Decide Whether to Kill Your Darling

You know the rule about killing your darlings and you know the piece you are attached to. You just do not know if this particular one is a darling or actually load-bearing. This assesses what the work does without it, what the attachment is really about, and gives you a clear answer: cut, keep, or move. Not a comfort; a decision.

I have a piece of writing I am attached to but suspect should be cut. Help me decide.

1. Describe the piece: what type (scene, chapter, character, paragraph), how long, and what function you believe it serves.
2. Assess: does the story or piece work without it? Describe what happens to the work if it is removed.
3. Assess: is the attachment to this piece based on the writing quality, the effort it took, or the fact that it is doing something the surrounding work cannot?
4. State the real reason I might be keeping it.
5. Give a clear recommendation: cut, keep, or move it elsewhere.

The piece:
[describe or paste what you are considering cutting]
What it comes before and after:
[describe the surrounding context briefly]