Sometimes I imagine a world with roads full of lively people going about their day. It's an unbelievable thing, I know. I just can't help but think about that warm fantasy. Grandpa used to tell us all kinds of stories about the old world before it went haywire. He had been to parties during his youthful days and encountered the love of his life, Grandma Felicita, during one such party.

I had said, "Grandpa, that's so cool! You're like the protagonist of a book!" I had gushed over every exciting detail in his story but not once did he ever get tired of replying to my...