Eeesh... that "I love you anecdote." Oof. I'm sorry to hear that. :/
I actually feel what you're saying about the jumping off point. For days 1-20ish of this I was like a writing machine. I was writing so many cool little short stories that people were enjoying and I didn't even realize before this that I was capable of writing fiction! But I think I'm starting to tap out now that it's feeling like a chore, and that creativity I had at first is starting to wear down. I really want to keep going so I can show myself I can complete it. I just don't know if we're too far away from the end that I could really consider this the "home stretch."
Right? I hear you and keep wondering if I should just move on with my other writing projects. I just think "But I've put all of this time in already!"