Eight months. That's how long it took to finally finish the last two hours I had left on the next page. Negative emotion and memories kept bombarding me whenever I looked at it, so I'd poke at it for a few minutes here and there before breaking down into tears and/or quickly moving to something else.

But I finally finished it.

I was worried the next page might take as long which is why I've been avoiding promising a return date. I'm still wary of giving a set date because I don't want to promise NAV will be back, only to end up giving up after a week or two. However, the next page hasn't been as hard. That surprised me. Until I realized I had worked on the prior page during the week where my sister's health slowly collapsed. And, like a smell that can transport you to a different time and place along with all the emotions associated with it, that page was doing the same for me about my sister's death.

But that page is now done. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I might be able to handle doing NAV after all.

However, I am woefully out of habit of working on it in time to finish a page in a week. And I'd like to have a small buffer just in case something in the story triggers something.

So, this isn't much of an update. You'll still have to wait. But I'm at least moving forward. Small steps, right?

I'm alive.

I crashed pretty hard, though. Still not all fixed up. I don't cry as much but when the wave of grief hits, it hurts. The holidays did not help, but at least they're now over.

I have loved all of your comments, your emails, and your stories. Some of you are dealing with--or have dealt with--big losses like me. And it makes me want to form a big group hug. Because this is not fun.

Been trying to draw. It's not going so well. Because I end up crying. My sister was a big supporter of my comic and, well, my thoughts aren't filled with happy ones as I draw. Which makes me seek happier activities instead.

Nor does it help that this story deals a lot with grief, pain, and mental trauma. I'm not really in a good headspace for all that...

But, I love my comic and I know if I don't set a deadline, I'll never get anything done.

So, I'm setting a loose goal to re-start the comic on March 1st. It's possible it will happen. It's possible it won't. I might even start earlier. Or I might not. But, at the very least, I can promise you'll get another update from me by March 1st.

Thank you all so much in the meantime. Best fans ever.

EDIT: Goal is extended to April 5th.

Been meaning to write something for a while, but all I do is cry.

So here is a pic.

If you're confused, see last page's edits to know why.

I love NAV. I'll be back. Just...not right now...sorry

Thank you. You're all amazing. All the comments, the emails--it's too much to respond to everyone and I'm still on the overwhelmed side emotionally so here's a huge big thank you to all of you. You're all been so kind and understanding. I can't thank you enough. All I have to give back is:

I'm coming back June 15th.

I wanted to come back sooner, but the script called for some of Dude's memories which means Reality style in the next few pages. That takes a lot more out of me than the regular style and I wasn't quite sure I could do it. I was considering cutting those pages, but I really liked what I had in mind; I just needed to gather the energy to do it.

I finished the first page. Yeah, it took forever, but it's done. I'm on to the next. I'm slowly getting into a new routine. But I'm so glad you're all still here. Because I can't wait to get back to this awesome story.

Thanks again.