I got the idea for this story in university, when I was thinking about our planet. I wrote it in 2006-2007 and have been editing it since. Along the way, many people read, gave feedback or supported in other ways, and I'd like to say a huge thank you. (Perhaps it is fitting that the thank you's are like a novel in and of themselves.)

To everyone who has ever asked how my book is doing or how writing is going: your support means SO much, every time you ask!

To Meaghan, for introducing me to Wattpad and for reading and giving feedback and for always kindly giving such helpful insights and encouragement! You are truly such a kind person. To Alisha, who gave such encouraging, super helpful feedback after editing the entire book—I really appreciate the expertise and thank you so much for your kindness and support! That feedback has led to a lot of positive changes for the book, and I'm really excited about it! To Parker, who recently read my new version of chapter one, and whose feedback was SO encouraging and TRULY exciting. Thank you! To Chantel for being so approachable over the years whenever I've asked a writing question, and to Marlene, for every encouraging comment about writing and publishing.

To Team Tweak: I truly enjoyed our meetings at Panera Bread, reading each other's stories, and eventually working on writing tips together. Your feedback has been SO valuable. Thank you!!

To fellow writers: I first wrote this story in university in 2006 to 2007. I've been editing it ever since, and I truly believe in it. If you want to write, keep writing. Write from your heart, and the words will come.

To all the Wattpad readers whose comments and support mean SO much to me. Every time you commented on this book when I published some of it around 2020, it felt so encouraging. Thank you especially to curiousgeo, aesthetical_girl, tamoja, susyalexandre, AshBears, 53100563S, xxpeanutgirlxx and mintycactus.

To Simon: we've talked about our creative projects and goals. Thank you for cheering me on, and I'm cheering you on too!

To Raquel, who respects that it takes time to edit a book and suggested publishing it online in the meantime so that I can simultaneously share it with readers and keep editing it for publication. This is exciting—thank you!

To Jen, Debbie, Matthew, Susy and every friend who so wonderfully and kindly read and gave feedback (and fact-checking information on campus residence) over the years. Thank you SO MUCH, truly, for offering to read it, for taking the time to read it, for sharing feedback and for giving your support. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It means a lot.

I knew since I was five that I love writing. So my family has been a big part of my writing journey from the beginning.

To Laura, with whom I have such special memories of working together to create stories graced by her skillful drawings, and who, after I wrote many short stories and poems, first gave me the idea to start writing my first books with chapters. To Patricia, whose enthusiastic comments when I posted chapter one on Instagram felt so encouraging, and who so kindly and supportively checks in on and genuinely cheers on my writing, including this story. Thank you! You are my sisters, and you're also my best friends, and I am so grateful for you both and love you SO much!

To my parents: THANK YOU to my mom, who, very early on, already encouraged my love of writing and helped enter my stories and poems in contests and taught me how to use a typewriter so I could make my own books at home. To my dad, who installed my first computer as a surprise when I got home from school, which enabled me to finally write faster and save copies of my stories, and with whom I share many philosophical conversations, including one about hypothesis vs. thesis that informs a scene in this book. Thank you for all that you do. You are the best parents I could ever ask for and I am SO grateful to both of you and I love you forever, always!

To Julien, my husband: THANK YOU for all of your support with this book! For encouraging me in my writing sessions and requests for more writing books and notebooks; for cheering with me when I celebrate story progress; for so supportively encouraging me to print this story and share it; AND for reading chapters and giving me feedback. It means so much to me. You are my husband, my pillar, my best friend, my soul mate, and je t'aime tellement pour toujours!

To our children: You are my world, my everything. You are my dream come true. You light up my heart, touch my heart, melt my heart, warm my heart, have my heart, and are my heart. I thank God for you, your love and the gift of being your mommy.

To our whole family, I TRULY love you all SO MUCH FOREVER.

To everyone: follow your heart and care for our planet, for yourselves, and for each other.

To my loved ones: This story means a lot to me, and you mean the most to me. The greatest story you'll ever experience is the one you're living.