For me, my life was nothing but a cage… one I stood inside alone.
I watched the world from afar, like a shadow passing by without anyone noticing. I lost my parents when I was eighteen, and from that moment on, it felt as if everything around me was collapsing before I could even understand it. Every dream, every attempt, every idea I thought would change my life…
Shattered before my eyes like fragile glass falling to the ground. I felt talentless, powerless, empty—unable to change anything about the cage I lived in.
In the midst of that darkness, there was one light… my little brother.
He wasn't just a brother; he was the candle that lit the gloom of my days, the rope that kept me from completely falling apart.
His smile, his laughter, even his silence sometimes—everything about him reminded me that life still had meaning despite the failures and disappointments.
I loved him without limits, to the point where I was willing to sacrifice the entire world just to keep that innocent light in his eyes.
I protected him from everything: from fear, from loneliness, from the pain he was still too young to understand.
I watched him grow and play, trying to be his support, his friend, and his guardian all at once. Every time he whispered:
"You're the best… I trust you."
Those words alone were enough to make me feel like I could face anything—even myself and my failures.
As time passed, I found an escape from my painful reality: the game.
It wasn't just an ordinary game, but a vast fantasy experience filled with challenges, magic, and battles that required skill and strategy.
The game was called "Intertwined Worlds," beginning in an academy where players learned the basics before being sent on greater quests and adventures, each encounter pushing them to grow and evolve.
Every character I created reflected a part of me, and every challenge I overcame gave me a sense of strength and control—feelings I couldn't experience in the real world. The game became my own world, my only refuge where I could truly be… someone.
…
I worked day and night, juggling two jobs, coming home exhausted, barely able to stand.
My body kept warning me, but I ignored it.
I had no choice… I had to feed my brother, buy what he needed, and give him a decent life despite how hard everything was.
One night… I pushed myself too far.
I was sitting at the worktable, my hands trembling, my head spinning, and my heartbeat irregular.
I tried to continue, convincing myself that endurance was all I had left. With each passing minute, I felt my energy draining away.
Suddenly… a crushing weight pressed against my chest. Breathing became painful, and every muscle in my body screamed from exhaustion.
My eyes began to close on their own, and the world faded around me—the sounds drifting away as if I were sinking into absolute silence.
In that moment, the only thing that mattered was… my little brother.
His face, his smile, his small voice saying:
"You're the best… you always protect us."
I smiled weakly, whispering softly:
"Forgive me… I can't anymore."
And everything disappeared.