Pushing through those glass doors of Arcade-O-Mania, the darkness swallowed me whole—but I wasn't afraid. The moment those quarters jangled in my pocket, I wasn't some chubby nobody kid anymore. These games made me somebody. Nobody saw my generic attire or my bad haircut. I made straight for Moon Patrol, shoving my quarter in the slot. My fingers worked that joystick like it was the only thing that mattered. For those precious minutes, the world outside—the bullies, the poverty, my dad's abuse—all of it disappeared. Then "Game Over" blinked, harsh and final. Reality crashed back. Just another chubby nobody again.
James William Wulfe is a writer, storyteller, and proud introvert who finds solace in creativity and cheap wine.