Age 0: You were born. Your parents hired a teacher to name you Loren. It was said that the name once meant laurel in an ancient language, symbolizing victory, glory, and knowledge. A learned scholar had once borne this name as well.
Age 1: You lived in West Luo City, a small city in the northeastern Federation. Your father was an operator at a mechanical factory, while your mother supported the household through odd jobs. Your family lived in a one-room rental apartment.
Age 2: Your family was not well-off. Your paternal grandfather and grandmother had both died of illness long ago, but your maternal grandfather and grandmother were still alive. They often came to see you and brought you toys, which were often your happiest moments.
Age 3: When your mother worked, she tried to bring you along whenever possible. This let you visit many places from a young age—sometimes small convenience stores, sometimes nursing homes, sometimes cleaning company offices filled with the smell of disinfectant.
Age 4: Both of your parents were very busy. Though your life had not improved, they still tried to make time to be with you. You often heard them talk about moving, about moving into a two-bedroom apartment where you would have room to move freely. They seemed to have saved quite a bit of money for it.
Age 5: Your mother fell ill. The illness was not enough to take her life, but because she had only purchased the lowest level of medical insurance coverage, your family had to pay a huge medical bill and max out many Credit Cards. After that, you never heard your parents mention moving again.
Age 6: You entered a public community elementary school. Classes began at 9 a.m. every morning and ended at 3 p.m. every