Kissing the Agony (Agony Series #1)

Author's Note

Kissing the Agony, completed.

Wow. It feels surreal to write the author's note for this story. I feel so emotional and fulfilled, because it has been years since I last wrote for you guys.

College took most of my time, the reason why I went on hiatus and stopped writing on Wattpad. I felt the burnout from writing for my academic subjects, and honestly, I just lost the will to write here.

However, I always knew in my heart that I would come back to my family here. I will always come back to my Allies. They are the ones who kept me going... and still are, even now.

This is the first installment in the Agony Series, set in the same universe as my Military Series. In this story, I ventured into new territory as a writer, exploring themes I hadn't tackled before. That's why the tone of this series is heavier and more emotional compared to the lighter narrative of the Military Series.

I wrote the first few chapters of Kissing the Agony sometime in 2023. After a few chapters, I went on hiatus. Finally, when I graduated from college a month ago, I was able to take a rest and breathe after all the responsibilities. And that meant writing again.

I once again opened my Google Docs account under my writing email and finally finished Kissing the Agony's outline. From there, I was able to continue Rhian and Cyrus' story.

Writing sometime in 2023 and now... in 2025, made me realize how much I have grown, not just as a writer, but also as a person. There were lines in my previous stories that weren't me anymore. So I realized that maybe, I really needed to take my time off and focus more on my growth. And I am so genuinely happy and proud of what I have become... and that resonates with this story. Rhian and Cyrus' character development was not just theirs, but also mine, as Liah.

The themes I wanted to communicate through this story were about self-love, self-discovery, and also some darker themes that aren't often talked about.

I admire Rhian's bravery and Cyrus' patience. I hope this story touched some of you.

I have always been vocal about self-love, and I truly believe that loving ourselves is the most important thing we can give to ourselves.

Always remember, there's nothing wrong with choosing yourself. You should always prioritize yourself, because when you love and value yourself enough, that's when you're able to love and value others completely.

To my Allies, thank you for sticking around while allowing me to grow. I feel genuinely grateful to each of you.

I love you all!

See you in Facing the Agony (Agony Series #2).

All my love,
Liah

This book is especially dedicated to one of the very first people who believed in my stories. Rhian, you live on every page. Thank you for inspiring me.