***** long author's rant ahead,
please skip deliberately
or
read at your own risk ****

First of all, I don't even know enough words to describe how thankful I am to each and every one of my readers. It has honestly meant a lot to me when someone has voted, written beautiful comments or added this book to their reading lists.

I want to name every one of you here, but will definitely forget to mention some, so I won't do that. But seriously thank you so much for having placed this book at #1 in Short Story both in rankings and What's Hot List.

This note is to clarify a few things but before that, I have some confessions.

1. When I started this book in February, a lot was going on in my life. That was the primary inspiration of the story. I remember, after one of the worst days of my life, I returned home and found out how many people had supported and voted on a new chapter (chapter 4 or 5, I guess).

You have no idea how much it meant to me that day and has always meant every time I've felt to not continue.

2. Initially I had plans of killing Michael Adams off (oops!), and it wasn't until chapter 15 maybe, that I changed that thought.

Because if I kill him off, it means I'm not delivering any message to my readers. It means I am not telling them the truth that there is hope even during your worst nightmares. Trust me, there always is hope, whatever situation you may be in.

My favorite lines. #TheShawshankRedemption

Now, clarifying a few issues I faced:

• Sequel:

I've given it a thought. I might make a sequel. But only if I come up with a good enough plotline.

I'll announce if I make one.

NO EPILOGUE.

Because it's a short story, and I want to end it this way. Hope you respect my decisions.

ALSO,

If there's any question regarding this story or the characters, please comment here. You can ask the characters too. I may make a Q&A session later.

• Story Length:

I know there must be way too many people here who has wondered how is it a short story if it's past 30 chapters?

The answer is, there are different definitions all over the world for the short story word limit. According to a general definition (which may not be correct) says anything within 2000-30,000 words can be a short story.

If not, accept it as a novelette or a novella, which can still be part of a Short Story category in Wattpad. (though I still like to regard it as a short story)

To be honest, apart from the first 3 or 4 chapters, the entire story is a first draft. I never got the opportunity to edit or revise it.

But I'll do that soon, and might compress its length and cut out many unnecessary parts. Just give me the required time. My luck isn't much good with finding editors. They all dump me!

If anyone has ever read the Wattys Winner 'The Girl He Left Behind', it has a similar length too and is a short story.

• Hate Comments:

It wasn't until the book got a little acknowledgement that I started receiving the 'hate' comments. I'm thankful to everyone for reading this book, but it hurt a 'little' when someone messaged me how the story doesn't make sense and that it looks like random thoughts have just been dumped over.

Or other similar complaints I don't wanna mention, because I don't wanna hurt anyone.

I try to improve and you won't believe just how much I've learnt about writing while writing this book.

But sometimes it hurt so much that I wanted to withdraw the book. Now every time I get a notification for comments, I dread what it might contain.

I'm sorry if certain things don't make sense to you. But when I am writing something, I like to do my research. I like to Google the time duration of a flight journey from California to Seattle. I like to spend an entire day learning all about heart attacks. I try a lot to make it look realistic and according to the western culture.

I am sorry if I fail, you are welcome to 'politely' mention them to me. I'm always open to constructive criticism.

• Mental IIllness:

Lastly, and most importantly, mental illness.

I've portrayed issues that some might be uncomfortable about. But again, with all due respect to everyone, some may have experienced mental illness of any form (depression, anxiety, anorexia, schizophrenia, anything really) or may have had loved ones who suffer(ed) from these. Or may know a lot about it than I'll ever know.

There's even a page in the clubs about how wattpad books romanticize mental illness. I support that club, they are right.

But if in any way, I've done the same thing, I am sorry.

Again, I have my own experience in it, so I'm not writing anything just randomly. I've worked voluntarily for an organization and have talked to so many people who suffer from these.

Some of you may have no idea how many teens are there who suffer! Some have been abused from their childhood (by parents or family!), some suffers from chronic depression after loss of a dear one, most of them have panic attacks, someone was raped, someone is the victim of favoritism by parents, someone cuts or starves to punish themselves, some suffer from low self esteem, and so many others! Some problems I even heard about for the first time!

I've talked to them, so somehow my characters get a shadow of those people. Hence it isn't as much fiction or unrealistic as you think.

What most of them need is a supporter, a listener. So, be that someone if you can be. Show them the light they deserve. Encourage them to take therapy.

Therapy isn't for 'insane' people. I get baffled how many parents threaten their children that they'll leave them in mental hospitals if they complain about depression, anxiety, eating disorder etc.

Please understand these are curable diseases, just like you see a doctor when you are ill. Therapists are doctors!

So hope you can help and give hope to those who suffer. That's the humanity the world needs.

• One-Shot Contest:

Seriously, are you ever gonna publish the results, dear (procrastinating) author?

I'm reading the entries and judging them. I have also many covers to make that have been due for a month (!) So hopefully it'd be out by Sunday.

All the best.

****sorry for the long rant again***