Chapter 17

For me, these two elements, usually positioned at opposite ends of a spectrum, had somehow intertwined. They had merged into one. This was because I had learned that harboring hope, or the anticipation of it, was precisely what led to grief and suffering in the first place.

The more radiant the light of a hopeful dream, the more profound the disappointment and pain that ensued when it inevitably faded. It was a straightforward concept. Basic cause and effect. Or at least that's what I had personally come to understand in life.

Despite being only eighteen years old, I felt much older. It wasn't solely due to my weary and fatigued body that made me feel aged. The toll of my harsh life had also affected my mind and perspective on things. A perspective that had steered me away from my previous optimistic views and dreams. Those belonged to a different, more youthful version of myself.

I recalled Mr. Severon's words to the class, not even a year ago now, which made me c