I haven’t been shipping Byler for very long, and out of the 30000+ fics on AO3, I’ve only read a small portion of the most popular and outstanding ones.But I have to say, your fic is my absolute favorite and the one that touched me the deepest. I found myself reading every single chapter with a bittersweet, aching heart. The call-backs and motifs in your writing also pleasantly surprised me. (I can’t recall the exact wording, but I remember being deeply impressed by the parallel in Chapter 2 when Mike sees Will, describing something like, "If Mike were at the theater, he would definitely cry"). I’m so sorry I don’t remember more specific details, as it has been a while since I read this fic and there was a bit of a gap in between.I also really love how you touched upon the grief of losing a family member, and Mike’s reflection on not being a "good enough" son. Another highlight for me was Mike’s internal monologues and how he hypothetically plays out the situations of random passersby based on his own shifting mindsets. This style of writing—restrained, dynamic, fluid, somber yet blissful, and beautifully interwoven with parallels—is proof enough of what an incredibly talented and stylized writer you are.The characters in the story finally found their happiness, even after all those periods of struggle. It’s such a beautiful ending—being with someone where there is genuine, mutual care. In reality, our own transitional periods through the lows of life might not always go so "smoothly." But I think we should cherish what we have, and never forget that we always have the chance to pursue inner peace and true happiness.English is not my native language, so I hope you can understand if some of my phrasing feels a bit vague or inaccurate. I mainly wrote this to express my admiration for your work and to share a few of my own reflections. As long as you read this and it brings something positive to your day, I am more than satisfied.
