Afterword

(´∩｡• ᵕ •｡∩`) Hello friends,

Thank you very much for reading my first novel: Strawberry Milk. It means more to me than I’m able to fully describe. Thank you also for being patient with any grammar or pacing issues you might have experienced while reading. I had written most of this over the course of this year, but decided to submit it for the 2022 HoneyFeed Writing Competition as a motivator for finishing.

This story is deeply personal. At times I struggled with how much of myself to put into this, but gave up on that and just did what my heart told me. I hope the result is something that resonates with people, and brings hope to those living unique/atypical lives that happiness and warm feelings are within your reach. You only need to face the sun again.

Thank you to my beloved friends and partners who inspired these characters, and encouraged me when I felt like giving up. And lastly… My deepest thanks to my other self, for always encouraging me, protecting me, and for giving my first novel some very cute art. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Maybe one day in the future, I’ll revisit this story with a second volume. Until such a time, please take care of yourselves. And remember that happiness is always just a sip of Strawberry Milk away.

-Ivy