TRAPPED IN A BUBBLE

The Shocking True Story

By: Jack Collins

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

I escaped once. From that house. That street. That place. And my parents.

As a teenager - struggling with my sexuality after years of bullying and abuse - I left home and moved to another city, put together a new life and became a different person, while keeping my mental health struggles hidden from everyone.

I came out and made friends. I fell in love and was cheated on. But it was life and I was finally getting to live it.

Then a violent attack changed everything, so I ran away from it all. I moved abroad on my own. But even on an island in the sun I couldn't escape myself or my past. So with nowhere else to run, and no vision of the future, I went home.

But, being back in my childhood home after so many years, I had to face why I'd been so desperate to escape in the first place.

Fantastic writing

I loved this author’s style, witticisms/dry humor, and deep reflections. It was very engaging and made me smile often, despite the sad content. The ending was a little confusing to me. Maybe I need to reread, but I still don’t understand what led to him leaving the island to live with him mom again. From the description, I thought some major event happened that led him to go back and face things. Also, alongside discovering depression, I hope he has or will discover PTSD, and find validation there, particularly in the shape his symptoms take and the way they persist, and how this was caused by others’ harm toward him, not any personal weakness. I also hope he has found a way to find social and emotional support and real connection.