63: Everything

You can take the man from Elan but you can't take Elan from the man. Sounds about right.

Almost Joe... you almost got me with the fakeout again, but I knew. But damn, Joe. I'm so glad you are finally at a place where you can talk about it. When you do eventually end this thing, I really hope you get everything that you need out of this. I'm only 32 so I don't know shit about life but I hope you might be able to feel a sense of peace and closure. Regardless, even though many of us haven't been through such a horrific experience, speaking for myself, I get a lot out of your comic in a lot of ways and can relate in ways and it has been helpful at times.. You are spreading a force of good, at least to me. As always, thanks Joe

These people fucking took something from you man. It ain't right

Hyperblob

Oh man! I usually detest Disney movies (except for Lilo and Stitch, Ohana...) because of the syrupy sweet happy endings. But I was hoping that it would've been possible for you to have that.

As someone who suffers from panic attacks, I think you just described one very well. I hope you were able to get treatment for your PTSD sooner rather than later, alrhough depending on how long ago this was who knows how effective it would have been. What year did you get out of Elan?

I can't even imagine how long it took to stop viewing the world the way Elan had taught you to. You may even still but I hope if/when you do socialise its gotten easier for you!

The rollercoaster of emotions from the last strip's "I was so naïve" to this at first thinking you were still at Elan, to being relieved you weren't and it was your mind playing tricks on you, to realizing you really were, except now your mind was in some sense your prison. Man, Joe... man. Also, are you still in touch with Chloe?

Kim Slawson

I don't remember if you mentioned it before, but was surprised that you were from Missouri. And the ending of this chapter was just very emotional and raw. I hope you're feeling much better right now.

Stay safe and take care of your mental health 💙

Thank you for this update. I'm so angry, still, that so much of your life was stolen from you. I look at my young children and promise I will never, ever do something like this to them.