15 AM
Astral Faery 10/4/08 9:26 PM
Wow! What an incredible piece of work. Haunting, as someone else said, is a very good description for this. The woman's attitude is, unfortunately, very common. Many battered women feel like they can't take care of themselves if they leave, are afraid, or feel like the man beating them is truly sorry because they send flowers or other gifts. They tend to make excuses for their abusers and not realize how much danger their lives could be in. Kudos to you for broaching such a delicate but more common then we'd like to think problem.
Orig posted January 29, 2008 11:59 AM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:27 PM
Thank-you very much Astral for the wonderful feedback on this poem! :) It was something that was very important for me to share, and hopefully it will help someone out there who needs it...
Orig posted January 30, 2008 1:58 PM
chardonnay 10/4/08 9:27 PM
Again, a very powerful piece. The shots are amazing. And unfortunately this is a story that is so very true, and happens so very often. The poem and illustrations are right on the mark with this piece!
Orig posted February 14, 2008 1:43 PM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:27 PM
Chardonnay, thank-you! Taking the pics for this piece was pretty difficult, but I'm glad that they brought the point accross and did justice to this wonderful piece! :)
Orig posted February 14, 2008 2:10 PM
scarlet_white 10/4/08 9:28 PM
I am sorry I knew this story before, but even then watching your pictures and how you repeat he sent me flowers and not being a special day and the last one being a special day, it was so incredibly powerful. And her look when she finally killed her, it is such a great although a bit mentally scaring piece, don't worry, I will sleep soundly tonight hopefully, I am reading one of your stories and I just want to browse the next one and it is all so perfect, I love what I read although it is so violent. But thats the sense of it, you can make wonderful pictures I am impressed, not that I underestimated your imaes, but this little piece was much more visually powerful maybe because it was so very well carried out, fantastic
Orig posted March 5, 2008 2:41 AM
ZAYURY 10/4/08 9:28 PM
Dear Pablo, thank-you very much for the great comment! This piece hits very close to home for me... I'm glad you will be able to sleep tonight, lol! :D
Orig posted March 5, 2008 1:43 PM
cheripye 10/13/08 1:49 AM
This one strikes home for me,
I underwent an abusive relationship several years ago and was fortunate to be strong enought to know when it was time to get away. 80)
Imprints on the heart remain though, *Sigh* Not to mention having lost someone due to DV. I will never in my life again allow such (bleep) to happen, and am so thankful I have a wonderful, sweet husband. He's truly been my backbone and strength. LOL! in overcoming this.
Plus in my line of work I had to undergo a DV workshop and had to listen to this poem, through it. SO it is a truly meaningful piece.
Now on a lighter subject, wonderfully illustrated scenes, I am in awe of your abilities. 80)
Sorry if this was too personal, *blush* 80)
ZAYURY 10/16/08 11:20 PM
My dear Cherie, you can imagine why this poem was so 'meaningful' to me... As they say, "Been there done that!"
Congratulations my friend for getting out, becoming a stronger woman for it, and meeting someone special! :)
WE ARE SURVIVORS! :wub:
So sad. You should do it in spanish and english. It would be more pretty. But wow such great work. You have great talent mi amiga.
All women should read this. So they can see that it's not worth the abuse.
Hello Isabella! Thank-you so much for taking the time to read this and for leaving such a sweet comment!
You know you make a very valid point, I should have it in Spanish also! I will just have to do that! Thank-you very much for the suggestion mi amiga! :D
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