I may be fictional, but I've got fire in me.

Worth the Tears

I know, I know—I introduced myself and then immediately vanished for weeks like an ADHD magician that did a disappearing act and then forgot to complete it.

In my defense, survival (also known as paying bills and remembering that dinner is, in fact, a daily requirement) took priority for a bit. I trust you were all deeply devastated by my absence and not at all just living your lives.

To be fair, the freelance work that I subjected myself to was not for the faint of heart. There were late nights, questionable amounts of coffee, several long stares into the distance, and at least one dramatic moment where I considered becoming the kind of person who yells. At people.

Instead, I did that thing where you leave the house and enjoy the outside world like a real person. Which was frankly exhausting, but probably good for me in the way vegetables are good for you. Don’t tell anyone, but I think I actually enjoyed it.

Plus, all the chaos did come with one very shiny silver lining: I finished a freelance project last week after a particularly fun night out, and got the highest possible review! Not only did the client pay me more than the original contract promised, but they also gifted me a very fancy new laptop! Which feels suspiciously generous and has me wondering if I accidentally sold my soul somewhere in the fine print.

But either way, I’m back. Slightly over-caffeinated, marginally more stable than before, and staring at my terribly beige walls like they’ve personally offended me. I’ve decided they need color. Or personality. Or at the very least, something less aggressively uninspired.

Well, that's all I've got for now. Goodbye until next time, whenever that may be.

—Ember

To New Beginnings

Nimzy told me I should introduce myself. So.... Hi. Here I am.

My name is Ember Wilder and, if I'm being honest... I'm just as ordinary as this day has been. Which is to say, pretty damn ordinary. Sorry to disappoint.

It’s kind of ironic, actually. I spent a lot of time as a kid lost in daydreams about the extraordinary future that awaited me, and I always imagined that stepping into independence for the first time would feel like the beginning of an epic adventure—wind in my hair, destiny calling my name, magic everywhere I looked, yada, yada, yada. Instead, I tripped over an unpacked box and realized I had no one to talk to but you. Close enough, right? No offense.