The phrase "Life Goes On" encapsulates the mantra I have been following since the beginning of 2020. Before midnight struck on New Year's Eve, I felt a shift in my heart and began thinking about the next stage of my life. I wanted to finally feel like an adult. I wanted to see myself mature and grow to be somebody I could be proud of.

When the disaster of 2020 hit, I couldn't help but feel scared about what the future held. I wanted to be brave in the face of grief and heartbreak yet it was difficult to wrap my head around.

It was something my mom said back in April that helped me move past those fears and trust in the ones I loved. She said, "You can do anything for a short period of time. Bad things happen, but they will end soon. Don't stay trapped in that place and keep moving forward. You can do this."

Over the summer, I discovered the magic that is BTS and resonated with their message of loving yourself. When "Life Goes On" was released, I realized that I wasn't the only one who needed that encouragement.

Life goes on like it always does. And I felt like it was an important message to hear this year.

This is my first BTS fanfiction and I have written stories in the past. I plan on focusing on character development and will attempt to write the boys' personalities as accurately as possible. Of course, there will be a romance between Ara and one of the boys but there will be a strong focus on the relationships she builds with each boy and how she grows into herself.

I dreamed of Kae Ara a while ago and wanted to finally introduce her to the world in all her anxious, adorable glory. She was a character without a story for months and I happy to finally give her the story she deserves.

Kae Ara is a collection of stories I've heard. A collection of feelings I have had or heard from close friends of mine. In a way, she's everybody and that's the point.

I hope my story can provide some sort of comfort during the final days of 2020.

So grab something sweet and warm to drink, cuddle up in your blankets, and please enjoy my first fanfiction~