I initially wasn't going to do this. But reading others' experiences here, made me reflect upon my own. And I am compelled to open my heart, to submit my own message in a bottle. I want to contribute to this wonderful mural of stories.

I came to Hydaelyn to escape my own life, where dark thoughts, doubts and anxieties plagued me, and my future was uncertain and terrifying. To find refuge in the bright land of Eorzea.

But I was unprepared for the beauty in this world. In Zenith, the ruins of Dravania filled me with awe and sorrow, a monument to what people could do in cooperation, and the destruction wrought by the greed in our hearts. Our world, reflected in story. In the endless plains of the Azim, I felt a tug on my heart as wanderlust seeped into me. And in the Crystarium, where the residents had made their world a better place through cooperation. Hope from hopelessness.

And finally, when we stood atop the ruins of Amaurot, opposite Emet-Selch, I felt that tug again. When he looked at us with sad, tired eyes, and said "Remember us", and my character merely nodded and smiled. She would remember them, that they had lived.

This hit me hardest. All throughout our journey, I had seen my character help out so many people. Without hesitation and no expectation of reward, she would jump to action, aiding those in need. Even as I, the player, only did things with expectation of reward. This is the greatest strength of my character as the warrior of light; her compassion. Her unerring tendency to lend her strength to those in need. My character is a reflection of me in this world, and yet where she is a shining beacon of hope and solidarity, I am at best Fray, a distrusting cynic. It's made me want to become a better person; to become a warrior of light in our world, just as my character is in this one.

XIV is a game, but to say it is only that diminishes its impact. In our world, the emotions in my heart easily overwhelm, and in my haste to convey them to others, words tend to tumble from my mouth. It's hard for me to connect with others. But here in XIV, I've met many wonderful friends. I found the other half of my heart. I walked lands that took my breath away. I found home.

And I'm not the only one. From reading other entries in this thread, XIV has touched the lives of so many. People have found loves and homes of their own in this beautiful game. And so many people have felt that same tug on their hearts, and been changed for the better.

So I wanted to say thank you, to everyone who had a hand in building this beautiful world. Thank you for the stories and the music and the wonderful experiences you've all given me. And when I must eventually close the gates, and step away from Eorzea back into our world, I will always cherish the memories that this place has given me. I'll remember the lessons my warrior of light taught me, that I may become a warrior of light in our world as well.