We Change as Time Changes Around Us, But We Can't Escape Our Origin Story
When you wake up and look yourself in the mirror, you start to get ready, but do you get ready for yourself or for others? When you think about starting the day, which character do you prepare yourself to play? Are you the same person the next day? Do you remain in character throughout the day or do you change constantly whenever someone else appears in front of you? Do you practice this charade or do you do it so often you lose yourself in it? Do you remember who you used to be 20 years ago or is that person non-existent as of now?
I like to look back to 20 years ago exactly because that's when I had my first life-changing moment: my parent's divorce. I was an innocent little boy back then with no idea of what was going on. I only remember my parents fighting and then my mother telling me we were going to live to my grandpa's apartment. I remember my father making me promise that I would always take care of my mother and that I would look after my little brother. I don't remember much as everything else that could've happened then probably got lost in the background that was my shock.
I used to be a happy kid back then. Cheerful. I had plans of growing up to be a cop and to save lives. I loved dinosaurs, I thought they were the coolest thing ever.
Then time passed. I was an ace at middle school. Honors, medals, top of the class kind of deal. I was a glow in my parents' eyes.
Fast-forward to high school. I was bullied, laughed at, beat up.
Then I moved to the United States of America: the Dream was waiting for me.
Opportunity. But that didn't change the fact that I had left all my friends and family behind.
I still cared for my mother. For my little brother. Now I had another little brother to take care of.
Years later I was changed. Struggles. Life. The care package was somewhere on its way, I just couldn't get to it fast enough.
I lost myself.
Then I started drinking. I lost myself even deeper.
Then life kicked my ass and told me to wake up and open my eyes to the harsh reality that it was now: Get Your Act Together!
I found myself.
I stopped drinking. I was reborn.
So I wake up and look myself in the mirror. I get ready. I put on a character according to what I want it to play throughout the day. And then I immerse myself in it.
But is it me? Or is it just another make-believe?
I like to think that these characters have a goal--they have a mission.
And my mission? To keep them in check. To keep the story flowing.
After all, I'm a writer.