Hey everyone, it's been a while. This is just an update on how I'm doing right now, and why I haven't been posting. I mainly just want to let you guys know that I'm still here, and I'm okay.

Long story short, I'm going to slowly try to post as much as I can, because I know I've kept you guys waiting for months, and it's eating me alive. I want to let you guys know that I really do care about getting these chapters out, but I just have this mental block that's holding me back. It's been hell to overcome it, but I promise I'll get these out. I have so many new ideas, and I'm really excited to share them with you guys. I guess it's just the effort of getting it out.

(Trigger warning: mentions of self-harm, anxiety, depression, poor mental health in general. Please skip to the next bolded area if you need to, I care about you guys)

Right before my summer started (around May 15th-ish) I promised I'd update more chapters than often, now that I had more time on my hands. I realize that I haven't kept that promise, as June is nearly over, and believe me, I didn't forget. I feel guilty for not updating, and I know that I should be because I have so many people waiting on all of my stories.

The main challenges that are holding me back from updating is my mental health and financial issues. I need to save up money for school next semester, and I've had trouble finding work, so my focus has mainly been on that, as well as doing deliveries to earn whatever money I can get.

Art has been the one outlet that's kept me sane, but I haven't even been posting that much on my art account either. Mentally, I'm kind of stuck in this never-ending loop of self-loathing, and it's been difficult as fuck to get myself to write and create without feeling like a complete failure. It's been hard as hell to get myself to stop beating myself up, hurting myself just to get the damn point across. Sometimes I feel like I'll never get out.

It's kind of horrible, really. Creative expression like writing and drawing have kept me alive, and yet it's those things that make me want to end it all. And when I really need to draw or write it out, that stupid mental block holds me back again. I hate it so much.

I've always been one to put myself before others, so I feel so guilty for not posting, when I know that you guys are depending on me to get these chapters out, especially since I left some on cliffhangers, or I just started the story.

I'm so sorry everyone, and I honestly wish I could just get over this shit and write. I really hope you guys understand that I care so much about you, my stories, and keeping you guys satisfied. I understand how you all might be feeling right now, but I promise I'm working on it.

I'm doing a lot better now, which is why I was able to get myself to finally write this update. Again, I want to let you guys know that I am super excited to write more chapters, and I've found the motivation to continue writing. I have a new story in my drafts right now, but I think I'm going to hold off on it until I write up some more chapters on my other ones. Plus I want to add more to it before I post so I'm not scrambling for updates.

News on my stories:

Alt World: Still updating, but not my top priority, unfortunately. I need to map out the story more for a better quality read.

Samurai and the Snake: Completed, still adding art. Bottom priority, since I'm just adding art, not updating. Please give it a read if you haven't, it's one of my favorites!

Empty Seats: Higher priority, thinking of updating this soon.

Freaks Like Us: Higher priority, might be my next update. If not this one, then Empty Seats will be.

Crime!: I'm not updating this one anymore, unfortunately, but I'll leave it up for you guys to read if you liked it.

Next Gen: I don't know about this one to be honest. I kind of gave up on it, but if I get a spark of inspiration again, I might consider updating it. Until then, consider this story paused, but I'm still leaving it up.

Thicker Than Water: Same as the previous two, although I might unpublish it. It wasn't my best work.

I think that's it. Again, I'm sorry about the lack of updates, I'm going to try my best to get them out.

Thanks for always supporting me, and for your constant patience and understanding. It means so much to me.

Sorry if this was a bit of a mess to read aha, I was really rambling to get these thoughts out.