Julian sat hunched over his screen, eyes wide and unblinking, scrolling through endless videos. The world outside his window was dark, but inside his room, the virtual world pulsed with color and sound, drawing him deeper with each passing minute. Shadows flickered across his face, reflecting the quick cuts of a game he barely remembered starting.
Julian rubbed his temples, feeling the ache behind his eyes, but still reached for his phone before even considering getting out of bed. Notifications pinged relentlessly, each one a tiny jolt that kept him tethered to the screen. The world beyond seemed distant, uninteresting—why bother facing it when the next dopamine rush lay just a swipe away?
Mrs. Carter, Julian’s mother, watches him with worry lining her brow. She sets a plate in front of him, her voice gentle but firm.
"Julian, honey, could you put that down for a moment? I haven’t seen your eyes in days."
"Just one more level, Mom. I’ll be there in a second," he mumbles, barely glancing up.
Dr. Rowan, a calm and patient counselor, sits across from Julian, clipboard in hand. Julian fidgets, his phone hidden in his lap, fingers itching to unlock it.
"Julian, tell me what you like about your screen time. What does it give you that the real world doesn’t?"
"It’s just… easier. I don’t have to think about anything. It’s always exciting," Julian says, his tone softer, revealing a hint of uncertainty.
Mrs. Carter walks beside him, sharing a quiet moment beneath a shared umbrella. The air is fresh, alive with the scent of wet earth and distant laughter from children playing.
"Remember when you used to love coming here, before all the games?"
"I guess I forgot how nice it was," Julian replies, watching a dog chase after a frisbee, his hands twitching but resisting the urge to reach for his phone.
Julian laughs as a piece clicks into place, his eyes bright and focused. The simple joy of the moment, unfiltered by screens, feels almost new again. He glances at his mother, grateful, and the distance between them seems to dissolve.
"Maybe we could do this again tomorrow?"
"I’d like that very much," she answers, smiling warmly, hope reflected in her eyes.
