Loved this game the first time I read it while starting at my local community college, and love it more now, 5 years later. I resonate so much with the characters and reading it again made me look at my own relationships with people and question the way I go through my life. I love the raw and authentic aspect of each of the characters. I feel like reading this visual novel gives me the courage to try being more of my authentic self, and to face myself. 

I found myself relating to Zack more than I'd like to admit, which made him slower for me to warm up to than the other protagonists. His mask that he put up, his judgements of himself and others, and him fronting as strong but deep down being more scared to face himself than anyone else, felt like I took a mirror to my soul. But seeing how the other characters embraced him when he revealed his true self healed something in me, and makes me dream that something like that could be possible for me too.

I think this game is so beautiful and would be beneficial for anyone to read, regardless of sexuality or self image issues. The bonds, friendships and romance that we get to experience in this VN make me feel human and make me want to connect with people in my life on a deeper lever. They make me want to experience more in my life and be brave enough to be uncomfortable enough to take those risks. To be vulnerable and share my true thoughts and feelings, to give people second chances, and to give myself and others more grace even when we mess up.

And to the author, the writing, the flow of the story, the characterization, and the pacing are all so perfect to me.  I haven't read something that resonated with me like ever before, and your ability to describe the feelings of each characters so deeply, and drop such great one liners is really special. I finished the "rough draft" version, but each word, especially Zack's monologues and deep conversations with his friends had me glued onto my laptop and made me feel the weight of their meaning. I will definitely re-read this story again in a few years and see how it fits into my life at that point. 

Final thought though, I absolutely love Braden's character and I feel like you couldn't have given Zack a better roommate :) I love how brave he is, and continuously throughout the story he surprised me more and more, and I felt myself in awe at how authentic and vulnerable he was. Thank you for sharing such an amazing story with the world, I hope it reaches so much more people! I'm begging my friends to read it <3 You have my support !!