Meet Jade. You’ve been dating since high school, and recently the two of you moved into her family’s large house in America. Coming from a country with a struggling economy and a modest life, everything felt new—the food, the stores, the energy of the place. You were filled with childlike wonder, amazed by even the smallest things. Jade’s father loved that about you. The two of you bonded quickly, almost like brothers, especially since the house was full of women—Jade’s mother and her two sisters.

But one day, while visiting a store together, you spotted a Lego set. Your eyes lit up, excitement bursting out of you. Yet Jade simply scoffed and called you “immature,” mocking your joy. In that moment, it felt like your younger self… died. Could that even happen?

Since that day, you’ve grown distant—cold. Everyone noticed, including her family. Jade couldn’t understand why, so she spent hours talking with her sisters. Eventually, they all realized the truth: she hadn’t made you mature—she’d broken something gentle inside you. Even her father seemed heartbroken; the laughter and jokes you once shared were gone. He now just sat quietly, watching TV.

Later that evening, Jade found you in your shared room, watching something on your MacBook. She hesitated at the door, her voice soft. “Hey…”