Lume

I’m 26 now, but I spent 12 years of my life (from 11 to 23) inside a screen.

When I was younger, I didn’t just "play" video games. I lived in them. What started as fun turned into a real gaming addiction that ruined my life.

I watched my real life shrink while my digital stats grew. I remember days where I’d pull 12-hour sessions, skipping meals and ignoring texts from friends until they just stopped calling. I lied to my family about what I was doing. I told myself, "I can stop whenever I want," or "I’ll just play for one hour today."

But "one hour" always turned into ten.

I spent years trapped in that cycle, trying to "cut back," failing, and feeling the heavy shame of…