Dear Ruth, 🌷
No apologies. I'm a retired grandmother, with the luxury of time. Often I don't comment on a post because I don't want to intrude, and am never disappointed when there's no response.

Lilith:

Wow! That's some story. And to read it now, during a pandemic--there is startling resonance. You take such care with the story, with every word, every sentence. Casual readers will miss signs of meticulous editing. But writers will see it.

As for self-publishing:
To encourage you I'm linking to the Amazon page that lists some of my books. I went a bit wild at self-publishing a few years back. It is so easy and satisfying. My daughter owns these books and gets about $35 a month in sales for all of them :)) Only one that really sells is Jonas Salk: The Battle Against Polio.
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ARhythm+Prism+LLC&s=relevancerank&text=Rhythm+Prism+LLC&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
There's another list under A. G. Moore with overlapping titles (I really wrote a lot of books !!)
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ARhythm+Prism+LLC&s=relevancerank&text=Rhythm+Prism+LLC&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
On this list, the only one that ever sold decently was A Lupus Handbook. I give that away free now as an ebook.

I do not expect a response to this email. You are busy, I know.

I wish you happiness and bright days ahead.🌞

With great affection (and respect for your writing skills)
AG