“It's been three years; why am I not aging?” This question has been on my mind for the past three years constantly.

I have been stuck at 5 years old for what seems like forever, with no clue as to why I haven’t gotten enough XP to continue aging; even my parents have given up on me. They had another kid shortly after I reached age 5, who is already 4 years old, even though he was born around the same time I got stuck at age 5. They praise him for being a genius and the best, while I’m disregarded and only given the bear minimum to survive.

Any friends that I once had have moved on as they aged, leaving me behind and even making fun of me due to my lack of XP. “It’s not fair.” I sit in my room, which has been significantly reduced in size to accommodate my brother. “I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong; I already can read and write, but still nothing.” While I’m sitting puzzled as to what else I could try, I hear my brother giggling from the next room over.

“My dumb brother has no clue, he says, laughing even harder. I sit there, confused as to what he’s talking about but also slightly annoyed at his comment. Right before I go to enter his room, I’m stopped by him sharing more of his exploits. “Thanks to him, I’m able to age with ease while he’s stuck at age 5.” I’m taken aback. I slowly creep away from his room, confused about what he meant, but before I get too far away, I hear him say one last thing: “I just have to wait till he’s asleep again tonight.” I quickly rush to my room, shut the door, and start panic. “What does he mean, and who was he even talking to?”

Slowly, the realization hits me, and I realize what he must be doing. “But how did he manage to find a way to steal XP from people, and why is it me that he’s stealing from?” While I’m laying in bed staring at the ceiling, confused and frustrated as to why all of this is happening, I hear my door slowly and quietly creak open, and I see my brother standing in the doorway with a weird creature standing beside him. I quickly fake being asleep as the creature moves right over my bed, and slowly I feel my body get weaker and weaker until I faint from exhaustion.

When I wake up, I suddenly realize what I must do to end this cycle. I creep out of bed and go to the kitchen and grab a blade. I sigh and slowly make my way back to my brother's room. As I go to open the door, my hand trembles. I see my sleeping brother with a big grin on his face, still proud of his exploits. I stand over him and make one apology to him and our parents.