An Alien — 02

Even when people have everything they could ever want in this world, it doesn’t shield them from that haunting shadow called loneliness.

For a long time, I believed this world was a place where we were meant to survive entirely alone. I used to think that asking for help was a sign of weakness, and that no one would truly be there to catch me anyway. I grew to resent the “normal” crowd — the ones who force you to wear a mask just to fit into their circle. So, I chose to withdraw. I chose to be an outsider.

In a world obsessed with conformity, being different is rarely welcomed. People judged me because I refused to walk their path; I didn’t fit their standards of appearance or behavior. By becoming a loner, I became an easy target for their mockery, whispers, and indifference.

Yet, ironically, I felt happier than I ever had before.

In the past, I was trapped in a cycle of faking who I was just to belong. I was naive, unable to see how I was being manipulated. I constantly acted as their emotional support system simply because I was too weak to say no. When I finally realized the truth, I knew I had to change — for the sake of my peace, my grades, and my future.

That painful lesson, however, didn’t turn me cold; it taught me what real connection looks like. I eventually found new friends who actually valued me. Together, we realized that doing things society labels as “weird” — like sharing a passion for anime characters — is infinitely more fulfilling than just mindlessly doomscrolling together in silence. Through them, I learned that being different isn’t a curse. You can still pursue what you love, even if the rest of the world despises it.

I know my interests don’t align with the majority, and I’ve learned to accept that. Still, as time passes, a question lingers in my mind: Why do people fear difference so much? We marvel at the concept of aliens from afar, yet we reject the unconventional minds right next to us. Is it because authenticity threatens long-established norms? Or do they simply hate what they cannot understand? Perhaps I am just a misplaced alien wandering this vast planet. But my journey on Earth is far from over, and I look forward to finding the answers along the way.