Live from the shadows of Vice City

He walked with me and allowed me to survive so I could write this one day and inspire others like me to overcome living in the shadows and step into the light. I lived alongside the super predator, thinking I was alone. Now that I know him, I'm no longer alone; I was never alone; now, I represent him through my actions and am willing to die for what I believe in. This journey of personal growth and resilience is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

A junkie defying gravity

The allure of vice, from drugs to crime, has driven everyone to madness. These vices that have represented the city for so long are being exchanged to cater to the desire to be a more prominent gateway for the Americas. Even though vice is accessible, the city no longer embraces it as part of its identity; instead, it is concealed within its shadows. Outsiders present a false image of the city, having never experienced the dark realities of Vice City's streets. As a result, they depict a version filled with physical indulgence but spiritual decay, distorting the already misunderstood essence of this part of America into something toxic and evil.

I never felt like I belonged in my hometown. My upbringing and my parents' mistakes led to rejection and made me reject myself. I tried to fit in by changing how I spoke and acted, but I lost touch with who I was. It was a painful realization that I was denying my true self. I tried to find solace in vices, but it only pushed me further into isolation. Only when I embraced my authentic self did I start to find my place in the world.

The vice and all that comes with it

Living a meager life in Vice City was once enough for me, but the global pandemic of 2020 changed everything. It was a wake-up call, a realization that I couldn't hide in the shadows anymore. The pandemic, with its devastating effects on the city's economy and social fabric, made it clear that if I didn't make a difference, I risked being consumed by the very depravity I was trying to escape. I had to educate myself, give back to my community, and challenge my city's false narrative.

Survivors guilt

Who am I? I'm a beacon in the shadows, a survivor of the vice with the potential to illuminate the world. I have endured the violence and vices that my city has projected in the shadows. As a survivor, I aim to dispel the negative image of my city and present an authentic representation of individuals like myself. I have emerged from the shadows and now walk in the light. This newfound clarity has given me the strength to combat the growing depravity in my city, perpetuated not just by the vices within but also by the outsiders who only see it as a hub of vice. I have survived to shine the light of truth through the various mediums that have empowered me. I speak to you from the shadows to elevate my city and the world, uniting them beyond the darkness of vice.