1989

"Justin!"

His mother Pattie had called out to him. He had been engrossed in an intense game of  Super Mario Bros 3 with his best friend Ryan.

 The eighteen-year-old couldn't even be bothered to answer. Pattie rolled her eyes, picking up the laundry basket and called out his name once more. He finally gave up, pausing the game to see what his mother needed. 

"Yes?" He answered, ready to finish his game with Ryan who was growing impatient on the couch.

"Babe I know you have friends over but can you at least stop leaving your shoes all over the house?" She had handed him two pairs of his grimy sneakers and a stack of clean, folded white t-shirts. 

He took his belongings from her hands smiling. "I'm sorry." 

She smiled, nodding. He kissed her cheek right before running to his room to put away his stuff.

"You ready to lose?" Justin yelled at Ryan as he reappeared in his original spot on the couch. "In your dreams."

-

"I don't know man. I feel so awkward ." Ryan shook his head as Justin laughed at him. 

Justin was encouraging his best friend to go talk to this girl. "Look, all you have to do is walk over there and make small talk. It's easy."

"Easy for you. You do this stuff all the time." Ryan cried. Justin adjusted his backpack strap on his shoulder. He was about to say something else before the bell rung. 

"This isn't over. You're gonna go talk to her whether you like it or not," said Justin, fist-bumping his friend. 

Truth is, Justin had always been a happy person. He always had fun no matter what, he had a very welcoming and loving family, and he loved life. 

He had a dream. He wanted to travel the world; to feel even more alive. Before moving to New York with his mom two years ago, they lived in Canada. After Justin's parents had split up, his mom thought it would be good to start fresh. And that is exactly what they did.

Justin was a 'live in the moment' kind of guy, but what the future holds for him might change his perspective on life...completely.