I'm sorry it made you tear up, and thank you so much. I've read and reread this story so many times, it losts its impact on me and I was worried it wouldn't hit with anyone. It's a bit too close for me as well, if that makes you feel any better.
I used Renpy which is a super simple framework made specifically for visual novels, which means I could focus on the art and writing. And I picked a story with fairly linear choices, so there wouldn't be too many options to juggle. It's my second time doing a visual novel for a game jam, so I had a better idea of what I could produce in a week (especially since I was on paid leave).
Thank you so much for your review and thank you for the tip!