I log off, my heart still racing from the battle with Olivia.

"It's getting pretty late," Nathan had said shortly after the duel. "You two can go ahead and log off. Tomorrow, I can show you to the guild house. It's quite the luxurious place."

That was after he invited us to the guild, after I accepted and a beautiful M began to hover above my interface. The same thing happened to Aileen, and I've never seen her more happy. She was practically buzzing with joy.

It's already dark out. As the VRS system fades away, I always get a rush of vertigo as my body registers the real world again. After a few hours in the world of Starlia, everything seems a bit dull. The colors are less vibrant, and there's an emptiness to my room that I didn't notice before. I guess that's just a product of living in a broken world. Outside, a rush of smog hides the view of the moon and stars. Despite it being evening, heat fills my mom. Seattle, still a city of rain, keeps the humidity for the entire day.

"Are you ready for dinner?" My mother calls from outside.

"Coming!" I yell back.

Our home is small and simple. Ever since my father died from a wicked hurricane, we've turned to minimalism. It's been ten years since the accident, but I still miss him every day. I remember his warm smile, the way he'd immediately bring comfort to me with his presence. He gave me stability. Without him, the world feels a bit more chaotic.

The microwaves warms our dinner, a frozen meal once again. Most food comes frozen these days, and you'll be hard pressed to find fresh fruits and vegetables. I take a bite of mushy chicken with rice and gravy. I look around, finding white walls decorated with the occasional painting—mostly floral scenes or landscapes. It feels so much more plain than the world of Starlia. I immediately want to head back. Now, Aileen's obsession seems normal.

"Were you playing a game?" My mother asks, always all-knowing.

I nod, trying to keep my food down. Despite being used to frozen food, it still upsets my stomach. "I was playing this game called Starlia."

"Oh!" My mother's brows raise. I admire her sharp chin and high cheekbones, both of which I wish I inherited. I got her dark hair and caramel brown eyes. "I played that game a few times. It's a good one."

It's my turn to be surprised. This is the downside of having parents who also grew up with the VRS. "Are you serious? I can't believe you've played before me."

She laughs, a bright sound that always lightens the stress of the day. "Your mother isn't ancient. See? I know things that all the hip youngsters are crazy about."

I notice the bags under her eyes, which weren't there before my father passed. A combination of stress and aging. She spends the majority of her day in her virtual office, processing loans. It's hard work, especially when everyone seems to be poor these days. My heart hurts for her. I need to find a job, but the majority of places aren't taking new employees. All I can do is hope someone will take me after I get my high school diploma.

"How was work?" I ask.

She sighs. "Same old thing. People not meeting the requirements and complaining about it mostly."

The TV blares from the living room. The male announcer, who I always hear but always forget his name, speaks with a solemn tone. "More flooding is battering the city. Ten more families were forced to flee their homes today. Around the U.S., coastlines are slowly moving inwards. Scientists are thinking by next year, at least a hundred thousand households will be displaced. And around the world...."

I tune him out, not wanting to hear anymore. My mother's expression stays normal, like she's heard the same news a thousand times before. I guess it's expected. She grew up in a chaotic time, when Seattle shrank to three-fourth of its original size. She knows that humanity will be doomed soon enough, and all we can do is hope the wrath of mother nature will be held back for another few years.

"And how were classes?" Mom asks.

I smile, thankful for the change of subject. "As boring as ever. I don't know why we're learning about mathematics when we can be studying something more useful, like how to lessen the effects of global warming."

My mother tsks at me. "I take a personal offense to that. If you want a job like mine, you're going to have to use a lot of math."

I don't have the heart to tell my mom I'll never become a loan officer. I want to do something to help the earth. If that means becoming a scientist and studying how to bring balance back to the world again, then that's what I'll do.

Our conversation moves around the usual topics—school, work, and our time in virtual cafes. I recount my first day playing Starlia, getting a bit starry-eyed when describing our battle against Olivia and being accepted into Nathan's guild, Mysteriously. My mother remains engaged the whole time, asking the right questions to further excite me. So you're telling me a slime king lives in that forest? Is Nathan handsome? You rode on a tiger named Simba? The whole time, a storm rages outside. The brutal downpour smashes our roof, and thunder and lightning boom and flash in the distance. It's quite a normal night for Seattle, and I hope our roof doesn't begin leaking again. We've had to fix it at least a dozen times over the years.

At the end of our conversation, Mom slaps her forehead with her palm. "Oh! I almost forgot. Could you go out and get some groceries? We need more frozen meals." She takes out her smartphone, typing at a rapid pace. "I'll transfer some money into your account."

"Of course." I take our car keys and head outside, not forgetting my umbrella. I get into our car, which my mother and I share. Thank God—a self-driving one. All I have to do is type in the address and let the car steer itself. It charges with electricity, and these days a single charge could last a month.

The grocery store is a few miles away. The building looks like something from the industrial age, all practicality and no beauty. I head inside as the rain pours against my umbrella. Because of the intense wind, I get a bit soaked. I navigate through the parking lot full of cars, entering the square, concrete building. Okay, I definitely need to log onto Starlia again to cleanse my eyes and live in a beautiful world instead of one so dismal like this one.

I don't even spend a minute shopping before I hear sniffles in one of the aisles.

I peek into the section of baking ingredients. My friend, Aileen, leans against the flour and sugar. Tears stain her cheeks, and she's trembling slightly. She's dressed in her pajamas, like she ran away from home on a whim. Her messy hair tells me she just got out of bed. She's also soaked by the rain, and she doesn't have an umbrella.

"Aileen?" I leave my shopping cart and head to her side. "What's wrong?"

She shakes her head, trying to dry her tears with her arm. "Josiah? What are you doing here?" Even her voice is shaky. She's a shell of the warrior she was online.

I breathe in through my teeth. "Getting groceries. But that doesn't matter. Tell me why you're crying here alone."

She closes her eyes, her trembling easing a bit. I hold her by her shoulders, wanting to comfort her in every way possible. "My home. We're going to have to move again. The government says we're too close to the coast. This is the third time we've had to move in the past two years."

My chest feels weighed down, like a brick entered into the space between my lungs. "Oh Aileen. I'm sorry."

She collects herself, straightening her back and taking in a deep breath. "It's okay, Josiah. It's not your fault. I'm just so upset at the state of this country. Of the world."

I reach out and gather her into an embrace. "It's going to be okay." I say these words not sure if I believe myself. But I have to say something positive for the sake of my best friend. I can't be the pessimist I am whenever I turn on the daily news.

I forsake my shopping and lead Aileen to the store's cafe. Real-life cafes are hard to find these days, and I can't let go of the opportunity to hang out with my best friend in person. Following the current trending drink, we both order iced Americanos.

I listen to her worries. She's upset about having to move again, after thinking that this home would be permanent, at least throughout the end of high school and college. She feels hopeless. Her parents are fighting about their situation. She's waking up with worries weighing her stomach down, not knowing whether officials will knock on their door and ask them to move. And despite looking for months, there's no suitable home for them. It's just impossible to find housing these days, especially for a family.

I feel hopelessness grow in my chest. The fixer in me wants to jump in and save the day, but what can stop mother nature? The ocean will take Aileen's home whether we like it or not. There's nothing I can do. Despite my willingness to take Aileen into my house, where would her parents go? The questions and uncertainty plague us in the pauses between our conversation. I want to ask God why he allowed the world to become such a nasty place. I want to know whether he's casting judgment on the horrors humanity has committed.

All I can do is be a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on. And after Aileen's tears dry, I offer the only thing I can—my time.

"Tomorrow. Let's play Starlia until we drop." I offer my brightest smile.

Aileen smiles back. "Okay. That'll make everything better."

Sometimes it feels like we aren't too far off from living in a world like Josiah and Aileen's. This was a sadder chapter to write! 

I appreciate you for making it to chapter 7. I look forward to our #StandaloneSaturdays. I always love my silent readers, but if you want to, leave me a comment about anything!