"Hey, man. Your mom called, plus, we've got school tomorrow."
He gets up from his seat and places the controller on the table. The room's quite dark, the only source of light being the game over screen on the large tv.
While he lets go of that controller, I'm holding on. Tight.
"Just one more game. It won't hurt, right?"
I ask.
I look pathetic right now, don't I?
He rubs his eyebrows.
"...Look, dude, it's real late, and I'd hate to get in trouble."
"..."
I place the escapism on the ground, and a small sound of the plastic hitting the ground erupts in succession. It's quiet, but loud all the same.
"We can always play tomorrow, and besides, it's Friday."
"...Yeah, you're right."
When we enjoy these moments of happiness and free time, is the clutch of reality not a looming threat? You can be the happiest person in the world, but it never really lasts, does it?
I finish wrapping my scarf around my neck, adjusting the cloth to avoid any breathing issues. It's cold out.
He closes the door after we leave our goodbyes.
And I turn, walking back into that cold embrace. The warmth just becomes nothing more than a memory, treading into the recesses of my mind.
I know it's normal for kids. When you tell them it's bedtime, and tell them to shut off the tv, they cry or sulk. That fictional world they've been journeying through has been ripped from them, no longer providing comfort. It's an expected reaction.
But.
Is it so wrong?
Why should we enjoy anything, really? If it's all going to end within a certain time period?
That's why I hate reality.
I hate that feeling of being held responsible for things that you never knew you even held jurisdiction over. I hate that feeling of being ripped from somewhere nice for no reason whatsoever. I hate the feeling of putting so much time, effort, and love into something, all for it to fail. Why do I need to experience it? Hell, why does anyone need to experience it?
I just want to sink into the warm bath, never to come out again. I don't want the cold air to touch my skin.
I hate reality. I hate it.