On August 17, 1986, I woke up in the morning, packed a bag, and left for the army induction base. Nobody came along to see me off, and that was perfectly fine. That's how it was done back then.
From that point on, I never again lived in my parents' house. I lived in tents, barracks, apartments — places that were not where I was born.
I understood that I was alone.
And it was okay.