I saw this lady today, on the subway, she had this big tote bag full of art supplies and her hair was all streaky with paint like she'd just woken up from a dream in a puddle of color. She was maybe like, fifty? But she had this look, like she was still figuring stuff out, you know? And I just kept watching her cuz like, I haven't really SEEN anyone like that in forever. Like, properly. My dad, he's a graphic designer, works from home. He's got this big monitor that glows blue all night in the office. And he talks to clients sometimes, I hear him on the phone, his voice goes all fake cheerful. But like, it's been WEEKS since he talked to anyone real. I mean, not counting me or my mom, and even then it's just like, "Did you do your homework?" or "Pass the salt." My mom tries to get him out, "Let's go to the market!" or "Remember Maria and Dan?" But he just kinda shrinks into his hoodie, says he's got a deadline. He hasn't even seen Maria and Dan since like, before summer. And Maria is like, his BEST friend. He used to laugh so loud when they came over, like a foghorn going off. Now it's just this kinda quiet hum in the house, like a broken fridge. And I dunno, it just makes my stomach hurt. Like, watching him, it's like watching a plant in a dark room, just getting paler and paler. I walked into his office one time, it was like, 3 AM, and he was just staring at his screen, not even working, just staring. And the dust motes were dancing in the light from his monitor, like tiny sad stars. And I just... I don't wanna end up like that. Like, ever. But sometimes I feel it too, that pull to just stay inside, to just scroll and scroll and not talk to anyone. It’s like a quiet whisper that gets louder every day.