The one thing I could never forget

It started off as a way to still the never ending boredom that found me at my computer. Through the plethora of games I owned, and other ways to amuse myself, summer was the ultimate personal hell that awaited me after every school year. I have tried winning my mother's permission to get a job during the summer however she would dance around the subject telling me I am still a child that needs to enjoy that fact while it lasts. Stuck in an endless cycle of chores and computer games I wanted a way to cease the doldrums. Living in the city meant I had no great outdoors, no playgrounds, only fast food restaurants and internet cafés. On top of that I never really had friends, and neither was I invited to a lot of places so I mostly stayed home. It was in the middle of July, early morning when I was numbly scrolling through online game suggestions that I found a peculiar looking one. The thumbnail looked phony and quirky but I considered I had all day to give it a go. I found the actual website which looked incredibly more updated, and without really investigating further I download the game. My mother was heading into town and I had over an hour left on my download so I shut off my screen and letting it wait for my return. While I was out with her I could not manage to shake the thoughts of the game from my head. I had not even had the chance to play, and yet the way it looked and sounded in my head was truly unforgettable. it was almost evening when we got back home, and to my surprise I had corrupted files. I commenced the patching processes and helped my mother cook dinner. At last I had everything taken care of later that night as was so relieved when I could login. I hardly remember if there was a tutorial, but I do remember my first game was against Artificial Intelligence. The vivid colors, the various sounds and special effects, and the way the game just seemed to compliment me instantly made an impact that would last for a long time. I had the opportunity to play two matches before I had to go to sleep, and sure enough I even dreamed about the game I have only played for roughly two hours. Eager to hop back in this mystical world where time flew faster than a bullet, I skipped breakfast and turned my personal computer on. From this point I am unable to recall the matches I have played, but I knew a few things: I could not wait until I reached level five, it was one of the best games I had ever played, and the game saved me from the boredom that held me. When school started back I had stories to tell and it was completely euphoric to learn other people at the same school played the same exact game! The eight hours that kept me away from my computer melted away as if it were only minutes. School weeks raced by, and my weekends even faster. Several months later I was finally level twenty nine going on thirty, before starting I reflected the rough journey of defeats, toxic players, and being subjected to cruel harassment. However, none of it no longer mattered this last match, defeat or victory it would throw me sky high into level thirty. I remember pouring my heart and soul into that one match, I have researched the right builds, bought the right runes, and double checked my masteries for this moment. Almost carrying the game we finally took down the last objective and there it was, displayed on my screen in front of me "Victory". I have seen it hundreds of times but this one victory stomped out all the defeats, all the hatred, and all the people that have tried everything to bring me down. That was four years ago. Even to this day I remember the boredom that consumed my every waking moment, I remember the choice to download a game I may or may not even like, and to this very day I remember that first win. The first win that kept me coming back, the desire to prove to myself and others that I can indeed do something with my life. I realize that this is a fleeting dream, that I may never compare to those who stand on a stage backed by companies. I may never even make it to the next rank. However through the defeats that teach me, and through the victories that elate me, I am someone who is passionate about gaming. Those four years where I have cried, where I have screamed in anger, and those times when all I wanted to do was uninstall, I kept playing. I kept playing through the tilts, the afk's, and the trolls. It was all those moments that I kept playing I realized I was part of something bigger. I was part of a community, a gigantic family made of millions of people. Even those who spewed hatred and toxicity they played a part. Just recently it was a video that made me keep playing yet again, and even though it was meant as a joke I kinda felt like it made an impact on me. "If you're tired of starting over, stop giving up", "yesterday you said tomorrow" and last but not least "don't let your dreams, stay dreams". You've all heard it by now, and mostly likely had a good laugh out of it, hell even I did. None the less I am just happy to say I have a game that has made such a huge impact on my life and now that I have made it this far it's something I can no longer give up. Thank you Riot.