Re:Enough is enough

Yang Xiao Long (Fireballin17)

to me | 5:08 PM (19 minutes ago)

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Dude, like, the minute I read the words "Coach Goodwitch's Strength Training" a little part of me died inside. I swear I can still feel the phantom full-body ache after one of her core-blaster routines. I bet trying to do one of those now would kill me.

Sorry I let it be a couple of days since I messaged you. I've had some ups and downs personally, and actually ironically, working out might be the best thing for my weird mood if I wasn't stuck in a car for most of the day. Almost all of the day really, since we really only stop for food and gas, and we've definitely slept at least one night in the car (I reclined the front seat and she took the back, don't worry). Oh, Neon says hi by the way!

Okay, what she actually said was "tell that hot emo girl I'm taking care of her woman" and she threatened to confiscate her phone if I didn't type that out verbatim, so there you go.

She's definitely made driving a lot easier. Going in shifts is way better than ten plus hours of entertaining myself day in and day out. She's also apparently come this way a bunch, so she's got all these cool stories about people she's hitchhiked with. She'll point out a road sign and be able to say exactly what she was doing the last time she passed by or the time before. I think my favorite of her stories was when she ended up traveling with the lead trumpet from a traveling JAZZ BAND of all things. Apparently she got to see a couple of their shows for free, which must have been kick ass. I didn't even know people did shit like that anymore.

So I'm definitely dancing a little bit around serious stuff, but I shouldn't do that, so I won't. I'm sorry I made another impulse decision and I'm really sorry it frustrated you. I really am trying to kick it, but like I've said before, one addiction at a time. It's definitely a little bit on me, and while I promise I'm not taking it super personally, it's just another thing to think about. I promise, after this, no more distractions.

And when I say after this, that's because as I'm typing this, Neon is pulling us up to this hiking trail that she says will give us a great view of Lake Manitoba. That's right! I'm officially in Canada. We had a hell of a time crossing the border (I could not for the life of me remember where in this stupid car I had stashed my passport. Almost got arrested, didn't, victory achieved) and Neon said that she wanted to show me the view before I left. Apparently it's pretty great. I'm going to put a pin in this and finish it from the cliff!

Oooookay, when I get home, we're going to start doing cardio together. Jesus, what the hell? I figured since I could like lift car parts and put bikes together I was doing okay fitness wise, but like a two-hour hike took all my wind away.

But! That's okay because as Neon promised, this view is GORGEOUS. It's a little chilly here (Canada eh?) but standing on the cliff with the wind whipping through my hair...it's like something out of one of those books you hide under your bed.

I feel good. Really good. Stitch in my side and heart rate aside I mean. I've spent the last couple of days opening up a little bit to Neon, and it hasn't felt awful. I'm still sober. I don't know, in some cheesy way, this feels like the place I needed to be, physically and mentally, before I could come home. I was supposed to end up here. And the rest of it, good and bad, has just been the road I was meant to take. I dunno if that makes sense. I might also not have brought enough water.

I'm going to take a video to really show this place off. I'll attach it to the email. And we probably should come back through here together - Neon even offered us a place to crash, if we're willing to stay with a nearly-total-stranger and her parents.

Sounds like an adventure to me ;)

I'm leaving almost straight from here and heading West. Google maps says it's a day of solid driving, a full twenty four hours. I probably can't manage that, but it's hard not to think about it. Is it weird that I'm getting butterflies? I want to be with you so badly it hurts.

Ugh, that was definitely a line out of one of your books.

The point is, I'm going to be safe, I'm going to respect my own limits. But I hope I'm there day after tomorrow. Two days.

Starting the second I'm done taking this video. I'll say goodbye properly there 3

Tell the world that I'm coming home.

Sent from my iPhone

A/N:

So, here's the deal, because I (Fawkes) feel the need to explain the long absence. I hated the ending of Volume 5. I really, really did. Four episodes of a massive showdown that disappointed me in almost every conceivable way. It took all the wind out of my sails to continue writing fanfiction, and between that and other life factors (some mild depression, personal life getting busy, etc.) I just let writing fall to the wayside.

But damn it I really want to finish this story, and between that and some things I've read about Volume 6 after the panel at RTX 2018 that have made me feel slightly optimistic that the crew is acknowledging past mistakes and trying to improve on them, I've decided now is as good a time as any to finish this thing once and for all.

Hope you enjoy this chapter. I think we're truly in the endgame now.