Part 4/10:
Ben's journey grows more complex as he turns 18. Conversations about college, job prospects, and life skills emerge. His inner turmoil manifests as reluctance; he feels unprepared and overwhelmed by the demands of adulthood. Despite offers of support and resources, Ben faces a debilitating fear of failing — which he navigates with sarcasm. “I think I want something more,” he states, while also longing for assurance that he is not alone.
There exists a shared vulnerability among the characters, with conversations peppered throughout about their struggles with identity and personal worth. For Ben, reality is a cocktail mixture of survival instinct and a yearning for genuine connections, making every opportunity seem both a blessing and a burden.