A Second Chance (Akira x Ryo)

Author's Note

Hey guys! So yeah, it's been forever since I've updated, and I still haven't finished the new cover for this fic :,)

And I'm sorry, I truly am. But I do promise that I haven't lost interest in this fic and I still love it to death.

A little while back my dad was diagnosed with stage four cancer and things have been a little rocky since. At first I was optimistic. Of course, if affected me, but everything still seemed normal. He was still up and walking, and even though he had some down days the future looked bright. I told myself I wouldn't let it get to me too much, and I even had a little burst of inspiration for the next chapter. I planned to update a lot earlier, rather than leave you guys with an author's note.

But the future wasn't bright like I thought. Recently, he hasn't been up much. He has way more down days than "good" days, if they're even considered good. The treatment they were giving him didn't work, so they're trying something new. He's always in the hospital for something new. Yesterday he came home with oxygen tanks. It just seems like it's getting worse and worse. My mom had a talk with me and my brother to make sure that we were aware of how bad it was, of how he could pass, whether sooner or later. It's always been in the back of my mind. I mean, typically when you think of cancer, you think of death too. But even stronger I though of all the survivors, and that shoved the thought of death way back in my mind.

But seeing him now, getting worse and worse, I've been forced to think about it. Think about what life would be like without my dad, what I might have to get used to. In a way we've already lost him a bit. He doesn't smile much anymore. He doesn't tell dad jokes or anything. Cancer really changes you. In a way, my mom has lost her husband. And in a way, me and my siblings have lost our dad, even if he isn't gone. Coming to terms with that has been extremely difficult. Things aren't normal for me. They weren't from the day he was diagnosed, I just failed to see how bad it really was.

Of course I'm still hopeful. I won't give up. I can't give up. I still believe that he'll get through this, that my family will get through this, even though it's hard.

But I wanted you guys to understand that I'm not neglecting this story on purpose. I love this story. I love writing it, I love reading all the comments and all your different reactions. It's just been really hard for me to write recently. I hope you can all be understanding. I promise I'll try my best to update soon, but if I can't, know that it's not because I don't care.

Once more, I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while. I just thought I'd let you guys know what's going on with my life.

(On a brighter note to any army that read this, I've preordered ly: answer, and I'm so excited for jintro! This is my first time ordering an album or anything so that's exciting too. The boys really do help me stay happy these days :D )