the character growth is awesome, and I like the story path of the MC so far, but the process feels so forced. Reaction of friends and family was far too uniform, unreasoned, ill-defined, and over-the-top. Lith's acceptance and changes are too abrupt and easy, with too little uncertainty and wrestling. many of the circumstances feel forced and contrived, as if to force these lessons without actual organic growth. The character's development seems really cool and worthwhile. This is hard to do well, or balance. the process feels forced, incomplete, and contrived, and I understand how hard that can be from a creative perspective. Keep going author; I like this story and it's characters. I'll keep rooting for you!

That's foolish. Life is our experience. Unless you're in a hurry to get somewhere else, or your life is extremely confined and unhappy in perpetuity, there's no reason to experience less of it. Death sucks, but the price at the end of a friendship is totally worth it to know'm. Lith's life has been pretty good, even when he was starving. He has tremendous ability to affect the world and enjoy the people around him. To run from the joy and pain that is life is selfish and self-destructive.

this paragraph is confusing