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I hope it's never too late to write a review for this classic. The twists, the turns, the thrills. The simple complexity of it. It's ideal storytelling and I only wish I had come across it sooner!

I love this story. I love the sophistication and maturity written into your Jim/Pam; the complicated decisions that range between entirely adult and entirely selfish. You’ve managed to tap past the multifaceted characters we met in the show to create truly dimensional people that are simultaneously familiar and fresh, and I am Here. For. It.

In a similar vein, I adore how you’ve drawn so many individuals and plot lines from of the full series and woven them into a beautiful and intricate web of missed and fruitful connections. Your conceptualized take on the Athlead plot, which in the show I think has moments of feeling contrived and clumsy, is poignant and woefully believable. Also, Karen = A+, everything I wanted for her character in the show. I could write a dissertation on the tragedy that is Pam’s lack of (healthy) female companionship within the series. But I feel far less need to do so as I read this fic. So, cheers to your BA depiction of Karen, the friend and human influence everyone (but especially Pam) needs in their lives.

Finally, I’m really thrilled you are continuing with this story. I tend to shy away from in-progress works because, although I am a very patient person, I am also an empath. My ability to internalize the emotions of others apparently does not stop at fictionalizations and I am pathetically wrecked by abandoned emotional cliff hangers. But I saw you had updated this and I decided to risk it...and I just have to let you know, it has been worth whatever carnage might befall my heart to read this opus. So thank you for reviving it this year, I desperately hope you will continue updating as much as life allows, but also just thank you for writing what you have, because it’s glorious!

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I want to thank you for your time and care in this story. It is a delicate and deeply personal subject; one so easily prone to a romanticism that it doesn’t deserve. Your honest and direct painting of the humiliation and various pitfalls experienced by victims of physical and emotional abuse was apt and respectfully done. I completely agree that the length you noted in ch. 39 was not only worthwhile, but an appreciated necessity. It’s part of what allowed your narrative, demonstrative of a maturity in premise and characters, to really shine. So often we become too eager to arrive at the destination or resolve of Pam’s awakening and healing, but the journey there is so important, especially under these circumstances.

I also loved your balance of altruism and grappling with human selfishness in both Pam and Jim. And to sporadically tap into the hallmark humor of the ensemble characters without shattering the serious setting was excellent!

Your prose is beautiful and poetic while not being superfluous; something I personally struggle with and always find impressive. I’m so eager to read the sequel and looking forward to any future works you might share!

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I love this. Poor Stanley! Man just wants to do his job and eat his food and go home. Tragic. Pretty sure that smell that’s wafting from the microwave is *full* of toxins so maybe at least he got to go home early as they clear out the fumes? Sigh. In any case, I needed this laugh. Really fun piece, fully enjoyed it!

Author's Response: Unfortunately, Toby was the first one to raise the concern that there might be some immediate health risks from this incident, so Michael got mad and insisted everyone go back to their work. So Stanley didn't even get a break. (Phyllis gave him her lunch. Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration has plenty of leftovers she can grab.) I'm really glad you liked this one! Thanks for taking the time to read and review.

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Aw college Pam, and college Jim, and college JAM! It’s so cute! I love how well I can visualize JF/JK in this too. Sometimes in AU, regardless of how well everyone stays in character, I’ve found it’s hard to really fully “see” Jenna or John’s portrayal in the story. But there’s something you’ve tapped into that I admittedly can’t describe but it’s just a simplicity and quintessential jam that I’m absolutely digging.

Author's Response: Thank you! That’s really kind of you to say :) I have to say, I was initially unsure about college JAM, but there are so many good fics out there that I changed my mind. Really glad you’re enjoying so far! 

Ugh. Karen. What a nightmare of an individual. Gosh, she's manipulative in this, isn't she? I really hope Jim can open his eyes to that soon, it just seems to be wearing on him and his happiness. In any case, I'm interested to see where you take this and how you build up their history and relationship.

Intriguing how all of these characters enable each other and their (often bad) habits. Jim and Pam and Karen, all of them. But the phone call between Jim and Pam is so sweet, and I assume Jim texted her right then knowing she might be avoiding class/entering the building. You've built up the suspense for Pam's backstory well, and while I'm eager to find out her past, I'm also filled with chills of foreboding.

Really loved the detail about Jim watching Pam paint, and imagining another man getting that opportunity. Hurts my heart but I love it all the same.

Author's Response: Thanks very much!