Words cannot describe how much Sherlock Holmes means to me. Long post begins
I have always been a bookworm, but when I was a child (I'm talking pre-school and primary school), I had almost no control of my attention span, making it difficult to read long stories. Not only it was difficult to concentrate on reading and not letting my mind wander and make up my own plots with what I've just read, but I also disliked finding the page I've stopped on so I used to just... Open the book on a random page and continue reading. Bookmarks didn't help because I constantly forgot to use them or kept losing them.
I don't remember the exact age when I got the first book about Sherlock Holmes, but I remember that I made an effort to actually read it thoroughly from the very start to the very end, that's how much it captivated me.
When I was little, I reacted like "omg! A smart and observant detective who solves difficult cases! And he knows so much about so many topics! I also like knowing a lot of things! I need to read more", but as years went on, I realised I kept returning to those stories and realising
Can't form a long-lasting friendship? It's alright, Sherlock Holmes hadn't met John Watson until he was almost 30
Realise that people of opposite gender aren't nearly as attractive as they are "supposed" to be? Time to reread adventures of Mr Holmes who has never ever showed a speckle of interest in women!
Contemplating the fact that you're probably aspec? You know who almost definitely is too! Proceed as described in previous paragraph.
Concluding that you are clearly neurodivergent? Don't worry, your favourite victorian detective knows the deal!
To sum it all up, after many years I can definitely state that this man is if not a pillar of my identity, then at least an extremely valuable brick in its walls. He literally popped up in the critical checkpoints of pre-adult development so I could see a queer (in all meanings) person living a long and meaningful life doing what he loves with people who love and/or respect him and realise that I have a chance too, I just have to not give up and put in some work to make it happen.



















