Missing Aiden: A Mystery Musical

Thank you @alliyah! Your compliments mean the world to me, they keep me going <3
I'm glad you liked reading, thanks for appreciating all my efforts.

In Irene`s Day 6 poem, I keep getting stuck on the first stanza.
I wonder what it means that there is no punctuation, and that “now” sounds so similar to “know”
Kinda how you can read it as “Your peers know it’s been a week” and also “I ask your peers now that it’s been a week”
At least it implies that only now that Aiden’s gone the peers are taken an interest while Irene has been his friend for much longer.

Awww I like Irene’s observation that life without her friend is much duller, that even the teachers are affected!

And I like how the first stanza is repeated throughout, very fitting for the musical!

Oha I also like that apparently Aiden was what helped Chloe in chemistry but at the same time he wasn’t above shenanigans, considering that now there is no more chaos!

It’s also peculiar that even his best friend mostly talks about Aiden in terms of how much he’s no longer helping the rest of the class—as if that is the only thing he brought to the table. I do wonder what this means abt the reason for his absence…

I do like how it’s obvious from the way everyone acts/fails that the lack of Aiden in their life is having a profound impact, even if no one wants to admit it: “All the little things // I can already see” indeed <3
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For Mother’s Poem:
First of all the title implies that she’s letting the police/the state have an unearned look into their life but she’s willing to risk that if there’s only a chance that this is what brings her child back.
Then this: “Stay where you are, mommy will pick you up” you have her very …grown up style of phrasing her lines and her child is also a teacher but in this line it comes across just how affected she is, and that she’s probably not seeing the almost-grown Aiden but the little kid he used to be. Back when she was his world and his comfort and the one to fix all his problems. And that she would probably very much like to go back to that right now.
“I'm losing my marbles, return them to me” Aww

“You must really how big of a thing it really is“ shouldn’t there be a “know” or something in this sentence? Or not? (Looking forward to the essay xd)

Well maybe I am becoming something of a poet myself considering I got all this: “If it's the cost to get you back, I accept” said in this stanza from the title of the poem too~ hehehehehe~

Even if someone so much as said something
And that's why you went,

Ohh this! She seems to acknowledge that being hurt mentally enough to… do something drastic to yourself is still harm done by a person. I like this. More self-reflection than his father for sure!
And that there might be something she contributed to the whole mess, but is now willing to face her own wrong-doings and move on to become a better person. Very beautiful :3

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“The credit must be worth how hard you're working” I like how Felix talks and I especially like this admission of… well that he kinda felt like a burden and that he doesn’t really know why Aiden went through the “trouble”
I think it might be that Aiden had some sort of helper syndrome tho?

Awww “Your dedication made me want to give it my all truly” <3

So in a normal text this should be “dew-kissed” here: “he dew kissed grass” but hey this is poetry and maybe the missing hyphen has meaning. In German it’s literally called the “linking dash” so something that links two words together… Maybe it’s the missing link between Aiden and his friends. Ok ok, maybe I am poeting too much now lol

Oh that is such a good line: “The sky revived your spirit but you didn't sit in the feeling“ sitting in the feeling, always at work instead. Very beautiful!

I love the stanza abt running. Abt how Aiden didn’t need to win to get the benefit. It’s very sweet. And probably the only thing that Felix can think of to help. He’s doing his best aww

“Bidding bye to the chore of me, you walked away” That is such an interesting observation; that he would phrase it like that. He really does feel like a burden to Aiden, huh? But maybe Aiden would have continued to meet with him (there is always things to learn and improve after all and teaching is a good way to learn yourself!) if whatever happened didn’t happen. Or maybe Aiden saw this as one of the loose ends he wanted to tie up. To at least finish tutoring Felix before it happened.

Hmmm I also get the feeling that Felix now believes that hey “maybe Aiden is unable to do things for himself, live for himself, but he likes helping others, maybe by giving him more ppl to help, he can come back” and that is… certainly something you can read from his behaviour but also completely unsustainable. Intriguing!

Thank you for reading further still, Tikaya. I really appreciate it <3

I wonder what it means that there is no punctuation, and that “now” sounds so similar to “know”

Well, I'm horrible at punctuation in poetry so let's just now discuss that XD. About the now and know, I guess it's not as deep as you give it credit for. It's supposed to be a song so the pronounciation takes over the looks, so it becomes 'no'(k,w are somewhat silent of course) and 'now' sounds- very different. The n, that they have in common establishes rhythm for a distant line by something similar to alliteration but that was all my intention. But then again, poetry is more about the beauty the reader sees in it anyways, than what the poet originally meant. Always a pleasure to read your interpretations!

At least it implies that only now that Aiden’s gone the peers are taken an interest while Irene has been his friend for much longer.

Precisely what I was going for!

It’s also peculiar that even his best friend mostly talks about Aiden in terms of how much he’s no longer helping the rest of the class—as if that is the only thing he brought to the table. I do wonder what this means abt the reason for his absence…

It explains his state right before the disappearance, predict as you will from that. What I will say though is- no hindsight on my part here, completely intentional! Irene is that person who loved but also depended on Aiden very much. It gets to a point when the boundaries blur and 'so helpful' turns into 'just useful'. So sad really, how easy gratitude is to forget.

First of all the title implies that she’s letting the police/the state have an unearned look into their life but she’s willing to risk that if there’s only a chance that this is what brings her child back.

Mother is basically a homemaker who's overly attached to her house remaining presentable and untouched, even a situation as grave as her own son's disappearance. It takes her some time to give in to the investigation, that she should've cooperated with from day one, if she would have been a perfect loving mother. But she eventually gets there as the loss begins to get to her more with the passing time. She's then ready, to see even the home she's decorated all her life, be torn apart to find some clues to the mysterious disappearance. It's a moment of surrender, a powerful transformation for the good to the Mother's character.

her child is also a teacher but in this line it comes across just how affected she is, and that she’s probably not seeing the almost-grown Aiden but the little kid he used to be.

I wouldn't really say Aiden was a teacher! @_@ I think I might've explained poorly at some point so let me repeat- Aiden is a young adult TUTOR just for Felix (to get extra credit and get some volunteering on his record) but is a full time (19-21 year old) student at the same college as Felix, Irene and Chloe. This is a general college, featuring different courses. Aiden and Chloe study medicine, Felix is in history and Irene is studying Chemistry. Hope that clears up! The sentiment of mother does hold though- the boy has been pulling back since adolescence, and the mother has just now begun to regret it.

shouldn’t there be a “know” or something in this sentence?

Lol I missed it, let me go edit that. You might be overdoing the finding poetry in everything though XD

More self-reflection than his father for sure!

Mother's tend to be, don't you think? =)

I think it might be that Aiden had some sort of helper syndrome tho?

Or Aiden is just too much of a nerd XD I won't deny any psychological disorders though (hehe~). I will spoil this much though- there was an ulterior motive as to why Felix , of all the people, Aiden chose to tutor.

Maybe it’s the missing link between Aiden and his friends. Ok ok, maybe I am poeting too much now lol

Lol, yup XD. I'll go include that hyphen, didn't know that was a thing honestly (ik a hyphen, just not how it's used)

But maybe Aiden would have continued to meet with him if whatever happened didn’t happen

Well I highly doubt that. I would say they both had a common cause- his disappearance and giving up on tutoring Felix. You'll find out soon enough hehe..

Or maybe Aiden saw this as one of the loose ends he wanted to tie up. To at least finish tutoring Felix before it happened.

That's quite the accusation.. but you might be onto something. Guess we'll see ;]

maybe by giving him more ppl to help, he can come back” and that is… certainly something you can read from his behaviour but also completely unsustainable

About Felix- it's a silly say for it to work, but he's too shook for sane behaviour right now. They've tried looking and failed in all logical ways so they now make these desperate pleas, which obviously won't work. A little like how you look for a last thing- first where you saw it last or where you always keep it, then some unusual places you went to today but don't usually keep it there, then places you need that item at. You'll search all these places (sequentially) if that thing means too much and you really want to find it, same logic here. If they won't come back because I want them to, maybe when I need them so..

Day 9 (the best day, in case you checked my Camp Novmo Updates!)
I just love the way Chloe phrases her poems!

I find it so fascinating how you manage to convey information and backstory and still keep this recognizable rhythm!


But I also feel like “To my roots” and “To infinity” are similar to each other and so match but the other non-“refrain” verses have a longer ending line that breaks the pattern for me. (But then again maybe that also says something abt the poem?)
But I like the melody of

Granny wanted my mom
To marry a surgeon

I feel like it gets a bit muddled on who she is addressing. She mentions Mom, Granny and Aiden and then goes

They're both polar opposites
And I'm torn in between

Like, which of these (and the mysterious “he” in the refrain) is she addressing here? I thought Mom and Granny but there’s an argument for Aiden and his perceived perfection.

Then there’s the refrain. It seems logical that the “he” who tells her to float is Aiden? Since he’s missing and the focal point for all these poems? But then again…. What other male figure could it be? Her dad left her so….

Also… Catalyst as the name of the poem. Aiden as the catalyst for all the new developments maybe?
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And now my favourite. Hello Gia :3

I rly like how she calls herself a Witch of Envy or rather what others call her but I feel like she might be spiteful enough to also say that (spiteful toward them)

“If you're the red I hate or green I need” This is such a beautiful line and it really helps establish just where Gia stands (on the fence and clearly not as “vicious” as “they” make her out to be)

I also like the detail that Aiden studied something “real” which got parental approval while she decided to follow her dreams, even if it meant she had to do everything herself.

Always a pleasure to read from her perspective :3

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Love the drawing on the clue. Also interesting to hear from Aiden himself now.
And the name of the poem… Sounds as if he’s saying goodbye to a version of himself that he finds untenable to keep up. As if he grew out of himself and became a new person and is unsure of how ppl react to this new him?

I guess his feeling of being overshadow by his best friend is part of why they are “former” best friends?

Might want to fix the typo here. “so we're perfect toother“ :3

Ohhhhh „if not busy being you” That is an INTERESTING tidbit! What does it mean? He’s not only overshadow but… used? Are they so similar? The possibilities!!

Maybe the title is less philosophical and more “I am kinda like you already so losing you would be the same as losing myself”?
And what does it mean that you are so similar to someone… and yet recognize yourself as “lesser” (or other recognize you as lesser too?)

I also like how the final verse has all the previous ending lines at the end!

I wonder if there was more to this relationship than it first appeared?

I'm tired of caving in
done despite the plain fact
you'd be my failing

Or

pretending all is fine
for both of our sakes

I am so curious where this is leading!

Day 12
I wonder why you had her use “it’s police” without an article? Missing word or is it not the police but idk going for the word “police” as in “insurance police” or smthing?
But I guess you do mean the police. What they blame poor Irene for Aiden’s disappearance? I like how you phrase her getting arrested through poetry! And that the police make a huge spectacle out of the event by being so dramatic.

Ohaa what an intrigue! His phone was with her? Oh that is so suspicious!! Did she not immediately tell ppl abt that? Or did she not know abt it herself? Oh the mystery, Alex!!

Ohh and he ran! So she knew that he left but neither why nor where he went. And she looks like the kinda person who would honour someone’s wish even to her own detriment!
[at this point I reread irene’s other poem but there is no hint abt this! Or rather I couldn’t catch any hint just a certain melancholy. Guess I should have wondered harder why she didn’t ask “why”]

So at the police headquarters, she broke down and told all that she swore not to tell? I do wonder what kinda secrets she held, she’s not really mentioning all of them here, after all.
Also this line: “Not there to hold my hand“ Awww q.q

That tho:

Come ease my pain
Remind me of my pills

gives me anxiety. Since it’s sounding almost as if she used Aiden as a drug, as in someone to numb her pains, to soothe etc Since this all “reminds” her of her pills?

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Day 13

Ohh now we get more bg info, that the parents’ relationship is not sunshine and roses!
And I like that Aiden knows this, I especially like the last line of the first stanza!

Innnnteresting that the father talks abt his job, the big chance he got, when his son was born. I bet this is v intentional! Nice!
And the contrast to Mom!! Also… interesting that Mom ever thought she could go to an audition while this deep in the pregnancy? (Unless Aiden was premature?) and aww I do feel for her ☹ But still… (It could also be that the pregnancy itself ruined her dreams? But this isn’t how it’s written so I guess she really thought she could audition why pregnant @.@)

Hm the dad always came across so cold but in his second stanza it really comes across that he worked hard on himself FOR his child or maybe bc of his child. That things suddenly came so easy to him and that he used all these opportunities life through his way very well!
And I wonder if, with this newfound motivation, Mom maybe COULD have gone to Hollywood? Maybe would have forced Dad to become more involved with the son and not just the carrier and everything surrounding it… But it also sounds like Mom didn’t want to follow in her own mother’s footsteps. But it is kinda sad that all she seems to talk abt here is all the missed opportunities. Especially when her last poem was so focused on what she’d do for her son. I guess she already gave up so much for this kid, it’s almost like sunk cost fallacy?

Is there a missing formatting, here? “than one which[/right] is broken”?

I really like this admission: “How do I not love you so much?” Like, he recognizes that the love he should feel isn’t quite there and wonders why that is. Also a chilling line to read ofc. And the thought that Dad thought himself nothing before he got the child. That he needed this kid to think SOMETHING of himself, to see that he is worth something. Ohh yeiks… Very well done!
Love how the contrasting views of the parents eventually show their reverse in this last pair of stanzas. That Dad, who got everything he could hope for, out of his child has no real love for Aiden while Mom who constantly talked abt all she missed out on is the one who ended up loving him the most.
They also never talked abt each other as if the other parent doesn’t even feature in their equation of life!
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Day 14
Oh lala what a title! I guess this will follow up on the idea from Aiden’s poem?`

Hmmm isn’t it a counterproductive thought to steal to escape the spotlight? Wouldn’t that just add to the fame if you also add THIS to your list of accomplishments?
Ohh and it was a research opportunity (careful there’s a typo in this stanza!), something that would have mattered a lot to Aiden!! <-- or maybe also his parents?

I wish you were a bit more clear on why this helped Andrew to escape the spotlight, I keep getting hung up on that to the point that it really frustrates me instead of entertains me :/

It sounds like he didn’t just steal this research spot (tho how could he steal it, I doubt he bribed the committee who grants the spot, so it was just via also handing in an application, huh? So I guess Aiden’s application just wasn’t good enough? SEE this is where my mind goes when you don’t explain stuff!!) for himself but also … for Aiden? Or maybe that is post-hoc justification striking?
I don’t think I like this poem. Maybe if you explain your reasonings you can win me over <.<

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Day 15, half-way point :3

Oh interesting that he did try to get back into studying without Aiden there! (Or maybe another justification? XD)
Even if I haven’t responded to your replies yet, I did read them so my brain keeps interpreting sinister vibes into all of Felix’ lines lol (First the reading, then the replying XD)

Oh man another child with high expectations placed on them by their family ☹
Wait wait wait did Felix really plan to throw out his education for the guitar thing? Or am I misinterpreting these lines? Also why is he telling the police that? I can’t follow the events here.

Also shouldn’t it be “averted” there in the final line?
Also also: I am so confused? What even was happening? What did he really tell the police?
I couldn’t really follow this poem at all o_o

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Day 16
I love the title of this one :3

…tho I immediately don’t know if she’s metaphorically grabbing random boy’s collars or if she’s literally doing that. And if the latter: what.
I do like the next line a lot more, abt seeing the ghost of her child everywhere
(also idc that these are college-aged ppl, they are all babies to me)

Also I like how you show her downward spiral so well in this poem. I mean, she’s at tally marks now. With the context from last her last POV, this is an even more striking contrast. I wonder what Aiden thought of HER; if he maybe felt smothered by her love since this is all she seemed to have left?

In your loss
This clown's dancing

Oh my, this is such a chilling pair of lines! So good! But oh my, this woman @.@
And even to the bitter end, she’s placing expectations on her son: “come free me”, huh?
This one was good!

-12-

I wonder why you had her use “it’s police” without an article?

Because it's harder to sing with with 'the'? XD
I also looked it up and it seems I hit my intended meaning perfectly! (I'm as surprised as you lol)
https://www.espressoenglish.net/do-we-u ... th-police/

Ohaa what an intrigue! His phone was with her? Oh that is so suspicious!! Did she not immediately tell ppl abt that? Or did she not know abt it herself? Oh the mystery, Alex!!

You're in for a ride!

And she looks like the kinda person who would honour someone’s wish even to her own detriment!

I'm impressed you caught onto that!

[at this point I reread irene’s other poem but there is no hint abt this! Or rather I couldn’t catch any hint just a certain melancholy. Guess I should have wondered harder why she didn’t ask “why”]

I wanted it to come out of the blue. Take it a proof of how well she can keep a secret... until she's pressured, under which she crumbles.

she broke down and told all that she swore not to tell?

Hey, don't make my poor Irene sound so cruel now ToT. I get how she looks rn, but she's just REALLY BAD at handling pressure (worsened by her anxiety) and in a survival reflex, does whatever she can to elevate the situation. She also must've thought it's been late enough and telling everything to the police might help find Aiden, you know.

she’s not really mentioning all of them here, after all.

Well it's not much- she had her phone, and thus she knew (or thought?) that Aiden ran away of his own choice.

Since it’s sounding almost as if she used Aiden as a drug, as in someone to numb her pains, to soothe etc Since this all “reminds” her of her pills?

Lol it's actually quite simpler than that- Aiden used to remind Irene, "Hey, it's time for your anxiety medications". Now that he's gone, she forgets to take them regularly and thus is so hysterical in this poem at the first sign of stress (she forgot her pills that day too)- yeah that was too impossible of an easter egg, def a failing on my part XD but then again, I wanted to make this poem as ambiguous and dramatic as possible.

-13-

Mom ever thought she could go to an audition while this deep in the pregnancy

When you put it against the dad's stanza, god it really sounds like that.. But I wanted to suggest that she found out she's pregnant a few days before her scheduled audition for a dream role. I'm sorry that wasn't clear. What you point out is so very real and I'm sure you must have some personal experience in that field rn..

also MANY CONGRATULATIONS, you're going to be a mother ahhhh and I'll be the proud uncle I love all my nieces and nephews, I'm sure I'll love the new addition as well. I wish your wife has a safe delivery and the baby only brings you both closer. Such a milestone!

he worked hard on himself FOR his child or maybe bc of his child.

A bit of both! A child is a responsibility AND a motivation.

But it also sounds like Mom didn’t want to follow in her own mother’s footsteps

Inheriting your mother's drive for a career and wanting to be nothing like her (someone who abandons her child for the job) is the biggest curse of all. But she was so determined to give this child the love she never got, that she gave up the audition and all her plan for life as soon as she discovered her pregnancy, without so much as a second thought. Years after, when Aiden is all grown up, we see it manifest as resentment and a back look at aofe that could've been- though she doesn't regret putting her kid first at all.

sunk cost fallacy

So critical of everyone, I've succeeded. And that thinking will get you very far in this series!

Is there a missing formatting, here? “than one which[/right] is broken”?

Oops, just ignore the code, I've fixed it now!

I really like this admission: “How do I not love you so much?” Like, he recognizes that the love he should feel isn’t quite there and wonders why that is

A failing in my writing, I'm afraid. He does love his son very much (at least he thinks so). This is more like a rhetorical question- 'Oh, I love you so much. How could I not?'

That he needed this kid to think SOMETHING of himself, to see that he is worth something.

Some dads need a child coming in their life to finally pull themselves together :]

They also never talked abt each other as if the other parent doesn’t even feature in their equation of life!

I'm SOOOO happy you caught that, I wanted it to represent their strained relations.

-14-

Wouldn’t that just add to the fame if you also add THIS to your list of accomplishments?

He hated his schoolmates always looking at him and inevitably gossiping about him, not that he didn't want to get ahead in life. Plus he'd be away researching to see any of this added fame for himself. Like how you switch to a really good school in another town, the kids from the previous school will certainly talk about you but not that you'd hear any of it.

Also, corrected the typo, thanks!

something that would have mattered a lot to Aiden!! <-- or maybe also his parents

I'm sure it would've, but why should Aiden have it all? :devious Andrew thoughts:

I wish you were a bit more clear on why this helped Andrew to escape the spotlight, I keep getting hung up on that to the point that it really frustrates me instead of entertains me :/

Right, my bad! This research thing wouldn't have happened in the school, it was like an internship at a renowned research facility or institute. That would mean graduating highschool early for the student who bags it, in a way that they'd essentially transfer there and the school will turn a blind eye to their final exams, given they come up with concrete research thesis and basically maintain the school's good name there. You can take it as recruitments for research based colleges straight from your highschool, only that you get to skip your senior year (it's a choice in which year of your highschool you wish to appear for he selection process- exam and interview) if you're applying as a junior. Theoretically, even a freshman could qualify and skip all the high school years or perhaps request to join the college after completing highschool if they so wish, after a small formality exam right before the joining if there's a gap of more than one year. But obviously that doesn't happen due to the difficulty level and curriculum difference, some topics that don't get introduced until in junior year. Both are protagonists are the smart kinds so they've been preparing in advance already. About only one of them getting in, it's more about bias, if you will. It's so difficult for people to qualify this exam, that's it's almost impossible that two students from the same school would get in, especially one as local as theirs. But there's also an institutional bias, that the recruiters prefer to choose the best from a school so they're skeptical to take multiple students, given the limited vacancies they have. They're not above making all the candidates from a school compete for the position in the interview round, in which only the one with the best performance is selected. And of course, they're not too afraid to miss one school if no one meets their standard there. So yea, it's pretty competitive.

tho how could he steal it, I doubt he bribed the committee who grants the spot, so it was just via also handing in an application, huh? So I guess Aiden’s application just wasn’t good enough? SEE this is where my mind goes when you don’t explain stuff!!

A student bribing would get him immediately disqualified so no no no. Buttttt if they had an inside source and someone else's fingerprint on the deed, I'm sure they could get by unnoticed You're dangerously close to the bribing concept, I'll tell you that though. About the other thought, you might want to hold onto it till the plot throws some more revelations to clarify this.

Or maybe that is post-hoc justification striking?

Exactly what I was hoping this poem would sound like, my job here is done.

I don’t think I like this poem. Maybe if you explain your reasonings you can win me over <.<

Oh but I LOVE your reactions. But what makes you think I want to win you over, when I can torture you instead hehe~ I like it when the reader struggles with my characters, gotta spread the trauma. I've said enough though and I will take the liberty of saying that you're thinking in the right direction, perhaps a little too well. I think I should write works to make you go crazy more often now, it brings out your genius. I do think you'll be a thrown a little off course when I deal the final blow for this, but there's no point explaining it now. I'd rather you ask the questions first, before I answer them.

-15-

(Or maybe another justification? XD)

Okay you're being too critical now, give the boy some credit, he's trying ToT

my brain keeps interpreting sinister vibes into all of Felix’ lines lol

From a guy as sweet as Felix, now why would it :0

Wait wait wait did Felix really plan to throw out his education for the guitar thing

I mean that education was never his choice anyways, he was obliged to go to college for something so he took history that he had a little interest in but he couldn't quite so well in it because of all the rote learning and he had no guidance. And you'd be surprised at how much people are willing to let go of to get a day in their dream life and job, when they've been pulled away from it all the time.

Also why is he telling the police that? I can’t follow the events here.

I was afraid this poem was about to miss the mark, but oh well. He's telling the police because in a house search of the Aiden case suspects, the police have found a packed suitcase in his room, with all his clothes and essentials. His room is also almost bland with the things that were hung on the walls previously (idk if I mentioned in the poem or not). So you can imagine how suspicious that looks, a suspect with all signs of running away in an active ongoing investigation. So he tells his plight to the officers, so that he doesn't become the prime suspect. There's also the possibility of his dad finding out now that the police knows (because he's an influential man with ties to the police and well their obligation to tell a parent what they search and find in their home, when the son is still financially dependent and living under the parent's roof) so he's also pleading the officers not to tell his parents about it.

Also shouldn’t it be “averted” there in the final line?

Oops, you're right, will correct it at once!

Also also: I am so confused? What even was happening? What did he really tell the police?
I couldn’t really follow this poem at all o_o

Well, I wouldn't really blame you for that. Both of these were the most confusing ones in my opinion as well so you're good. I fear I may have made them too ambiguous in an attempt to keep the intrigue of ooooh I can't understand it, must be too good uk well I don't usually think that but I don't really write mysteries either so I was just trying something new. Thanks for letting me know it didn't get across well, I'll try to be a little more clear in the future. But also, feel free to take these as things that increases your suspicion on these two, it'll feel pretty rewarding moving forwards. A suspect is talking in circles and can't explain it? Maybe they're being very suspicious and the writer is a mastermind.. (I'm so full of myself haha)

-16-

…tho I immediately don’t know if she’s metaphorically grabbing random boy’s collars or if she’s literally doing that. And if the latter: what.

Metaphorically, of course! .... I think? She's going mad, forgive a mother who just lost her son. Though it would be funny to see it in reality- imagine a lady grabbing the collars of teen boys to see their faces, thinking they might be her son. Funny and yet incredibly sad :/

(also idc that these are college-aged ppl, they are all babies to me)

As a guy in college myself, all of my batchmates (including me) act more toddlery drama queens than actual kids, so you're not much far off.

I wonder what Aiden thought of HER; if he maybe felt smothered by her love since this is all she seemed to have left?

Ooh, that's an interesting perspective that I think the poet should definitely explore.. WAIT THAT'S ME-

Oh my, this is such a chilling pair of lines! So good! But oh my, this woman @.@
And even to the bitter end, she’s placing expectations on her son: “come free me”, huh?
This one was good!

Yay, I'm happy you liked it! Actually, I'd recommend you listen the song I've put for this one. (Ik I don't sound great, but let's focus on the feels and lyrics ToT) I don't know if you've been following them from the beginning, but this song was the most expressive of the tone I was going for and though you've caught onto it perfectly all by yourself, it could pretty much leave an impact. And the contrast to any of the other songs would sound even more chilling, I've used some audio overlap hehe. I do think I've sung the first song the best through, the Chloe one if you remember.

And oh, you're in for a treat with day 17..

Also it seems like I had missed the previous reply, so covering that now!

I actually didn't notice you wait to read these as a treat after the GR is below a certain reading time, aww my heart <3

the best day, in case you checked my Camp Novmo Updates!

I'm not sure I caught it, as much as I hate to ask this- can you tell me once again please?

-9-

I just love the way Chloe phrases her poems!

I find it so fascinating how you manage to convey information and backstory and still keep this recognizable rhythm!

These are such sweet compliments, thank you very much! I'm also quite surprised, that most of the poems I end up nailing are Chloe's. I think romance is just my strength to write, and I get to make her poems vague while still keeping meaning.

but the other non-“refrain” verses have a longer ending line that breaks the pattern for me.

Well I needed them to carry the weight and establish contact, so that the 'to' lines could soar high freely. It's also reflected in the song, and honestly they just felt good to sing low and slow (which is best with longer lines) to complement the shorter follow ups, I guess it doesn't look as good as it did in my head though..

is she addressing here?

I think you grasp the idea, it's quite easy to understand. Not that it's your fault, I'm just pointing a way to interpret it effortlessly despite my crude writing. The mother and grandmother are polar opposites here, Aiden the glue that brought both these family members of her together. Mom loved a sweet boy for her dear girl and the grandmother saw her granddaughter 'correcting her mother's mistakes' by dating a med student and studying to be one herself- portraying responsibility and maturity as opposed to her mother when she was Chloe's age.

but there’s an argument for Aiden and his perceived perfection

.

There is, it just doesn't seep into that line. You're taking things as a poet now though, the development!

It seems logical that the “he” who tells her to float is Aiden?

Yes! As he was the only male character here, I didn't see the need to clarify after I had used the pronouns but you're right, I could've pointed towards him a little more clearly.

Aiden as the catalyst for all the new developments maybe?

Right on point!

-10-

And now my favourite. Hello Gia :3

Making questionable choices, are we? Well mine's JP so I shouldn't really talk. My favourite is probably Irene or Chloe though. Andrew is pretty Kouji, so ew but writing him is the most difficult (one I'm failing at rn). I'd say Felix is a little like Tommy. For the girls, it's a lot more complicated though. Gia and Irene being closest to Zoe (former more than later, still) and Chloe to Kei, but it's much far fetched than the boys.

I think you find her honesty refreshing, and well she cares for him despite the problem he causes her. Only if you knew what I've got planned for her though..

on the fence and clearly not as “vicious” as “they” make her out to be

God you're justifying her like I do JP, it's so satisfying to watch XD honestly, I too prefer my readers having favourites, I really enjoy the look on their faces when I turn them devious hehe.. the only way you can outsmart me is by being unhinged in your choice to begin with, basically beat me in the crazy.

-11-

This one meant a lot to me, let's see Good it looks~

Sounds as if he’s saying goodbye to a version of himself that he finds untenable to keep up. As if he grew out of himself and became a new person and is unsure of how ppl react to this new him?

The first inference? Perfect. But that version he can't keep up to, is his bestfriend- Andrew. While you could argue that what you interpret is also obviously right, I very much that 'another me' being Andrew, given their many similarities and shared perception of others.

why they are “former” best friends?

They lost contact after Andrew went away on that research opportunity and these inferior feeling he felt in Andrew's absence made him not want to put in the extra effort to stay friends so I guess they just grew apart. Andrew isn't really a bad person (as opposed to the guy who inspired him in my life, yikes) but sometimes you just can't shake the feeling you had with them due to what the world says and sees, you know?

Might want to fix the typo here. “so we're perfect toother“ :3

Done, thanks for making my work easier!

The possibilities!!

Would hate to ruin your thought process but here's some more input- (you're a little bit too much on point with what happened to me url, courtesy of that guy but) in this story, Aiden is so much trying to keep pace with Andrew that he know longer does something for himself, but to stay on level with Andrew so that he doesn't fall behind and isn't deemed the inferior one of the two of worse, Andrew thinks himself too good for this friendship (as opposed to me, I never tried XD) I was just in a really bad place when I wrote this, literally amidst my 'downfall' and I wrote this for him, I just reused it here when the idea for the series came and enough of the plot overlapped so don't mind if some detail looks out of place.

Maybe the title is less philosophical and more “I am kinda like you already so losing you would be the same as losing myself”?

Precisely, the identity blurs!

And what does it mean that you are so similar to someone… and yet recognize yourself as “lesser” (or other recognize you as lesser too?)

I think you've asked the perfect person. More than actuality, we're focusing on other's perception here. So like both of these guys are very study oriented, but I guess Aiden is not good as Aiden (given his other responsibilities and troubles). They're bestfriends so always seen together and you pick up some traits of your loved ones right. Plus such close friends tend to share activities so there's that. After being involved with Chloe, Aiden is pretty much on the same social level as Andrew (that he wasn't before but then again, Andrew is no longer active in this story tangent and Andrew has grown more isolated in that research position now, take it a socialising switcheroo) as being a boyfriend excuses most of his time and Chloe's connections and image helps her in social circles a lot. With the whole research opportunity plot that you've now read, you can pretty much apply the theory there and it holds. Aiden might've never wanted the research opportunity in the first place, as he's always wanted to study medicine unlike Andrew who was waiting for the perfect dream job to appear before he'd commit his life to it. Aiden had spent so long chasing behind Andrew, that he tried at a thing just because it Andrew is doing it, it must be an objectively better dream. All of this was definitely subconscious, but you can see how much it messed up his brain. So they're similiar because they did most of the same things, were often seen together and were sweet guys to know in general, but Andrew seemed to better at everything than Aiden.

I also like how the final verse has all the previous ending lines at the end!

Thank you, I thought it sounded conclusive! =D

I wonder if there was more to this relationship than it first appeared?

Soulmate friends are definitely a better and deeper arc than any other, be it paternal or romance, in my opinion! Their relationship is indeed complex but rewarding because of it. You'll grow to love them, promise. I mean think about it- they were long over and yet Andrew comes back to the scene, as active as the people currently in his life and is just as eager to find him. That's a gesture when Aiden isn't even there to see it- that says much, doesn't it?