So I read this VN and I have some... thoughts.

Let's start off with the more technical aspects. The art's good. I like the artstyle, the rendering is really well done, and the few CGs we get are very expressive and dynamic. I would have liked it there were more expressions, but it was only an issue when Jamie was obviously angry but his sprite wasn't. Speaking of which, his sprite doesn't change outfits despite him obviously wearing a different one in a given scene. These are pretty small nitpicks overall, however.

The music, while not the genre I would have gone for personally, is expertly-crafted and hits the emotions of the moment pretty well, especially the last song. The sound effects also do a good job of making some scenes incredibly uncomfortable, in a good way. It's just a few steps (maybe even a few yar-I'm not even going to finish that joke holy shit) from being Umineko levels of sound quality. The prose is also splendid. There were a few analogies that were a bit awkward for me, but otherwise it was a good mix of plain and artistic. It all flowed naturally while still having engaging text and vivid imagery.

And now we get into the real meat of this review, which would be more accurately described as "therapy session". This VN does an incredible job displaying the sadness a family feels when a dear member disappears. The uncertainty, the glimpses of hope that make things hurt even more, the lack of conclusion, how it affects the relationships of everyone in the family, and how there's an ever present feeling of how something is wrong. The story goes into enough detail to be impactful while not being nauseating. It's all portrayed so realistically and heavily that you can't help but feel it within your soul. It's also not solely about the disappearance of one person. Other plot points are brought in smoothly and they help enforce the overall tone of the VN.

The way Jamie looks back on his past is melancholic and bittersweet. It helps you get into the mindset of his character during such a difficult time. Even though I have never had a family member close to me disappear on me, alhamdulillah, I can still relate to him when it comes to looking back at somber family memories. It helped me empathize with him as a character.

Aside from the emotional aspect, there's also the overall mystery to deal with. As you're reading, you're wondering what's actually going on and how things will turn out. Even by the end of the story, there are still a few things that remain unanswered. I hope it stays that way in case there's a ever a follow up. There are just some things we will never know for certain in the real world.

Which leads me to the ending. Now I'm not going to spoiler the ending as I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Frankly, I'm afraid that even talking about it will damper the experience. However, even though I partially predicted it would happen, it is absolutely both brutal and emotionally cathartic to experience and perfectly caps the story off.

After reading this VN, I felt empty. I felt my soul shiver in a way that made me feel deeply uncomfortable. But in a good way, more or less. It made me value the time I have with my loved ones more, even if it was just for a second. I'm glad that we have a story that focuses more on the emotional impact that loss brings onto those who are affected. This might mess you up badly, especially if you've lost a family member or one of them had gone missing. But if you are willing to go through that, then it's definitely worth the read. In any case, remember that every second with those you love is precious and that you should always cherish each moment you share with them before it's too late. Have a good day, everyone.