For years I’ve been living on this planet called world or earth. The earth hasn’t changed. It still is as it was. People make the changes. Changing day by day, month by month, and year by year. I too just changed, physically and mentally. I find new experiences in the differences.

When I was just a little boy, everyone looked taller than me; most of them knew so much than me. They taught me, praised me, scolded me, and pointed out my mistakes. That time I used to think all the grownups were clever and they must be right and good.

But when I got punishments from parents or teachers, it made me miserable. Even when they did it for the sake of good, I couldn’t accept the punishments so easily. I don’t know about the feelings of other kids. Maybe they felt the same. Maybe not.

Most of the movies and tv shows entertained me, besides the storybooks. Not the school textbooks. They burdened me. The earth was still the same.

Happiness came and went. Every Friday afternoon it came and filled my heart, mind, and body. Thinking about the fact that the next two days will be mine filled me with joy as I didn’t have to wake up early or fear the teachers and most importantly, my mother would cook the best food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The only things I didn’t enjoy were the shoe cleaning and the bloody homework. Math was…

The earth was still the same. I changed when I entered secondary school. I grew a moustache and my voice changed. My entire body felt different. Different topics among friends aroused me. Religion and god which I practised as a child, no longer made any sense to me. All religions irritated me. I began questioning without getting any proper answers. The earth was still the same.

In my early 20’s I went to work. I didn’t like my job due to its long hours ate into my reading and writing time. I made new friends and experienced a different lifestyle. Despite lack of money, life had to go on daily and the earth was still the same.

Year after year, many shops opened and closed regularly in my home town. Only a handful have survived the test of time. The buildings still look the same. Many were renovated and more buildings and housing were developed, occupying this old piece of land. I see more new faces settling in and babies being born. Many have left and passed on too.

Crowding this small town are foreigners and the earth was still the same.

Happiness, amazement, anger, sadness, and boredom. These emotions are experienced daily.

Then came the pandemic. The earth is still the same.

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Cover image by The New York Public Library on Unsplash