The Debt That Never Paid Itself Off

In a modest suburban home at night time, one window was lit up along the street.

Young Julius sat at his desk, eyes glued to the computer screen. The room was dimly lit, save for the vibrant glow emanating from his favorite online game, "Realm of Legends." Here, he wasn't just a 12-year-old boy; he was Elarion, a valiant warrior conquering mythical lands.

"Yes! Level 50!" Julius cheered, pumping his fist into the air. He'd been diligently completing quests, battling monsters, and honing his skills. Each level unlocked new abilities, and he eagerly allocated attribute points to enhance his strength and agility. He could soon begin played PVP, and that was where the real fun started.

Days turned into weeks as Julius immersed himself deeper into the game. "Level 100, finally!" he exclaimed one evening, his character now adorned in gleaming armor, wielding a sword that shimmered with enchantments. The virtual world was his playground, a realm where he felt powerful and in control. Never before had he felt so enticed by a game, it had become his life.

By the time he reached level 200 a year had passed. He was twelve, Julius had become a legend within the game's community. Other players sought his guidance, and he relished the camaraderie and respect he earned. The game was more than just entertainment; it was his sanctuary. He was within the 10 best players, thus making many guilds reach out to him asking for him to join.

One afternoon, as Julius prepared to embark on a new quest alongside many of his friends whom he had made during his time playing the game, his mother entered the room, her expression somber. "Julius, we need to talk," she said softly.

He turned, noticing the worry etched on her face. "What's wrong, Mom?"

She sighed, glancing at the computer. "Your father and I... we're facing some financial difficulties. We can't afford the electricity bills anymore."

Confusion and fear gripped him. "But... what about my game? I'm doing a quest right now... And my school grades are fine."

Tears welled in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Julius. We have to sell the computer."

The weight of her words crashed down on him. His sanctuary, his escape, was being torn away. "No, please! I'll play less, I promise! This game is everything to me! It's like-. I won't ask for anything, just please don't take this away from me-."

She shook her head, her voice trembling. "It's not about that. We need the money to pay off our debts."

The following day, strangers arrived to take the computer away. Julius watched, helpless, as they disconnected his lifeline to the world he loved. The room felt emptier, colder.

Weeks turned into months. Without his game, Julius struggled to find joy. His parents, burdened by stress and illness, grew weaker. Hospital visits became frequent, and the laughter that once filled their home faded into silence.

On a bleak, rainy morning, 13-year-old Julius stood before two freshly dug graves. The weight of loss pressed heavily on his young shoulders. His suit was ripped on the edges, it was rented from a cheap shop, he didn't plan to use it at any other time. As the priest's words droned on, a masked man approached him, his presence imposing.

"Julius," the man spoke, his voice cold and devoid of empathy.

Julius looked up, recognizing him as the debt collector who had frequented their home. "What do you want now? As you can see, my parents are dead."

"Your parents' debts have not been fully settled," the man stated bluntly. "This isn'y my favorite part of the job, but I must tell you something now."

"But they're gone," Julius whispered, tears streaming down his face. Really? Someone was trying to make his life worse than it already was?

"That doesn't absolve the debt," the man replied. "From now on, there will be no more games. You must work to repay what is owed."

The words pierced through Julius, extinguishing the last flicker of his childhood innocence. The vibrant world of "Realm of Legends" was now a distant memory, overshadowed by the harsh reality that lay ahead. 

At just 13, Julius found himself thrust into a harsh reality. With his parents gone and their debts looming, he was forced to take on any work he could find to survive. If he did not pay the given amount every week, he was told they would come for him, and that they would always find him.

His days began before dawn, delivering newspapers in the biting cold. The weight of the bag strained his small frame, but the meager pay was a necessity. He went to school but left halfway through the day, for lunch he hurried to a local diner, washing dishes until his hands were red and raw. The clatter of plates and the sting of soapy water became the soundtrack of his evenings, the food they offered him were free leftovers from the garbage. 

'Perfect for a struggling student.' His manager had joked.

Julius didn't think his manager knew that Julius' lunch truly was the garbage can.

Weekends offered no respite. Julius mowed lawns, cleaned garages, and ran errands for neighbors, scraping together every coin he could. Despite his relentless efforts, the money barely covered basic needs, let alone chipping away at the insurmountable debt.

Exhaustion became his new motto, if he wasn't collapsing he wasn't working to absolve the debt. His schoolwork suffered, and the carefree laughter of his peers felt mocking as he thought to his own life. He sold everything in his parent's house, until he made a deal for the new owners to let him stay in a small room upstairs.

They pitied him, but they did not care for him, they merely let him rot away upstairs, unwilling to even spare a dime for him.

One particularly grueling day, after being reprimanded by one of his many bosses for a minor mistake, Julius trudged home under a sky heavy with rain. His clothes soaked and spirits dampened, he collapsed onto his bed, staring at the cracked ceiling.

Tears blurred his vision as the reality set in: no matter how hard he worked, the debt was a mountain he couldn't climb. The hopelessness was suffocating, and for the first time, Julius allowed himself to mourn—not just for his parents, but for the childhood he lost and the dreams that now seemed unreachable. 

When his hands clawed at his face, he couldn't tell apart rain from tears.

"This is pathetic." He moaned aloud. "This is weakness. I need to work harder."

"Quiet, will you?" The family downstairs shouted, trying to watch a movie.

In the stillness of his small, dimly lit room, Julius faced the harsh truth: he was trapped in a cycle with no foreseeable escape, he was doomed for failure ever since his parents made those mistakes and racked up a massive debt.

But now, he could only hope something good could happen to him. He needed a way, a chance, to pay off the debt that had hung over him his entire life.