Empath

The first draft of Empath began in the fall of 2021 at Santiago Canyon College. Scotty enrolled in a creative writing class taught by Lynnette Beers, a long-time instructor and published author. Beers asked students to write for various genres, one of which was fiction. Scotty was tasked with creating a story that was at least five pages in length and included both a conflict and a resolution. Shortly after, this story began to write itself. Adding settings, characters, histories, and desires. Empath became the story of two characters recounting details about their lives and one of them later reflecting on what it means to stay in a relationship where one partner is more emotionally available than the other. Empath asks readers to look at themselves and consider whether or not they have the right amount of “good” to not hurt others in the process.