You make me happy.

So, I just recently applied myself to enter L.C. Schafer's Challenge to the Death. And man, I was hyped! Just a few days ago I wrote something about Death being personified as a lanky, furry creature with big ears and crooked fangs... Think of Teeleh from The Circle. I was almost going to submit that to the Challenge when I realized it didn't exactly apply. If anyone wants it, I can put it up on Vocal for, though for now it'll stay in my drive.

As I was reading over the comments and stories this morning, I started to realize something. It'll be a year of me having been on Vocal on November 8th, I think (I may be really off on this, but that's what I anticipate). And you know what?

I used to be afraid of Vocal.

Because I thought everyone was a total stranger.

It occurred to me that I no longer feel like a stranger amongst your company. I feel like I know everybody, like we're all this big group of friends. I used to be very afraid of getting comments on my stories, or even answering them, for that matter. I was thinking "Everyone's a stranger! Don't talk to strangers, Chloe! It's dangerous!"

Sort of like when you were a kid and you went to a playground and you wanted to make friends, and you saw this nice girl who looked about your age with glasses, and you walked up to her and wanted to ask her to be friends, but you were too shy and she was also a stranger and you weren't allowed to talk to strangers, but she was also just a kid your age and you should've talked to her and in the end you never saw her again. (Personal experience.) That's how it felt when I first arrived.

I'm fairly certain that no one here is my age now. I guess that's why I felt so insecure amongst the famed writers of Vocal; I was alone. The lone teenager in the mix, trying to (and still) hiding her face by wearing an astronaut helmet. It fogs up my glasses, sure, but at least you can't see who I am.

But just because no one is my age doesn't mean I can't be friends. Not quite close friends, but still friends.

All this to say, you all make me really happy, Vocal. L.C. Schafer is very inviting and reminiscent of a friend I felt I never really had. Dharrsheena Raja Segarran is always so supportive, no matter the case! Rob Angeli is super inspiring and gives great feedback. Novel Allen goes straight to the point, and I love that. Jazzy Goncalves is expressive, Andrei Z. is always honest and heartening, and Naomi Gold (we love you Naomi!!) shared her thoughts and welcomed the thoughts of others. Kendall Defoe has a really friendly attitude and Kayleigh Fraser is always one of the best. Paul Stewart certainly has a sense of humor, hah. And Cathy Holmes is such a flowery writer!

Did this just turn into one big shoutout? Uh, yes.

Did I miss some people? That depends on who you count as missed. Are you subscribed to me and never read my work? Do you comment on my stories with "hey read mine?" Then I probably "missed" you. Or I accidentally missed you because I forgot. (If so, I still love ya. Just have a forgetful ninth-grader brain.)

I just feel really welcomed by all the people in the Vocal community, honestly. I've gotten over my fear of people, and I've started to participate in these unofficial Challenges more often than not (what have I got to lose?), and I've started to talk to you people like you're actual people! Preposterous!

But anyway, thank you. Thanks to all of you guys. I'll admit, I've had my moments with Vocal, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm not leaving for a while now. I'd like to just stay here and dive into conversations and stories as much as I can, if you'd kindly do the same. I will no longer stand on the sidelines and yell "boo."

You all make me really happy.

To everyone on Vocal, who welcomed me into this place.