Something about this picture and description speaks to me.

I used to have a snow leopard plush named Leppy, and even after a hard day of school, I knew he'd be there. Same with my Littlest Pet Shop toys. (Basically little, plastic animal toys) I'd get totally lost in my own world of Littlest Pet Shops and plushies.

(P.S, I really like the way you drew this.)

Emotional works like this are why I really enjoy knowing the arts exist. What better way to portray emotion than through the written word and/or an image that helps say a story that is important to be known.

It's not easy having to deal with a world that doesn't understand you. It's even harder to deal with said world when you feel you have nobody on your side.

There have been a few times I, even to this day, will hold a plushie and wonder if I will ever truly be accepted beyond what is perceived of me. Humanity is so judgmental and subjective.

I really must compliment your work here, Skye. Alexander and his clothes look great. The way he is holding his plushie gets the message you wrote in the remarks across, too. You can easily look up and hear him whispering to Pika about how horrible the day was while nuzzling and working towards feeling comfort. His young mind bringing the toy to life in a way that would not be what he deals with every day of his life outside in the "Real World".

It's even sadder when you realize that, unlike Lizzie, he's aware that Pika (also based on a stuffed animal from my childhood) isn't sentient, as he's old enough to understand that concept. But I also think that for him, it's a lot easier to deal with an object that doesn't talk or think because then it is not capable of judging or being cruel to him. That, also probably ties in to my own obsession with fictional characters, aside from a few people like you, I much prefer thinking about them and fantasize about playing video games together and such than actually interacting with real people.

I'm actually pretty surprised at how well the shading came out on it. It makes me glad to know that I'm slowly becoming more able to accurately portray what's in my mind in a drawing. I think it's important to have descriptions as well, for additional information and context, but I think that a lot more can be said with a picture, and I'm glad the message came through clearly!

It came through very clearly. Honestly, when I looked closer at how Alexander was holding Pika, I thought of how I, at times, will hold my plushies at work and think to myself of how I trust them more than I trust my colleagues.

I've had talks with lots of different people. However, you are one who has made me really think as to "Why I fight."

I honestly wish I could just stop and not care. Accept what society makes of me and no longer have to deal with day-after-day of mental abuse that I never asked for.

Though, as you may agree, it's for the Alexander's out there that strong minded individuals like ourselves must at least try and do something. It may make traumas, surge anxiety and stress, and even lead to feeling marginalized. However, if we don't fight it, who will?

It's through a friend like you that I have been able to accept my eventual decent into total blindness. The world, at least professionally, sees me as totally blind. This is annoying, but I could be handling it a whole lot worse if it wasn't for how you've helped me to see past what trials and tribulations having a degenerative disease brings.

Overall, despite what we each suffer, and still suffer, we will always have our minds and our creativity. We are also both highly intelligent and great examples for all those ignorant people out there who would make the wrong assumption that a mental and/or physical disability means you're stupid.

Keep up doing your best, Skye. Know that, with each day I struggle into work, I think of you and remember why I must do what I must do. :)