[OC] And then...

[u/skroode]

More, if you're into that sort of thing, at skroode.com.

[u/MsPallaton]

OP - I really enjoyed this comic. I get why others saw it as a fish out of water story or a life is miserable story, but I felt something different reading it.

There were so many moments of potential joy in your character’s life. Graduation is an accomplishment, getting married is a celebration, having a job provides stability and comfort. But his expression never changed. He wasn’t open to the world around him - he was dissociated and moving through it waiting for it to tell him its meaning.

I have experienced that feeling and I’ve experienced the opposite - a sense of complete presence and deep emotional connection to what I’m experiencing. You captured the deep discomfort of not sharing in the emotional experiences of those around you really well.

This really resonated with me as a cautionary tale about not being curious and open to the world around us. Thank you for sharing it.

[u/skroode → u/MsPallaton]

Thank you, and thanks for sharing your interpretation!

[u/Later_Than_You_Think → u/MsPallaton]

This was how I read it, too, especially as his misery begins in the womb, a watery place. He just keeps waiting for meaning or joy. Some people treat him badly, but not everyone. Perhaps the easiest example is when he's watching TV that makes him miserable, and yet fails to turn it off. Ultimately, it was on him to go out and find meaning.