I have no idea why I’m telling you this. A matter of conscience, maybe.

I was young, fresh out of college. I got a job most other graduates would kill for and moved into a pleasant little suburb—one of those ones with cookie-cutter houses with white picket fences and whatnot. But I was next door to a guy named Steve.

I set out to be the best I could—I mean, I figure, you only get one life here, so make the most of it. Don’t lie around all day watching Jerry Springer, right? But when I saw Steve, I envied him. He had it better, and no matter what I did, he always was ahead. Envy turned to loathing and blinded me.

I turned into an uncaring monster. My girlfriend left me. So did my friends. My family and I became estranged. I was relational poison, undesired by my peers…but I got what I wanted.

And then I lost it all.

My deeds were repaid in kind. I was refused as I had refused everybody. Truth be told, I deserved it. I am completely, utterly alone, and it is entirely my fault.

It wasn’t worth it.