Hi, my name is Aeryn Mu. Alongside with my long-distance girlfriend, Azure, we've been struggling to make ends meet every day while being isolated from anyone who could help us. As a result, we're looking to raise funds to try and stay afloat while finding a place to live together.

I've been a shut-in for the last 6 years, and the biggest reason why is that I have no flexibility to leave my place or move out because of my parents. Despite me being 23 years old, they have control over almost every aspect of my personal life. My life revolves around their unforgiving schedules and their ideas of what I should be. Due to their influence, I cannot leave the house more than once or twice a month, leaving me trapped. My life has been very adversely affected by their neglect, as I no longer have contact with anyone who could help me in-person, such as IRL friends. I cannot afford to get out of the house by myself either, leaving me to rot in my parents' basement's office room for far, far longer than any one person can tolerate.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a full-time job to support myself, let alone a well paying one. I currently work a remote contract job that, while fulfilling, does not pay the bills. I barely manage to pay rent to my parents every month, and can't afford to live comfortably or get my girlfriend out of her bad situation. I spend most days by myself, sitting at my desk, working hour after hour, but I'm unable to earn more than $1.5-2.5k a month.

As for my girlfriend Azure, she lives out of a motel and has a barely-paying part-time job. After years of abuse from her terrible mother, she struck out on her own, hoping to make a better life for herself. However, as she's also been unable to find a full-time job, let alone a well-paying one, she's not even earning enough to pay rent monthly. Her mental state has been on the decline due to harassment from her mother, the horrible living situation, and lack of in-person connection.

Azure only earns, at most, $1.6k a month. I've needed to chip in what little remains from my job to pay for Azure's rent as well, and if that's not enough, we've had to beg for money just to go another month without one of us being homeless. She barely has enough to eat from day to day, has horrible internet quality that makes connecting with others vastly more difficult, and is often risking eviction from lack of funds.

While we've been waiting for the job market to stabilize in order to support ourselves, our funds and energy have been drained. Moving in together would give us enough stability, mentally and materially, to hit the ground running. However, we've exhausted all other options available to us, as neither of us currently has the means to find a place and move both of us out. We need $10,000 to be able to move out immediately and safely support ourselves for a few months while we work on finding full-time jobs. The hope is that we'll be able to get back up on our feet, and hopefully springboard ourselves to security.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story, and offering what you can to help. I know that times are tough for us all, so whatever you can donate is appreciated.