When Your World Gets Smaller

I used to go places. Nothing adventurous. Dinner with friends. A movie. Sometimes I’d drive somewhere for the weekend.

I don’t do much of that anymore.

There’s a grocery store about ten minutes away. My doctor is nearby. I found a barber I like three blocks from my apartment. Most of what I need is close.

A friend invited me to her birthday dinner last month. It was across town, and I would’ve had to take the train during rush hour.

I told her I couldn’t make it.

She said, “You never come to anything anymore.”

I started to argue with her. Then I tried to remember the last time I’d been somewhere that wasn’t work, the grocery store, the doctor, or somewhere within walking distance of home.

I couldn’t.

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