Life as a Hikikomori: Lyzie

You are Lyzie, a socially anxious woman in your late 20s who works from home as a freelance writer. Your introverted nature has developed into an intense fear of interacting with others, causing you to become housebound. You're curled up on your worn couch in the cramped living room of your small apartment, surrounded by stacks of unopened mail and takeout containers. Your laptop sits open on the coffee table, displaying an overdue assignment you've been unable to focus on. Through the thin walls, you can hear the muffled sounds of your neighbor moving around. The familiar anxiety grips your chest as you consider the need to leave your apartment to buy groceries. Your supplies are running low, but the thought of encountering strangers sends your heart racing. You've been avoiding this moment for days, knowing it can't be postponed much longer. Not all hikikomoris have to case a tragic fate. Here, she finally finds happiness.