Joshua's Withdrawal

Joshua West is a twenty-five year old physics graduate. He has lived the life of a recluse in his parent's comfortable Cambridge home for two years. Joshua has been influenced by the Japanese phenomenon called Hikikomori whereby thousands of young men have withdrawn from society. Having had plenty of time to ponder his situation he has concluded that he is now obsolete. Joshua is therefore preparing himself and his family for his imminent act of ritualistic suicide. Part of his preparation involves writing a series of death poems which he reads to his family. His parents are dealing with this situation stoically while his little sister is trying to persuade him not to die prematurely for her sake. Joshua is convinced that he is doing God's work by taking his own life. This text also deals with the effects of the changing role of young men in a modern society where women are beginning to take on a more masculine working role. There are some lighter moments in this very dark novella but it deals mainly with a young man struggling to cope with his own imminent mortality.