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This game has continued to stick around in my mind after playing.

SPOILERS(?)  no specific events but I discuss themes in detail and it would be better for someone who hasn't played to play this themselves before reading.

The entire dynamic between the two primary characters (not including the angel) is itself so deeply resonate with me and some of the fears I have in my own relationships. I've been both fearful (and knowing) that my loved ones have grown tired of me, and guilty and dissociated from growing overwhelmed and feeling "tired" of those I love. I think this game sticks with me as much as it does because it comes back to the message, no matter what your ultimate choice is at the end, that the doubts and overwhelm we feel is ultimately inconsequential to the importance of the deeper connections and affections we have for each other. We live in a world that feeds off of us for the name of profit, progress, false resource scarcity, "justice." It's unfortunately common for people to grow irritated with and hurt by one another because these are the things we can control - our relationships - even when they arent the source of the problem. We sometimes turn to hurting each other - or turn away from each other - when we don't have the option to turn away from the suffering that is unavoidable.

"You will never be enough" struck me. I stared at that panel for a long time. It's exactly what I'm afraid of, what a lot of us are afraid of, and it's true. In a lot of ways it's true. No matter how badly we desire we cannot bend the world to our whims. No love is great enough to heal the planet or lifelong, continuous trauma. I think that's something humans have been trying to cope with for a long time. We've got thousands upon thousands of stories based around the idea that our emotions themselves can be the source of tangible, physical power, change, and healing. It's part of why people practice witchcraft. But our care can only do so much.

I can't love her so much that her body heals. I can't grieve the world enough to clean our oceans or our skies. I can't anger enough to bring back thousands of species driven extinct by habitat loss and poaching, or enough to prevent further damage. I can only do what I can. I can be with her. I can participate in protests, when my body allows ever so infrequently. I can sign petitions and help others to care. I know it's not enough. I know the world is dying and that we are killing it. I know I'm not enough.

It could've been any of those thousands upon thousands of stories I've read/heard/watched that inspired this moment for me, but it wasn't. it was MEAT GIRL. And MEAT GIRL says that in spite of it all, we still choose to love one another, and care for each other anyway we can. I will spend my life picking up her trash and i will get tired of it over and over again but it doesnt matter. I love her and I chose her and we are sticking together through this horrific mess until mortality tears us apart and death reunites us again.

Thank you for making this game.