Phone? What Phone

People always ask me why I don’t reply to texts. Simple answer? I don’t have a phone. Complicated answer? I technically do, but I never actually have it.

See, my mom has this thing, and by “thing” I mean a magical talent? for sensing joy and snatching it away!! You could be minding your own business, having a peaceful day, and BOOM! your phone's in her custody.

No crime committed. No warnings. Just vibes.

When I first got the phone (back in the dark ages of Covid) it wasn’t even because she wanted me to have one, it was because she had no choice! Online classes and all that. And since then? She’s taken it away so many times that it feels like I’m just borrowing it from her.

People think I’m ignoring them.

“Did you just... throw your phone into the ocean after replying?”

“Do you live in a cave??”

“HELLO?? I can literally see you online on instagram??”

Listen, I get it!!

You message me, I reply, And then I disappear into thin air like I’ve been kidnapped mid-convo! But the truth is: I’m not ghosting you. My mom probably just walked into the room and said, “Give me your phone. Right now.”

No explanation. No reason. Just straight-up phone-snatching behavior.

And I’m left staring at the wall, thinking about all the conversations I’ll never finish Sometimes, I feel like a secret agent just trying to use my own phone? Like, I'll sneak it under the blanket, brightness on -10, one ear listening for footsteps, fingers moving faster than light. The mission? Reply to 3 texts and check Pinterest before I get caught. Risk level: Extreme If my mom hears even one notification sound, it’s over. Phone: confiscated. Me: back to staring at the ceiling, regretting my choices. Honestly, if there was an Olympic sport for hiding phone usage, I’d take gold

But hey, maybe it was all meant to be? Because while I was off the grid most of the time, I started picking up a pencil. I started sketching. Then I found out about digital art—and suddenly, a little dream lit up in my head. An iPad. Not just for drawing, but for creating something that’s mine. No more secret agent moves. No more mission-impossible texting. Just me, my ideas, and a device I actually get to keep So yeah—maybe I don’t have my phone all the time.

But I do have a dream.

And that? That’s something nobody can take away

And let’s not even start on the times I had to ask my mom to use her phone. Like… Ma’am, I’m not trying to hack into NASA—I just wanna text someone back or check Google for homework. But nooo, suddenly it’s a whole court case. “Why do you need it? Who are you talking to? What app are you opening?” Bro I just wanna type “ok” and leave!! She acts like I’m gonna ruin the entire phone with one scroll.

And ever since she has been doing this, I've been left with nothing but my thoughts. And I've been wanting an iPad for a long time now?

The iPad Isn’t Just a Want — It’s a Little Bit of Freedom

At the end of the day, I know it’s “just an iPad” But to me, it feels like more than that. It’s something that’s actually mine. Something that won’t be taken away randomly, something I can actually use to create, to chill, to escape for a bit. Even if it takes time to save up, even if it means holding back on other stuff, I’m ready to do it! I want this not just for the screen or the apps or the hype… but because for once, I want to have something stable. Something that won’t disappear the next morning just because someone’s in a mood