Dear friend,

I am writing this to you during my second day off in at least a good few years! Isn’t that exciting? It is such an odd feeling, to have nothing to do. I do hope that I will get used to it in time. Currently, however, this is quite unnerving, and I’ve decided to distract myself, by jotting down this letter.

A week has passed since David and I came to an agreement about the state of our relationship. Ironically, nothing has changed. Perhaps, David is a tad more open about being attracted to Isaac, but other than that, everything has been relatively normal. Or, actually, better than normal.

David and I don’t avoid each other anymore.

We take baths together every night. And he has started cooking for me, too. Even on days when I do most of the work in our kitchen, my lover still insists on aiding me with the more complicated tasks that require I use a lot of strength in my wrists.

I have gone from feeling lonely to being loved again. Although I cannot say for certain how long this will last, the way we behave around each other has certainly taken a weight off my shoulders.

My assistant, Nora, also began working for me two days ago. I’m happy to say, friend, that I’ve been pleasantly surprised with her work ethic, so far! Her linework is clean. When she is not sure of something, instead of wasting time and hoping—guessing, that she is doing a correct job, she asks me. She isn’t afraid to take criticism, for she understands that it is essential to better oneself.

Friend, I must admit, everything has been easier since her arrival. I do realize, now, that it was quite silly of me to be hung up on wanting to control everything. There is indeed, no difference, if Nora does the flats of a piece for me, or if she finishes up linework on a character’s shoe.

I wouldn’t necessarily say my process has been faster, since there is still some back-and-forth going on between us, however, it has definitely been easier, and less painful on my end, which I believe, is what we were aiming for with this change.

It is strange. I feel very blessed, and lucky, to be surrounded by such lovely and supportive people. Yet, sometimes I forget that they are there, and I end up in my head, swarmed by my fears, every now and then. I hope, that by writing this down, it will help me remember that I am not alone a little bit better.

Any who, what I’m about to mention next isn’t exactly related to the previous events, but I would like to document some progress that was made, regarding Hell’s Floodgates, during my (rather chaotic) first day off.

Yesterday, I was stricken by a sudden pain in my nether regions. It was a familiar, monthly ache, that I despise so.

David immediately noticed I was in pain. He asked me what was wrong. A year ago, if I had been faced with such a question, I would have lied, because I could not bear the thought of having my body go through this process.

Friend, I am proud of myself—I explained to David what was going on; I did not hide.

Granted, I don’t think any man, woman, or person in general enjoys being on their period, but if I have somehow managed to suppress most of the mental pain—and only retain physical pain—from this monthly event, this will make living my life a tad less complicated.

I admit the cramps I’d felt yesterday were truly of the worst kind, though... I suppose it is all the stress from this month, and the unhealthy diet I had been keeping, that is finally catching up to me.

David prepared a hot water bottle, and some blankets, that he wrapped around my shoulders as he put me to bed. He helped me take my usual medication, that I always keep on hand in case my reproductive system decides to be a villain.

There was a slight issue, however: we realized we were out of sanitary products.

I told David I could simply use a towel. That I would wait it out, and go buy some myself once I felt a tad better. But he cringed and told me this would not be necessary. “Alex, I know how much you hate feeling wet down there, and we both know it’ll probably take you a day before you’re fine with going outside again.”

David was not wrong; I could not argue with his claims. “Are you sure it isn’t… an issue for you?” I asked him, as I bit my lip, then averted my gaze from his. “You’ll be… shopping in a very… feminine section of the store.”