❣~Countryhumans ✘ Male Reader~❣

1 Year Anniversary Special

It was a dark and cloudy November evening. A gift of love brought to life by my fingertips, as I worked with minimal effort on a story I made for myself. I didn't care much for it at the time, as it was something I wasn't planning on posting. Time and time again, with different fandoms before, I made magic inspired by hundreds, potentially thousands of creators before me.

I didn't think I was anything special. I was only human. I was only... there.

I had friends who cared for me, I've made mistakes.

I wasn't popular, but people didn't hate me.

My home life wasn't terrible. My mother might've said some horrible things, and my dad is mostly gone from my life. I had some toxic family, however... I still loved them.

But it was that dark, cloudy evening I decided I wanted something different. I wanted something more. From me, and from the world.

I wanted to be recognized. I wanted people to think of me the way I thought of those creators in the past. The creators who made me smile, and laugh when at the time... nothing else really would.

With a flushed face at the thought of putting something on the internet, I tried to talk myself out of it.

Nobody would read it

That's what I tried to say.

It won't be as good as ___'s.

And even if that's true, the little tiny voice in my head said do it. I looked to a family member I deeply trusted with information like this and they said 'do it.'

So, I began the craft.

I sculpted out the prologue, a few rough edges here and there, but ended up making it seem like it was good enough. It was imperfect. But it was my style. It was what I liked, what I wanted for my book.

Determined to make my name known, even if it was just my username, I sat down in front of my screen. My heart lightly pounding against my chest. My fingertips cold. But, I was relaxed regardless. A therapeutic sound of guitar floating through the air like a string of hope.

I gave myself one last moment. I felt... Confident.

This is what I want for me.

And so, with a deep breath, and a heavy sigh.

I clicked on that button.

Publish.

And when I did, there was a feeling.

A feeling of satisfaction.

Of.... Contentment.

I felt....

Good about myself.

And I decided that even if nobody read my story, I'd be happy.

I'd be so happy.

...

But...

To my pleasant surprise, people liked it.

The first 300 reads was a cause for celebration. I held myself to high expectations, and my goal was for at least 1000.

The thought seemed crazy. I never thought I'd get away with it.

And there was always school to attend.

Yet every single moment of my day was spent thinking about what I could do for my story.

That is.....

Until some things started changing.

I was learning that people were... toxic.