In the houses along the Glendale area, there was a nice little family of four. A nuclear family, no doubt about it. The children grew up in the same neighborhood, same school, same everything, for their whole childhood. Everything, except for the neighbors, were the same. Neighbors would come and go; new faces, friendly faces. This family had no reason to move, though. There was no reason to change, to adapt, for the adaptation had already happened, and there was no going back.

One day, however, spite, jealousy, and uncertainty tore the familiar family bond apart. A foul and sour turn of events lead to separation of father and mother. And so began the ruination. The children had an idea of what the event was called, but had never seen it happen in person, and had no grasp on what it would bring. So the father, keeping the same job, found a new place to live. This new home was still well within range of the school, and the children remained there for the rest of their elementary years. For there was no reason to change, and there was no reason to go back.

The mother, now needing to seek a job, searched and searched for one that would pay for everything she now needed. These attempts were in vain. Got interested in one of those “Multi-Level-Marketing” things. So she sold, and recruited, and sold, and recruited. The products were nice, but the job was not the most respectful. Quit, simple as that. Went to find work elsewhere. Found a listing for a soap store in a mall. This venture didn’t last long, either. Well, let’s fire up the computer. See what kind of wonders that might bring this family. But it wasn’t much of a family anymore. More of a common, struggling divide of ideas, morals, and ways to keep the children happy. The old ways and customs of this “family” got older, dustier, drier. But the new ones evolved into a predictable cycle of repetition. The children didn’t mind, though. Go to school. Learn a thing or two. Talk with other children at recess. Get involved with a program. Band, perhaps. This endless knot introduced the children to the monotonous cycle of boredom, not the kind from simple lack of imagination. This was desolate. A downward spiral. But, there was no way to change this stagnation, and there was no going back.

The father’s decision to move had introduced a new repetition. Gotta go find a new house. Let’s see if this one has anything worthwhile. Hell, let’s bring the kids as well. See what they think of this house. Circular neighborhood? Close to the school? Bordering the grocery store? It’s a deal. Who cares about repairs or renovations? We’ll do it ourselves! Anything to keep the kids happy. They seem to like it at least, with the two floors and connected rooms and such. The certainty of the father complimented the children’s fear of speaking their minds clearly. What if our thoughts go against what he wants? No, we can’t have that. Yeah, that sounds good. Sure. Yep. Fear was now embedded into their decisions. Adaptation and reaction were the new family customs, and there was no going back.

The house was substantial enough. A circular neighborhood was great for outside activities. If only there was anyone else to talk to, to play with, to simply exist by. No one knew no one, and no one cared about no one. The only observable life most days was the decaying grass in the middle of the purposeless circular pasture. No one came over, or celebrated together, like a scattered lot of homeless. Struggling, but alone still. No true community, or at least a semblance of it. So, the father moved out. Traveled far and wide. For a new home. And he found one. All the while, the eldest son had just finished elementary school, and was looking forward to a middle school life with all his friends. There was only one issue with the boy’s optimism: the location of this new house. It was far, very far from the original neighborhood, the familiar faces and worn-out places. To the point where he and his sister had to move schools. Like the homeless, now they themselves were alone, but in a new environment with new people and new rules. And with the mother’s decision to move closer to this new school, the ruination was set in stone, and there was no going back.

The kids, now grown and knowledgeable of new things, were afraid to fit in. The simple nature of their primary school made it so that there was no need to make new friends. It just happened on its own. Why would they need to meet new people? They already knew everyone at school! That just wasn’t the case in this alien world, people showed up, came and went, but could judge and get a full read on you within the blink of an eye. Like a Black Friday sale where the only thing up for grabs is who you are in this place. Who are you, what’s your name, what are you like? For the eldest son, being “top dog”, or whatever these people say, was learning more than algebra and reading comprehension. It was learning new slang and words. What is this “sarcasm” thing? And also these “social skills”? How do you talk to new people? Tough questions to ask a stranger when you don’t even know how to say anything “right”. In 2 short years, he got to know some others, but the tides of change washed over his whole life once again. An outbreak, an extended summer, and another season of loneliness. Isolated inside, with no way to break out. A labyrinth with no exit, a maze with no prize. And there was no going back.

          With the passing seasons, the eldest son, still cooped up at home, finally was able to start school again. A new kind of school as well. Virtual school. It sounded fancy, technical, cool. But, quickly, that final stretch of optimism faded away. Boring. That’s all it was. Log on, stare at a screen for 3 hours, log off. Half the time, there was no work to do. But when there was, the teachers didn’t hesitate to employ their greatest weapon: breakout rooms. Locked away with 4-5 other strangers. Total silence. Gray backgrounds. Void of anything. Absolutely terrifying for someone who has no idea what a normal conversation sounds like. So the eldest son sat there, and stared, and did pointless work on pointless topics. Thankfully, this season only lasted for a month, as school finally opened up again. Terrified with the prospect of this social nightmare, the eldest son hopped out of his father’s truck into the new world. And as he slowly walked through the blue gates, he heard a song in the distance, like a shimmering light. His mind grew heavy, his sight was dim. And there, he realized for the first time, that there truly was no going back.