Hey. It's the author, SugoiRaccoon. It's been awhile. I wish I could say I had good news, or that the next chapter is underway. I'd be lying if I told you either of these things.

The truth, then. Things have not been easy in the last 18 months for me. Friends I thought would always have my back have betrayed my trust. Loved ones have passed away, some more recent than others, most I've never gotten the chance to make peace with. I've been suffered injuries that may never get better. I've been used and taken advantage of time and time again. I've been shown bitter truths that have destroyed any trust I used to have in many of the things I love. I've lost passion in doing the things I love, grown numb to the meaninglessly minuscule goodness around me... grown distant to those I love whom I still have. I've lost faith in things I used to believe in, lost the hopes and dreams I used to have so plentiful.

And I have clashed a long, arduous battle against suicidal thoughts, worsening depression and anxiety thats spiraled out of control. I've nearly lost this battle before... and it seems I'm at that point once again.

In short... I've given up.

I don't want to live any longer.

I don't care anymore.

All my life, I've put everyone else before myself. And now I'm at a point where I've nothing left to give, but they still take, take, take... I'm powerless to do anything about it. My hope is gone, and my will is undone.

I don't want to fight this battle any longer. All the pain, loss, suffering and anguish, all mental, emotional and physical... I don't have any longer the strength to stand on my own, and whenever I fall, I'm only ever kicked further down.

I don't know if I'll manage to snap out of this funk a second time. It all hurts so, so much worse than it did last time, I just can't take it anymore.

Maybe I'll be able to get ahold of myself again. Renew... something, if there's even anything left worth fighting for in this existential nightmare I live every day. But I won't lie to you all who've been the only bright spot in my life, nor will I lie to myself anymore. There's nothing left in this pointless existence of mine. The hope is gone, dreams disappeared and any light I used to have has been long smothered.

This may be the last thing I ever publish, or even do, for that matter. So I wanted to take this moment to say something. It's something I've said before, but I'll say it once again.

Thank You

Every Single One of You

For All that You've Given Me

For Everything

If a new chapter for this story has released within the next year, I'll have won this battle in my darkest hours... but should that time pass and it's naught but silence... well... at least I'll finally be at peace.

Thank you all again,

For Everything.

SugoiRaccoon, signing off.