Two Sided (OCTS Book 1)

Preface

So, the Two Sided series is a long time coming. If you've been sticking around for a long while now, you know what I mean. It's a story of friendship, stepping out of the comfort zone, and conquering fears that are nearly unimaginable. Being fascinated with things beyond our control, or even things that are too extensive or minuscule for the mind to grasp, is something that helps play a part in my mental myriad of ideas. It pushes my brain to try to understand, comprehend, or make huge jumps to conclusions that aren't rational nor possible— in our world, at least. Those conclusions to questions like "what if" can be extremely creative when you don't think logically. The word "if" may be small, but it encompasses a whole multiverse of opportunities every time it is said. See, as a little girl, I was always imaginative. I've carried that with me until the present day. It has dwindled over the years, coming back and fading away ever so slightly once life gets in the way, like a flickering candle flame.

It all started once I got a new tablet for the first time with my own money, when I was eleven years old. I came across some gamers on YouTube that I really, really enjoyed. After enjoying the original content for a while, I came across the fanbase itself, including animations of video clips, fan-fictions, etcetera, etcetera. Because of that, I decided to make my own. The original Two Sided fan-fiction was posted on the Wattpad platform on May 29, 2021. Boy, did that change things.

I started gaining a following on my own animation YouTube channel, as well as on Wattpad. I surpassed 750+ subscribers and finished the original manuscript of Two Sided, which I followed by starting to work on the continuations of the series— books two, three, and four.

I was in the car with my mother, who had been a fantastic supporter throughout the entire time I was writing it. Every time I would finish a chapter, she would read it and edit out all of the grammar mistakes for me. In that car ride she asked me, "Well, are you looking to publish it?" Of course I said yes, but then I remembered a few things. Number one: I didn't own any of the characters that had been a part of the original fanfiction. Number two: one of the continuation's plotlines didn't belong to me either. So, there were two options: try to get in contact with the YouTubers to see if I could get the rights to use their characters in my own story— or, create my own cast to replace the originals. I chose the second option, which allowed me to do so much more.

I no longer had to be ashamed of the stigma that people would place onto me once I shared that I was writing a "fan-fiction". This was my story now, and I could tell it in any way, shape, or form I wanted. I could break the courtesy of shying away from heavy topics that would normally get you criticized if you were to put a representation of someone else in the same position because, well, the characters were now completely fictional. I was able to now convey emotions and day-to-day issues that everyday people face. No, I was never talking about millionaires, prisoners, and especially not superheroes. Instead, I was talking about relatively common illnesses like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and autism. Common emotions like guilt, anguish, frustration, and horror, no matter its stem. I was talking about situations like the passing of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend, the fear of the future, and the struggle of finding the path to Christ.

These days, we can all admit that we 'need to see the bigger picture' like everyone says— but we get a bit too caught up in it once we do. We forget about our own well being as we are constantly being fed new updates about what's going on on the opposite side of the world. We forget to live in what is called "the present". Everyone's own issues get dragged across the floor like a deer carcass behind them because we only treat the symptoms. Getting to the root of things is what many don't have the patience, time, and sometimes even the ability to do. I, myself, have suffered through general/social anxiety that has given me a lot of insight into how other people may feel. It has given me the ability to speak in a similar tongue to those who have suffered in a similar fashion, especially those who have lost their own voice within their own waves of anxiety. These things that we in a way take for granted, we let them weigh down on us, making us think the common thought, "I have a problem" (or sometimes even thinking "I am the problem"). Sometimes, people cannot differentiate between the problem itself and their own individual self. You are not the problem, the problem has you in its grasp, and it's up to you to punch it in the face— metaphorically.

In short, Two Sided is about a lot of things. It addresses world issues and mentions common lessons that we must learn as a people. It involves lore and mysteries that would normally be impossible to uncover. Impossible to uncover if it weren't for two words: what if?

What if ghosts existed?
What if hurt people were to hurt people?
What if forgiveness was a blessing and a curse?
What if someone needed help along their journey to recovery?
What if being ruthless is a substitute for a shield?
What if everyone could recover safely?

To the people who face a battle that they feel they cannot win, and those willing to acknowledge their problem, but cannot speak out nor have the words to describe it. I love you, and in the name of Christ and His fatherly love, I pray you may get better, my dear reader. Whatever you may be going through, you deserve the attention and love that is necessary.

Without further ado, enjoy the show! <3