Do you remember me?

I don’t think you do.

It’s been a while.

It was still summer when we were together. The days were still golden fields of possibility. Every day was still an adventure to be had. Every waking moment was spent scouring the land in search of new challenges to overcome.

The air was still crisp, still warm. The trees hadn’t changed color. The clouds hung motionless high in the deep blue sky.

Every day was unburdened with troubles; an open field to run through until the fiery sun set.

Do you remember now?

I do.

I remember the uncomplicated times.

I remember not caring what the world thought of me, and not caring what the world was.

I remember life when I was simply living it. I remember cutting down invisible foes with flimsy plastic swords; I remember racing around barefoot on cold, metal scooters; I remember the pillow forts, the water fights, the dart gun wars.

Do you remember now?

I think you do.

I think you remember when we didn’t give a shit who we were or where we were going.

I think you remember when we didn’t care about anything but the moment we were in.

I think you remember when we had dreams, such dreams.

Now you remember.

Those were the simple days. Those were the times that forever will be locked away within us, but never again experienced.

We both know that.

We both know that we will never see those summer days again.

We both know that, no matter how much we hate it, we give a shit. We care about what others think, even when we don’t want to.

We care about where we’re going, even though we don’t want to.

We both know that those treasured memories are in reality painful burdens reminding us of the times when we could laugh, when we could sing, and not give a damn if we were heard.

We both know that these memories will taunt our hollow lives, will mercilessly remind us of when life was small, and warm. When the hells of the world did not penetrate our innocent and content existence.

No more will the world be a warm paradise of freedom and adventure.

The world is a place of pain, ignorance, and unfairness.

It’s time you learned that.

It’s time you learned the world is not a place of honesty, law, cooperation, love, respect, or justice.

The world is a place of money. Ruled by money, built by money, fueled by money.

There is no place for your memories of the sunlit fields, wet grass, fiery sunsets.

There is only room for your money.

No emotions.

No justice.

Those that deserve life die.

Those that deserve death live.

No respect.

No honesty.

Don’t tell me about your long past memories.

There’s no place for them in this world.

Don’t preach to me of simpler times.

There’s no place for them in this world.

Don’t ask me if I remember.

I don’t.