I feel your frustration since I have felt it too, every time I check my “earnings” . I don’t know if you are literally only getting paid 2 cents, but I know I quite literally am, because poems and short essays which I mostly write earn pretty much nothing, no matter how carefully and lovingly crafted. No matter how much enjoyment or insight they provide.

Medium has cut its own wrists and will have to watch itself bleed away its own most talented, most honest writers who have grown tired of being patronized and promised that things will get better in time.

Oh, and I am glad you include the importance of feeding your cat. 🐈 🙂