It was a cold september evening, the wind was blowing just outside my bedroom window, its whisltling and cold breeze breaking as it hit the glass. My curtains were sprawled open, their dark, dusty grey complimenting the silver pillows on my bedsheets. Behind them, i could see my long road stretching out for yards, the lamposts creating a calming atmosphere as I sat against the window, my samsung tablet in my hand and my long brown hair flowing down my back. I was alone. The feeling of peace and prosperity hung low and i listened carefully to the mumbled voices of my family sitting in the living room just beside me. In any normal day, i would be fearful of the ghosts that I had so strongly believed liked to hang out in my room when it was empty, but for some odd reason, unbeknownst to me, i did not find myself in such a state on that evening.
My small fingers scrolled through the different games i could download on my tablet. I had grown bored of the same three apps that i played on every single day and rightfully so. They did not open my unknowing mind to the opportunities that the rest of the virtual world could, and I would always get bored so quickly, although, my tablet was very vast and capable, and on other days, i would sit on it for hours, like a kitten playing with string. The blue light that shone from the screen often made my eyes sting, and i found myself tearing up all too often. I wasn't upset or hurt, but when i look back and wonder about this moment, i find myself believing that the tears were simply foreshadowing the joy i would feel when i eventually found "it", or the nostalgia that came after i lost it.
It could have been hours before i finally found a game worth downloading; its bright green and brown pixels glimpsing into the future of what could possibly be a lifetime of game play. Like a babe in the woods, i clicked the download icon in an apathetic manner. I can only imagine the reflection of the download bar in my deep dark eyes, as i stared in wonder and impatience, my mouth open and knees pulled up. Thoughts paced back and forth as i asked myself what the game could be anxiously, and by the time it had finished downloading, my finger moved to open it as quickly as a mother would move to catch her falling toddler.
The screen turned a deep black for a moment, before shifting into the white and red one i know all too well now. "Mojang." I stared at it in awe before the opening screen came up, and the melody that makes my heart ache when i think back to it played. This was the moment i was introduced to Minecraft, and found myself lost as a child. To a virtual world. Where the only thing holding me back was my imagination.
