<p>Okay so I wouldn't normally post on Sunday (don't expect it again unless it's like this one) but this is a special case</p> <p>I drew this back on Thursday. I got hit really hard with anxiety and depression because I was on my way to school and I realized I had forgotten my collar (which I wear EVERYWHERE). We were already halfway to my school when I realized it, so I asked my mom if she could drop me off at school, then go get my collar from home and bring it to me. She sounded really frustrated when I requested this, and she kept talking about how it took so long to get to and from my school (about 25 minutes to get there and 25 minutes to get back), and how she had wanted to go shopping that day. She told me she wouldn't bring me my collar. The thing she said that hurt me the most was, as I was getting out of the car, she said "I'm sorry you'll have to be a human for a few hours". That frustrated me, because I know that physically I'm a human, and wearing my collar isn't about 'not being a human' (DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY! My mom is normally very sweet and I love her very much, she's my most favorite person in the whole world. She just wasn't doing what I needed in this situation due to her own wants and needs.) The problem with not having my collar for me is, well- that I feel super unsafe without it. I'm not sure why, but without it, I feel so, so anxious and depressed. So, throughout all my classes, I was shut down (this term for me means that I'm feeling so anxious, or so depressed, or both, so much so that it makes it so I can't speak or work on anything that seems too complicated or just not worth my time. Usually all I can do when I'm like this is draw), and I couldn't work. I couldn't do anything but draw. The first thing I drew was a pretty traumatizing piece of vent art that had my Fursona in it. But I thought I had forgotten some details of my Fursona... so I grabbed her traditional (on paper) reference out of a pocket of my bag that I carry with me everywhere.</p> <p>In the pocket where I keep my Fursona's reference, I also keep Polaroid photos that I've gotten taken with me and my friends, and one came out of my bag with the reference. The photo that had fallen out was one that got taken while I was at a church camp, and the photo contained me, my best friend, her mom, and another one of my friends, all of whom I love very much. I saw them smiling in the photo, and I thought of them- and suddenly I felt a lot better. I turned the page of my sketchbook, and I thought of Gage (my OC/Dragonet/Adopted Son), who I imagined might be hanging out in my classes with me because he was curious (and also because he didn't get to do very much school due to backstory reasons)(and yes, I do still have imaginary friends. Fight me. They help me). I imagined how he might talk to me right then- how he would understand and take care of me the best he could.</p> <p>And so here this is.</p> <p>Gage got married about a year ago to a dragon named Ruby. They recently bought a house (in my imaginary world where they're anthro and tend to do mostly human things :P), and after today, they're going to start moving into it. Gage plans to stay in my house with me until he and Ruby have everything set up in their new house, but he's waited until tomorrow to start doing that.</p> <p>Because he wanted to spend one more birthday with me and his adopted siblings.</p> <p>I am so proud of Gage. He and his adopted siblings mean the world to me, and I love seeing them happy. This next step for him is amazing.</p> <p>I know I'm running this long (you don't have to read all that XD) so I'll just say a couple more things.</p> <p>First, if y'all wanna see Gage's ref sheet, let me know! I'd be happy to post it if y'all are interested!&nbsp;</p> <p>Finally, love y'all, stay safe! I hope you know how proud I am of you! &lt;3</p>