Steampunk Cat By Ruslan Svobodin

Well... A little over a year ago, I stopped using Tumblr for personal and work-related reasons. I didn’t delete my account, but I uninstalled the app from my phone and tablet and logged out of all browsers.

Back then, I used to exchange messages frequently with a friend on Tumblr. We used that space to share ideas and talk about things we didn’t feel comfortable discussing with people around us. That strengthened our friendship, and losing that was what I truly regretted about leaving this platform.

Even so, I sent him a final message telling him I was leaving Tumblr, explaining why, and saying goodbye for a while. He wished me the best and said goodbye too. That was January 18, 2024.

I had no idea what kind of year awaited me—it was complicated, full of big changes, sad moments, and a few joys. Everything changed, for better or worse. However, more recently, the good things have outweighed the bad. Everything seems to be improving, and although some things are still difficult, I feel renewed. Maybe that’s why I had no problem when the thought of checking Tumblr again crossed my mind—this endless pit of ideas that is way too distracting, but suddenly, I had time to take a look... and what I found blew my mind.

I discovered that all this time, my friend had kept sending me messages. More than a year of messages, maintaining a one-sided conversation with me. He never lost faith that I would return and, in his own way, chose not to drift away—never asking for a response, never demanding attention, just sending messages with the hope that one day I’d be there again.

I felt deeply appreciated and grateful. I felt special and filled with happiness. A part of me had forgotten how good it feels to share like that with someone, and all the emotions from those past messages came rushing back like a tide of memories—memories of happy and meaningful moments, moments of connection that I now want to reciprocate.

Now I have a new challenge: more than a year’s worth of messages to catch up on. I don’t want to skip any because that wouldn’t be fair to the person who sent them. But since he keeps sending more, I’m probably going to have to do some marathon reading sessions, maybe responding to the ones that stand out the most to me. The only thing that worries me is that so much information all at once, without breaks, might overwhelm me. I might end up in a sort of brainwashing state where, at some point, I just respond on autopilot, letting myself be carried away... but that also sounds fun, like a challenge. And it's the least I can do to show my appreciation and do my part to strengthen our friendship. Plus, I’m sure he’ll find it hilarious when I start rambling because of him.

Lastly, all I have left to say is—thank you. I missed you too.

Para estrenar el regalo decidí bocetar a mi #CapitanMarvel personal ❤️ ... Aún tengo que practicar mucho y olvidarme de la pena. #sketch #boceto #CaptainMarvel #drawitinyourstyle https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw0fDVvgLlD/?igshid=1cqvwuo7qiy9z

Cosas que me regala @lk_trickster para quitarme las excusas para no dibujar ❤️ #noexcuses #justdoit #draw #dibujar https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw0HFL5g1l-/?igshid=rhqadueo05d8

Cuando dije que sería un día complicado lo dije en serio... Apenas es una parte, continuamos mañana. (en ESAY Artes Musicales)