Art by Merih 'Saan.

For many months before I commissioned this picture, I'd been in some very dark places. Mostly through my own doing, I suppose, but that didn't make it hurt any less. I had this image in my head of how I pictured myself in these melancholy moods, hiding in a cave, looking out at the outside world going by. In addition to bringing this image to life so wonderfully, Merih was also a good friend to me, being there to listen to the darkest of my thoughts and telling me even those things I might not want to hear.

I've digitally altered the levels of the original image a fair amount because I like the effect, making it look a bit like charcoal I suppose, but this work was done in graphite.