#Road to recovery

[justc2world]

I'm about to cry at work. I can't see him like this.

[fandomtrashcan]

Previous - Start Road to Recovery - Next

So I poured my heart into this update because this is what the core of this comic is. Unsurprisingly, between the silly jokes and the drama, Road to Recovery is first and foremost, a story about trauma recovery. Which is the reason why Robbie, just like in the game, is stuck with Sparky instead of Eli: because this is about what happens after abuse and trauma, and how things can get better even if the road is long and recovery is not a linear thing.

This is the end of the first... part? chapter? The prologue?? I guess. To be honest my original goal was just doing this. I'm awful at finishing my own projects so I told myself that if I just managed to finish the first part of this thing it would already be a success. But I had a lot of fun doing this so I will keep working on this and wil keep updating.

So there it is. They are friends now. I hope you liked this first part of the story. I know the pacing has been a mess. This is my first comic, english is not my first language and this has been my first attempt at drawing after almost 6 years of not touching a pencil. But I learnt a lot about storytelling, and and comics, and had a lot of fun, and that's one of the reasons I plan on keeping updating this.

Also thanks @moosemonstrous for your continous support while doing this and helping me make sure the english made sense.

[infpisme]

[m0tiv8me]

Great news today!! No more physical therapy appointments for this guy! Dr has cleared me to finish out my rehab from home. Shoulder is feeling really good and I’ve gained full mobility and range of motion lifting from my side outward and about 95% raising my arm forward. Still a little more to gain reaching behind my back but overall greatly improved.

My therapist was also impressed how much strength I’ve already gained back in all push and pull motions that incorporate my shoulder. I was warned not to push it and take it easy on overhead pressing or pulling motions. But overall cleared to start easing into some heavier weight training again so long as there is no pain or discomfort. Man it feels like it’s taken forever to get to this point but it feels so good to finally feel like I can start to function normally again. Cheer’s to getting over the hump!

[send-up-my-heart-to-you]

in honor of world mental health day heres my story below the cut :)

kinda hard to talk abt this cause its somewhat triggering and ik theres gonna be ppl who think im just an emo 15 y/o, but i swear im not tryna be dramatic. im tryna make peace with my past, and also show others that despite everything, you can make it.

also, im tryna show that healing isnt all sunshine and daises. theres the good, the bad, and the ugly. you can and will survive it all

tw: sewerslide attempt, abusive parents, self harm, violence ig ?

ive died two times in my life so far.

the first time, it was my parents who killed me. december 31st, 2020, ~1.15am. i remember dragging across the hallway in my house, a throbbing sensation in my thigh, the mark already turning purple. i walked past my younger sisters' room, where my cousin was sleeping over with them, and i remember climbing into bed, hugging my pillow, crying against the pillow. that night, it was my innocence that died. my childhood happiness, per se. i remember swearing to myself in those final moments before darkness that id never forget that day. december 31st, 2020, ~1.15am.

the time between my two deaths was filled with barely anything other than self loathing. i remember trying to set goals for myself, reasons to live. i tried out new hobbies. i was never able to meet those goals, and all the hobbies bored me.

i met some of the best people ever during that time. i also met some of the worst. i might sound dramatic, cause im young and impressionable, but the people i met during that time genuinely shaped who i am. i dont wanna act like im an old soul or anything, cause im sure that in a few years imma look back and think, "shit, i was really immature." but i matured faster than others my age. i found myself faster, found things i liked, found love, found out i hated being in love.

and then i died again.

this was a recent death. june 22, 2023. my mental health had been deteriorating for months prior – i still have scars on my arms.

it was a slower death compared to the last one. i started dying at around 4.00pm. it went on for an hour before the pain became unbearable and i confessed to my parents. i didnt want to go to the hospital, i was scared of what theyd do. i threw up seven times before giving in at about 8.00pm. they took me to the hospital. i was told told me i was lucky to be alive, that my liver was still functional. i didnt feel lucky. i felt like death wouldve been less painful. my head was spinning

i died in that hospital bed, at ~9.40pm, with my eyes wide open, my mom sitting near me. my thoughts at the time were along the lines of this:

im quite literally a child in the eyes of the world. ive done nothing. i have a psychology exam tomorrow. i have a book im halfway done writing, and a new story thats been brewing in my head for months. but if i die now, ill never get to finish any of that. ill never succeed. ill never be able to spit in the faces of the girls who bullied me, of the teachers who doubted me. why would i do this to myself? why would i rob myself of that chance?

so i died. but not the same way as last time. this time, it was the poisonous me that died, the me that whispered in my ear that my life would amount to nothing, that everyone else had it better, that you either succeed or you dont.

and when i died the second time, something happened that didnt happen the first time.

i was reborn.

at the time of me writing this, its been less than four months since my rebirth. in those four months:

i decided to change the world somehow. not necessarily by finding the cure to cancer or anything, id be satisfied if it was just a cute lil video i made going viral. as long as theres someone out there who i changed

i finished about six chapters of my book

i began writing the story that had been brewing in my head

i started lifting weights to make myself feel better abt how i looked

i got closer to god. stopped missing prayer

i moved schools, leaving behind both bullies and friends

i started focusing on my studies

i tried to fix my relationships with my parents and my siblings

dont get me wrong. none of these are completed. im still an extreme case of nobody-ness. i havent finished writing either of my stories. i still skip out on working out a lot i still only do the bare minimum in terms of religion. im still struggling to catch up in school to make up for my three years of burnout. my relationship with my family is still kinda weird

and i still feel like im dying sometimes. its not like i changed overnight and all those suicidal thoughts and feelings of drowning just disappeared when the sunrays came up. theres still a lot of issues in my life.

but i have faith in myself. in my ability to change the things that can be changed. in creating happiness where theres room for it to be made.

and if finding happiness a losing battle?

well, ill fight like its the fucking boudican revolt.

[adacayifedaisi]

I mistook my autonomy for cold blooded control, I thought the act of depriving stood for being whole.

painting by Shane Keisuke Berkery, poetry by me.

[jencsi]

Finlay Friday

[safe-haven-safe-place]

[jenniesworldca]

Mind Is Blown

[darkangelsofthedarknight]

I'm recovering from the traumatic thing I saw on tiktok yesterday. I deleted the app and won't go on insensitive apps ever again.

I managed to go to the bathroom and pour myself a water bottle for if I wake up thirsty.

I've also been semi age regressed today and yesterday. I've even created myself some imaginary friends (in a child way, not alters).

[yaskie]

Another surgery, more Chemo

Dear Friends, I got most of my results today. And I got bad days sometimes. It's been how many months eversince I went home after a year of being in and out of HP, and been into ICU. I am in need of another surgery again to remove water in my lungs as it re-occurs almost monthly because of pleural effusion, infection. Which requires medical attention. I have this occurring condition because of my Treatments,  and tumors are occurring all over my body and some of them are malignant which requires so much attention. My illness was earlier detected and in lower stages, and can be cured(I am praying always) to not advance, but it will take time as to how my body reacts. My lungs has a very bad history last 2018, and lately they have found something on my breast that needs further checking as well. My breasts hurts a lot. Unfortunately, the cost of the surgery and the mounting hospital bills that have piled up from my past hospitalization(2021-2022), have become an overwhelming burden for me, my friends and my family. We are also still grieving at the untimely passing of my niece 3 weeks ago. They have already exhausted their savings and are struggling to make ends meet. And also I've been a breadwinner of my Family for a very long time. They depend on me financially.  Weekly Treatments are costly for me too as well. As we have a very bad healthcare system where I live.  And despite having a job, it only pays me $250/monthly which is not enough, because I am renting an apartment. And have a caregiver to check on my welfare, as I have difficulties in movement and series of bad episodes. I am also taking care of my cats and dog,

I am also most of the time in an oxygen so that it will ease my breathing problems. I have bad days, but I am trying my best to ease the pain and smile everyday.💖💝 I am really ashamed to ask help once again, as you all know I made my Etsy store several months ago to help with my expenses, but Etsy permanently suspend it without any proper explanation, despite my appeal. The Laptop which I also use for designing is no longer working, and I need to redesign again to sell, to support my Treatment. I humbly ask for your support once again. As I need to have the procedure to be scheduled next week 24th of May. Update as of June: I am already home but unfortunately my bills have piled up again, and signed a promissory letter.

Please share this post, spread the word, this will help me a lot. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant impact to me.

I am also starting to make an artwork to sell here on Ko-Fi once my procedure is finish. I might stay in HP for 4-5 days. Thank you so much for all the help! And I love you all!

For Donations $149 and above. If you wish to donate more than that please send them into parts(Ex.$300 = $100,$100,$50,$50), because Paypal will hold them usually for 10 working days. Thank you so much for understanding.

For Donors, you can send to me your screenshot of the amount that you have donated here: estiellearts@gmail.com and I will make a small gift for you, a digital art of dog or cat of your liking. Or if you have a tumblr please message me, and I will tag you of the art. It will take time for me to make them, and I ask for your patience about this matter. Thank you so much!

Sorry for tagging you all guys again, if you could tag any fundraising blogs and your friends here on Tumblr please do so. it will help boost my campaign. You can also share my link to your Social Media accounts, and if you can share this outside of tumblr. It will b a great help to me. @leonshin99 @shotce @thelovelywarriorsheart @sparkie96 @c1a1r3r3df1e1d @silvertonguelover @measurelessdreamer @fossil-finder @vietnoodle @irishspringyum @kevinbuiyin I am a Chreon and Geraskier fan as well. I have a small discord group and I appreciate for you to join if you can. It will be lovely to have more friends. DISCORD GROUP

[fandomtrashcan]

Next part

Beginning of Road to Recovery

So... I don't think Robbie would have been specially thrilled with the idea of having to socialize with the other Midnight Suns at first. Thanks god Nico is a sweetheart.

.

.

As a note, I'm not an English native speaker, so I would be super grateful if anyone wants to help me make sure the text sounds natural by proof reading it.

[infpisme]

[m0tiv8me]

Was able to do 5 careful controlled slow push-ups without any shoulder pain. Long ways to go but it’s a start!

[ao3feed-erasermic]

Road to Recovery

Use the related link post to read Road to Recovery on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/59642974 by annalope Midoriya Inko was found brutally murdered in her home. With the dangerous claws of the murderer out to snatch Izuku from him, Aizawa Shouta must protect the kid at all costs while trying to heal what's been shattered. Words: 4621, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: 僕のヒーロー��カデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con Categories: M/M Characters: Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Midoriya Izuku, Bakugou Katsuki, Yagi Toshinori | All Might Relationships: Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead/Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic Additional Tags: Parental Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead | Dadzawa, Parental Yamada Hizashi | Present Mic, Protective Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead, erasermic, Midoriya Izuku Needs A Hug, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Hurt Midoriya Izuku, Dead Midoriya Inko, Out of Character Midoriya Izuku, i think, Young Midoriya Izuku, izuku is twelve in this story, mentions of non con underage, but nothing happens, tiny Izuku Midoriya, lots of dadzawa Use the related link post to read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/59642974

[thegalaxysedge22]

Chapter 1: Road to Recovery

read on ao3

pairing: astarion x female!tav (named)

word count: 1922

warnings: none that i can think of (for this chapter at least)

summary (this chapter): really its just meeting most of the party (up to rescuing lae'zel). it'll be a little bit choppy, but i promise it gets better once we get more into it.

a/n: this is my first ever time publishing fanfic in like a decade so i apologize if i am a little bit rusty. please feel free to point out any mistakes or provide constructive criticism (just be nice pls, i sensitive)

i feel like the dynamics of the group when they first meet would be more strained and awkward bc it's a very stressful situation and they don't know each other, so i tried to reflect that a little.

Ouch. 

Pain was the first thing that Aria noticed once she awoke lying in the sands of some beach. Despite her training, her next thoughts were all strings of panic - she could not recognize where on Faerûn she was, nor did she recall how she could’ve possibly ended up there. Her memories were all fuzzy and the incessant ringing in her ears was not helping, but she seemed to recall something about a ship. In the midst of trying to piece together what in the hells had happened to her, Aria assessed her body for any signs of injury, and save the aching in her arms and the dull throbbing in her head she seemed to be relatively unharmed.

While gathering her wits, the ringing in her ears subsided, giving way to the sound of roaring flames coming from behind her. Instincts kicking in, she jumped to her feet, readying herself to run from harm before she turned back to find the source of the flames.

The sight of the massive alien ship lying in front of her, engulfed in a raging fire nearly sent her to the ground again. Except this isn’t just a ship, she thought to herself. This-this thing, it is alive, she realized in horror watching the massive tentacles of the creature pulsate and squirm. The reality of her situation - being lost in some unknown land with no knowledge of how she got there - forced her to move on from that deeply unsettling fact.

From the corner of her eye she spotted someone lying on the ground, twitching ever so slightly. Cautiously, Aria moved closer to the figure, finding another half-elf woman clutching something close to her chest. 

Upon reaching the woman Aria reached down to check on her vital signs, but the woman opened her eyes before Aria could even squat down.

“You’re alive. I’m alive. How is this possible?” The strange woman exclaimed while standing up. A vague sense of familiarity washed over Aria as she looked upon the woman’s face, but she could not place how she knew her - perhaps she had spent a night with her many moons ago.

“Do I know you,” Aria asked shamelessly.

“I remember the ship, I remember falling…then nothing,” the woman responded, not paying any mind to the question asked.

“You remember the ship? That ship?” Aria questions gesturing the blazing debris.

“Yes,” the woman said, nodding cautiously before questioning, “Aria, are you okay?”

“Kinda weird that you know my name, I don’t remember telling it to you. Did we perhaps sleep together once? Or maybe you know me from my performances,” the Aria, ever the bard, countered.

“It’s Shadowheart, you rescued me on the ship, along with that damn githyanki, do you not remember that?” Shadowheart said eyebrows furrowed with concern or confusion, Aria is not quite sure. Her silence appears to be enough of an answer for the woman as she continues.

“Huh, that is curious, you must’ve hit your head or something when we crashed. Although that is hardly our biggest issue with these tadpoles in our heads, you do remember the tadpoles right?” 

A haze shadowed her recent memory, the last thing she could recall for sure was her celebrating taking out yet another target. Her silence, yet again, was taken as confirmation.

Whispers of memories came to Aria as Shadowheart recounts the events that had taken place prior to their obvious crash. She nods along as some parts come back to her, recalling Lae’zel, the feisty githyanki who tried to take her head being one of them.

“You know we are probably going to need to find some supplies because I doubt we will be able to find an adept healer before nightfall,” Shadowheart concludes at the end of her explanation.

“We could probably loot the ship,” Aria starts before catching note of the casualties of the crash. “Or… we could always check to see what the locals had,” She continued whilst running over to the nearest body lying on a nearby dock. Immediately she rummaged through their pockets. She found a small pouch of gold and a rusty knife in the possession of the first and ale on the next.

Shadowheart stood still staring at her with a look that was more surprised than disturbed, but she shrugged and followed, aiding Aria in the search for supplies. 

The pair venture through the nautiloid after looting what they could from the beach shore. On the other side they found a curious pale elf who beckoned the duo his way with a plea for help. His leather armor matched that of the upper class, but the many signs of mending in the garment told a different story. The elf’s beady red eyes immediately caught Aria’s attention. His tense posture along with his shifty eyes were whispering for her not to trust him as they approached. It may have been the concussion but curiosity overpowered her instinct.

So, despite her better judgment screaming at her not to, she walked straight into the man’s trap. A lie about an intellect devourer was all it took to get her distracted enough to take her to the ground. 

He pulled a knife out, pressing it to her neck with enough pressure to be worrying but not quite the amount needed to draw blood. She was no stranger to a blade being held at her throat, the cold metal on her neck was almost a familiar feeling.

“Not a sound, not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours,” the stranger whispered to Aria before turning his attention to Shadowheart, “And you, keep your distance, there’s no need for things to get messy.”

“I don’t know about you but it seems like it’s getting messy already,” Aria mumbled, earning a glare with the slightest hint of humor from the strange elf while Shadowheart just snickered.

“I mean it,” the man said, pressing the knife a bit deeper while gazing between the two women. “Don’t try any– Ugh you wretched little–” the man exclaims after Aria slammed her head into his nose.

She uses this time to quickly get up and prepare her defenses before the pale elf could lunge at her again. It is at that moment that their parasites connect and Aria is bombarded with familiar views of the city’s streets, allies, and taverns at night.

The man introduces himself as Astarion after apologizing for trying to “decorate the ground with their innards.”

The trio had spent over an hour walking aimlessly just hoping to stumble into some sign of civilization. They turn a corner following the predetermined path and up ahead of them, on the face of a cliff, a purple sigil glows bright even in the daylight. Inexplicably drawn to the mark, Aria runs up to examine it.

“A hand? Anyone,” a disembodied voice pleads as an arm suddenly erupted from the cliffside waving about, nearly smacking Aria in the face with its erratic movements.

“Uh, what the hells happened here?” she questioned nearly dumbstruck at the situation.

“Just your average traveler, stuck between realms,” the voice responded as if this was a normal occurrence. “Pull me out and we’ll get properly introduced.”

“Come and help me get this- uh - hand out of the wall,” Aria said, turning to her party members, who had caught up with her by this point. Shadowheart rolls her eyes but comes to help. Astarion stood nearby picking at his nails, frustrating Aria, who let out a grumble before her and Shadowheart started pulling. The voice belonging to, well the hand, offered words of encouragement as the two women continued to pull. 

The pair stumbled backwards signaling their success and a man emerged from the ruin, falling face first.

“Apologies,” the man spoke, standing up and dusting off his robes, “I’m Gale of Waterdeep. I am usually better at this.”

“At introductions?” Aria quipped, cocking an eyebrow.

“At magic,” Gale clarifies. “Say I know you, in a manner of speaking. You were on the nautiloid as well.”

“Yes, yes, we were all on the nautiloid, we all got tiny little worms inserted into our minds,” Astarion said, and seemingly regretted opening his mouth immediately when it earned a pointed look from the two women. “I’m just saying that it seems like you only seem to find other survivors of the crash,” he said defensively, “I mean what we really want to know is how you got into the stone.”

“I don’t know what transpired exactly, but the ship broke into pieces and I suddenly found myself in freefall. As I was plummeting to certain death, I spied a glimmer quite near where I estimated my body to impact with less-than-savory propulsion. Recognizing this glimmer to be magical in nature, I reached out to it with a Weaving of words and found myself on the other side as it were.

“How about you? How did you survive the fall?” Gale inquires.

Aria laments that she hasn’t a clue as to how she survived, but she just wants to get back home. Gale said “That might be a bit difficult,” and proceeded to give a gruesome depiction of ceremorphosis, which is what lies in wait for them if they do not receive help from a skilled healer fast, as they continue walking. He only stops when Shadowheart snaps at him to be quiet. 

The group continued walking in silence, but not for long.

“It sounds like there is shouting up ahead. Oh gods is that a githyanki they have? We should approach with caution, according to what I’ve read….” Gale comments.

“Looks like we found Lae’zel,” Shadowheart snickers in Aria’s ear overpowering Gale’s lecture.

“Oh for heaven's sake Gale, how are we supposed to ‘approach with caution’ when you won't stop yapping,” Astarion said, finally cutting the wizard off. Gale, whose mouth is open, looks like he wants to respond and shuts his mouth dejected. Astarion continues, “Besides, they are in a gods damned cage nearly six meters (~20 ft) off the ground.”

Up ahead they spot a pair of tieflings arguing about what to do with Lae’zel, one mentioning bringing her to the grove which captures Aria’s attention – a sign of civilization, where we might find a healer. She quickly shushed the party to listen to their conversation closer. Their cover was quickly blown when Gale stepped on a twig, causing both Aria and Astarion to send the wizard a deadly glare.

The tieflings stop their argument to warn the newcomers of the dangers their captive holds but as they do a voice infiltrates Aria’s head. 

Get rid of them. 

The voice spoke definitively, the eyes of the githyanki meeting that of her own as it does. Aria wondered if the other’s could hear it too.

I know what grows inside of you. I know the cure.

Shadowheart tugged at Aria’s sleeve, reminding her how quickly Lae’zel was to abandon her at the ship, confirming her suspicions that the rest of them heard the voice too.

If what she promised was true, and she did know the cure, then they had to release her. Remembering Gale’s colorful depiction of their grisly fate from earlier was all she needed to convince the guards to go and “save themselves” or whatever. As a departing gift the tieflings bestowed the group with the location of the grove they spoke of as well as the name of a healer to seek out, Nettie.

The gith offered none so much as a thanks upon her release.