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2020 Growlife Medical Essay Competition Finalist

"Stories of Families"

My family is a paradox; they are virtual and real, 2D and 3D, potential and actual. Day to day my world is contained within the walls of my house, in the smile of my partner and the purr of my cat, but the rest of me is spread through invisible lines that travel out, orbit around the planet and land someplace else, on a small screen held in the hand of a loved one.

Some of my favourite childhood memories occurred in fantasy and imagination, online with people who lived just down the road. Built in a false world where I spent time with real friends, hours spent talking nonsense while achieving nothing tangible, except a connection with people who became another part of my family. 

Having moved from childhood games to an adulthood spent on the other side of the world, my family now exists less and less in real life and more and more within the boundaries of a screen. Just like my favourite memories growing up. They prepared me well for this virtual community of mine. My partner holds my hand while I talk to the screens.

My family may be a pixelated, 2D, five-inch version of the real thing, but they are no less real to me.

Make Sure you vote in the Grow Medical 2020 Essay Competition by going to our Facebook Page, and liking and sharing your favourite Story of Families. If this one is your favourite, tell us why in the comments, and share it by clicking one of the circle icons below.

Otherwise, read on with this year's finalists entries...