A very interesting metaphor for fan writing, though I'm not sure I want to know what the squirrel represents. ;-) I hope that by writing it you've helped yourself come to terms with people's general paucity of comments (myself included). It does seem like Daria has by the end, though it usual cynical fashion. I think a lot more people than you're aware of appreciate your stories, though of course it's hard for you to be aware of them without mind-reading skills. Even if you're only throwing stones in mud, sometimes the patterns of those stones change the course of the river just slightly, or inspire others to throw stones of their own.

To sum up: keep up the good work. :-)

It was written at a time and place where I was very unhappy at many people's reactions, and was one of the ways that I worked through things. If I really think that I'm good, I need to, as they say, stop tossing stones into mud, and build a house of my own, and that was, essentially, the conclusion that Daria came to.