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The Pain of Masculinity

The Pain of Masculinity

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6 Chapters
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A coming of age story of a boy that is shown how unkind the world is to a man. The transition from an innocent little boy to a man. How masculinity has to do with our choice whether or not to bed to societal standards of it

Contents

Chapter 1 Eve of the unknown

Neverland-a land of dreams and danger, where nothing ever changes. The wind spoke softly through the trees, and even the sky seemed to pause and listen. Peace had long ridden the land, where the people lived in harmony, facing their challenges together as a joyful community.

In this town lived a boy named Sam, who dreamed of becoming an astronaut. His parents, George and Mary, were well-respected members of society. George, a firefighter, was regarded as a local hero. Sam admired his father deeply-George commanded respect from both the young and the old, and he was loved by all. Sam had always had his eyes on the extraordinary, hoping to make a name for himself and his family.

One sunny afternoon, as he walked home from school, the familiar sounds of the town surrounded him: a radio blaring from a neighbor's apartment, townsfolk chatting, and the comforting hum of daily life. Sam took a quick detour past his favorite spot-the local bakery. He loved the aroma of fresh bread, but more importantly, it was close to her house.

Maya-a mysterious girl recently orphaned-had been transferred to Neverland under the care of a foster family. The townspeople often whispered about the tragic car accident that had taken her parents years ago. Since then, she had moved from household to household. For reasons even Sam couldn't fully explain, he passed by the bakery almost every day after school, just to catch a glimpse of her.

"Why do I do this?" he asked himself. "I don't know." But deep down, he knew-he was clearly fond of her.

One evening, on the eve of Sam's thirteenth birthday, George walked into his room. Sam was beaming with excitement-he was finally becoming a teenager. George noticed him scribbling a rocket drawing on his notepad and smiled proudly.

Calling Sam over to sit on his lap, George said, "There's a rite of passage in our family you must complete before officially becoming a teenager."

Sam, filled with excitement, hurried over. George began to explain: "There's a family souvenir passed down from my great-grandfather. It marks the transition into teenagehood for every firstborn son." He reached into his pocket, and Sam, curious and beaming, watched eagerly.

To his slight disappointment, George pulled out an old time clock.

Confused, Sam asked, "What is this supposed to be?"

George replied, "In our family, this clock symbolizes the passage of time-a transition. It reminds us to take life one step at a time."

George lifted Sam onto his shoulders and walked over to the window. As they stared up at the night sky, George said, "The stars are beautiful, son... but don't forget the ground you stand on. The true measurement of success is a self-fulfilled life."

Sam didn't fully understand his father's words, but he was happy-happy to be on his father's shoulders, staring at the stars, feeling ready to conquer the world.

Mary called out from the kitchen-dinner was ready. A nurse at the local clinic just a few blocks away, she was known for her impeccable cooking. The family gathered at the dining table.

George took a bite, looked at Mary, and smiled-a quiet nod of appreciation for her delicious cooking. Then Sam broke the silence.

He told his father about a school assignment where Mr. Renault, their teacher, had asked them to write down what they wanted to be when they grew up. "I want to be an astronaut," Sam said, adding that he was inspired by George's bravery and stoicism. He hugged his father tightly.

George replied, "Pursue your dreams, no matter what. The sky is the limit-as long as you have the courage to go for it."

Moments later, a distress call came in-a fire had broken out on the outskirts of town, and George's presence was needed. He quickly dressed, kissed Mary, and told Sam goodnight, promising to return later. "Don't stay up," he said.

At around 8 p.m., George left for the emergency.

Later that night, Sam helped clean the dining room. Mary, now visibly heavier in her pregnancy, moved slower than usual. Sam couldn't wait for the baby to arrive-he looked forward to having a sibling to play with.

After doing the dishes, Sam went to his room. He picked up the old time clock his father had given him, trying to make sense of its meaning. He stuck his head out the window, feeling the cool breeze as it whistled around the block. He thought about his father-the hero who selflessly helped others.

He closed the window, tucked the time clock under his pillow, and went to sleep.

He was awoken at around 1 a.m. by the shrill sound of the phone ringing in the cold silence of June. It was a strange time for a call. Then, suddenly, there was a muffled sound-and a long, chilling silence.

Sam leapt out of bed and walked down the hallway. There, he saw his mother sitting on the floor, the phone receiver limp in her hand.

Mary wasn't crying. She just stared blankly, like someone who had seen the stars fall from the sky.

Sam stood frozen in the corner. The cold draught from the windows crept along his skin, and a shiver ran down his spine. Something was terribly wrong.

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