[right][h2]J̶͙̝̹͖͒̅̂̏͝͝ā̶̪̘̾̇̎̕y̷̗̦̖͊̀̑ͅ’s̵̤̪̰̓͝ ̷̮̤̋̽C̸̭͓̤͓̘̱̑̀̾͝͠ą̸̟͈̯͖͐̉͛̾̕͠t̴̩̺͆̂̓͐̕ḣ̵͉͍̣ȧ̷̫̙̞̐͘r̴̛̛͉̟̓̌̿͛s̴̛̮̞̫̝͉͆̈̀ị̸̗͓͍́͑ș̴̛͊̐̋͝t̸̞͗͐[/h2]
[@Tlazolteotl][/right]
The display read:

[quote][i]"This has been a decent exercise, and I appreciate my mini-catharsis, but I'm dropping out. I'm more interested in a group dynamic than a turn-based battle against depression."[/i][/quote]
A moment passed before Jay looked up at the Moderator.

“Sorry. For scaring them off.” A short exhale. “I tried to engage with everyone. Get to know them… Maybe I didn’t do enough.”

Never enough.

Before the Moderator could reassure them, Jay’s gaze had already drifted to the other avatars around the room. Everyone still in their seats, still facing them, still looking like they were listening. Something behind their eyes, though, said AFK.

“How many of them are actually still here?” they asked the Moderator, then shook their head. “No. Sorry, that’s not fair to ask you. Forget I said that.”

Turning back to the blank, waiting faces, Jay pressed their hands to their knees. “If any of you are still here... you don’t need to stay on my account. I’ll understand.”

The folding chair creaked as they shifted their weight. Jay let out a long, deflated breath.

“I understand.”