The Journey from Screen to Reality

Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Nat, whose life changed unexpectedly when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world. It was in the middle of her first year of high school when, one day, everything changed. The in-person classes that she had grown used to stopped all of a sudden, and everything she knew about school became something completely new. No longer could she hear the buzz of her classmates in the hallways or see her teachers standing in front of the blackboard. Instead, her classroom became the screen of her computer.

Nat spent two long years sitting in front of that screen, where the real world seemed to drift further and further away. The mornings were gray and filled with assignments, video calls, and emails. School, which once had been a place full of laughter and encounters, was now just a series of images and voices through the screen. The routine at home became monotonous, and the four walls of her room began to feel like a prison of isolation.

But there was something that kept Nat connected to the outside world: her visits to her grandmothers. Whenever she saw them, even for just a short time, it felt as if time itself had stopped. Her grandmothers would tell her stories of their childhoods, share wisdom from the past, and remind her that love and connection still existed in the world, no matter how far apart they were. Nat cherished these moments, as they were her only glimpse of a reality beyond her screen.

One sunny day, after a long week of studying and staring at the computer, Nat felt exhausted. She wanted something different, something more real. As she sat in her room, staring at the screen, she realized that although the world outside was still there, it seemed like it belonged to someone else. It felt as if she were trapped in a dream, unable to fully reach out and touch life as it once had been.

The next day, Nat’s mother suggested they go visit her grandmothers. Nat immediately agreed. The moment she stepped into the warm embrace of her grandmothers’ house, everything felt different. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air, and the sunlight streamed through the windows, lighting up the cozy living room. It was a peaceful place, where everything seemed slower, and more meaningful.

As Nat and her grandmothers sat in the living room, she began to tell them about the frustrations she had been feeling, about how she missed her friends and the realness of life before the pandemic. Her grandmothers listened quietly, nodding with understanding. They knew that the world had changed, but they also knew that there was still much beauty to be found in the present.

«Sometimes, my dear,» said her grandmother Lina, «we have to create the reality we want, even if the world outside seems to be changing. The real world is not just what we see on the screen; it’s also the love we share, the moments we cherish, and the strength to keep going, even when things feel uncertain.»

Her words made Nat pause. She thought about the times when she had laughed with her friends, played in the park, and hugged her family. She realized that, although the pandemic had taken away many things, it hadn’t taken away the love in her life. It hadn’t taken away the ability to connect with others, even if it meant doing so in new and creative ways.

A few days later, Nat made a decision. She decided to create her own new reality. No longer would she allow the screen to be her only connection to the world. She would take walks outside, call her friends on the phone, and make time for the things that truly mattered. She would keep the lessons she had learned from her grandmothers close to her heart.

Over the following weeks, Nat began to feel more connected to the world around her. She learned to balance her online studies with moments of real-world adventure. Her days became brighter, filled with more than just assignments and screens. She reconnected with nature, her family, and her friends in ways that felt more meaningful than ever before.

One afternoon, as Nat walked through the park, she smiled to herself. The pandemic had changed the world, but it hadn’t taken away her ability to love, to create connections, and to live fully. She had found a way to bring the world from the screen into her reality, and it was more beautiful than she could have imagined.

And so, Nat learned that even in times of uncertainty, there is always a way to find the beauty and love that surrounds us. The journey from screen to reality was a journey of rediscovery, and Nat was ready for all the adventures life had to offer.