The Color of Our Rights: A Reproductive Rights Collaboration

 

“The blood moving through my veins turned cold, freezing me from the inside out. That was the fear. That was the hatred. That was what awaited me. Every day, and every night.”

© Sarah Doughty

See the full collaborative effort of writers on their responses to the recent legal battle on reproductive rights on Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen. It was an honor to be among these incredible voices.

Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen

I will wear red
for my sisters whose health is at risk
for my sisters who have been raped
for my sisters who have been battered
for my sisters who are already struggling
to feed hungry children
for my sisters who need to finish
middle school
high school
college
grad school
for my sisters who are just not prepared

I will wear crimson
for their lifeblood
that will spill in back alleys
that will stain
wire hangers
knitting needles
other unsterilized implements
that become their only choice
in a country that questions
their ability
their very right
to decide

–Christine E. Ray

*************************************************************************************

I have been seeing colors of all hues in my mind lately.

I walk down my street and notice the full bloom of the flowers.

Yellow daffodils.

Pink sunsets.

The rain brought growth and vitality.

Green grass.

My stomach turns as I am pulled from my…

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Finding Home With Him

“With every cell in my body, every beat
of my heart, I knew I found my home.”

Our time together was a culmination of events that I couldn’t deny. I knew, if I didn’t love him before that moment, I fell over the edge into a bottomless ocean that was only for him. I knew I was never going back. So instead of speaking, I kissed him, hard. When my lips collided with his, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. And his arms tightened around me an instant later.

That was when I knew. With every cell in my body, every beat of my heart, I knew I found my home.

© Sarah Doughty

I knew I found my home.

An excerpt,
slightly adjusted for sharing,
from my first novel, Just Breathe.

Excerpt — Burn For Him

“And that was when I knew
what it was like to burn for someone.”

When I saw him, it was the ethereal glow surrounding him in a purple haze that caught my attention. He stood in a casual stance, wearing black. But his hair was my downfall. It was straight and brown, curtaining around his face on one side while the other was tucked behind his ear, threatening to fall in the breeze. Chocolate, brown eyes flickered to mine and my breath caught in my throat. He held my gaze, and I couldn’t breathe.

God, but he was the most gorgeous creature I ever saw. Something about him made me feel alive again. I wanted to feel his skin. Taste his lips. Feel the silkiness of his hair. The stubble on his cheeks. It made my fingers twitch and my lips tingle at the thought.

It was illogical. I didn’t even know him. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It felt like I’d been burned, all the way down to my soul.

© Sarah Doughty

A little something
from Just Breathe,
my first novel,
slightly condensed.

I thought, perhaps on the weekends, or maybe just Sundays, I would share a little something from one of my books. They each mean so much to me, and maybe by sharing little bits of them, you, my lovelies, will have a little taste of the bigger picture. I do hope you like this idea. Be sure to let me know in the comments what you think.

Much love,
Sarah