Candy Crush is an escape into a dimension of heaven; a fix of neuron firing endorphin bliss. I play it and it rewards me. The music is soothing and I’m relaxed as I listen to the beautiful clicking sound of hard candies happily bumping into one another. When I get a Sugar Crush in Candy Town I cream. In a rare sequence of events the gameplay goes haywire! Points rack up as a domino effect unleashes chaotic candy matching and I am like a pinball wizard on smack as the ball gets locked in a machine gun rhythm between a team of pulsating bumpers. I am fixated….mesmerized. All that surrounds me melts away. In the palm of my hand I hold a world all my own and am told that I am Divine; a God. I’m offered upgrades. I’m placed on the Leaderboard. I am an instant social media celebrity and can do no wrong. In this universe I RULE. I won’t have it end. I’m treated to Daily Sweets. Sometimes clearing all the Jelly is hard, but I don’t care because real life is much harder. I’m offered a candy pack for only $6.99. I do not refuse. Wrapped Candy creates an explosion when activated. It’s Delicious. If I’m lucky I’ll match five Candies in order to create 1 Special Candy. If I’m very lucky I will get a Magic Helmet and pass a level without losing a life. My moves are Tasty; clearly I have a knack for strategy. Other times I unlock a new booster, like Jelly Fish for example. When I do not bring down all of the ingredients I am scolded harshly and told that I am a Failure. It’s a devastating blow – but alas I am offered redemption; 5 extra moves in order to finish off the last remaining candies is only a click away and graciously, for only a small fee. I will not refuse the offer… only an ingrate would do so. I avoid failure and reach the goal. I feel a sense accomplishment, PRIDE. I play on, and on, and on, and on…
