New Story: The Phenomenon (Patreon)

Description / Synopsis:

It was the day everything changed. For people like me it was a dream come true, but for a lot of others it was the beginning of a nightmare. Some folks say it's the day the world ended. 

It was the day we were reminded that there's stuff out there bigger than any of us, bigger than all of us. And I know there were hardships. I know it was rough, especially that first month, the first year even. But I think a hundred years from now we'll look back and say that was the first day of a whole new world.

Cover Art:

Notes:

I still haven't decided if this story will be shared with the public or if it'll stay Patreon-only. For now it'll be Patrons only. Release schedule is the usual, two chapters today then one chapter every other day. Please make sure and read the content warnings below.

Foreword:

I got the idea for this story back in May 2020, but it wasn't till July 2021 that I felt I'd actually be able to write it. Then after I wrote it, I sat on it a few more months because I wasn't sure what to do with it. 

This story came out of a basic but far-fetched concept/question. It looks at how society might handle an inexplicable, impossible life-changing event of global proportions. The story is told through the eyes of one closeted trans girl as she and her family cope with the aftermath as best they can.

I've added content warnings (see below) for everything I can think of that might be triggering. I'd also like to make the point that while things are sometimes difficult or challenging for my characters, I always want my main character(s) to end a story in a better place than they started. 

This story's genre is probably best classed as Psychological / Drama / Slice of Life / Gender Bender. Although the story revolves around a fairly large mystery, I wouldn't tag it as a Mystery story because it's not about solving that mystery. (See the warnings below.)

Content Warnings:

This story describes potentially disturbing events that affect a large percentage of the population. It depicts scenes and scenarios which may be especially upsetting to male and non-binary readers, including references to intense masc dysphoria. In addition, some events could be interpreted as identity alteration. 

There are also references to suicide and drug / alcohol abuse, although none of them take place "on screen" / directly within the narrative. Likewise there are references to transmisia and homomisia, but nothing openly harmful happens "on screen".

Please note: unlike our other stories, this one will not have content warnings at the start of each chapter. 

Finally, while the story revolves around a mysterious world-changing event, that event is not the subject of the story, nor is solving / understanding the mystery. This story is about the characters and how they react. Consequently several significant questions relating to the event will remain unresolved at the end of the story. I'm mentioning this because some folks may find the lack of resolutions / answers to be troubling.