That afternoon felt so calm. The wind blew gently, the leaves moved lightly, and the village atmosphere felt peaceful as usual. We sat together on the wooden floor, worn with time. This simple place often became a gathering point, a place to share stories, or simply unwind.
But that day was a little different.
We were still together, but each of us was immersed in our own world. Three people, three screens, three stories that didn't touch each other. Fingers moved quickly, eyes focused on their phones, and occasionally a small smile appeared silently. We didn't know what we were watching maybe a game, maybe a funny video, or maybe just aimless scrolling.
It felt strange. Before, in the same place, we could laugh freely over simple stories. We could argue about trivial matters, or play until we lost track of time. Now everything felt quieter, even though we were sitting close together.
Not that this was wrong. Times have changed. Technology has become part of everyday life. Even in a village like this, the internet signal is strong enough to connect us to the much wider outside world.
But beneath that, something was slowly disappearing. The warmth of togetherness that once felt so warm had now turned into a silence filled with screen light.
I just sat there, watching, smiling occasionally. Maybe someday, moments like this would become memories too. Memories of a time when we learned to balance the real world with the world we held in our hands.
And maybe, someday, we'd joke around again without our phones in hand. Back to simplicity, back to real laughter.
| Photographer | Smartphone used | Location |
|---|---|---|
 | Realme C53 | Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam |
