Thank you so much! I'm glad you caught those hints, I was worried they'd feel either too subtle or heavy-handed when I was writing.
I really wanted to push the idea that the MC was lonely and without a support system of other people because abusers hurt victims much easier when they're isolated. IT targets people in their most vulnerable moments (like in the stories the past victims told the MC, trying to warn them and wake them up). IT might think its actions are done out of love but whether or not they were doesn't matter, since IT still ended up hurting people and taking their lives.
I always enjoy watching people feel sorry for IT in the end only to realize that its last words are literally "i hate you". Being able to pity someone who hurt you takes a big heart and walking away from someone who hurt you takes great courage. I admire those who can do both, but hope that anyone facing this sort of abuse will be able to prioritize the latter and be safe.
I really wanted to give the reader a happy ending after dealing with so much XD The MC healing with a kitten that looks similar to IT and was also healing in its own way, meant a lot to me.
Thank you so much for your comment and for playing!