The author wouldn't have been violating the law currently if they hadn't been made to violate it a when they were a child, and didn't have the capability to und

The author wouldn't have been violating the law currently if they hadn't been made to violate it a when they were a child, and didn't have the capability to understand the consequences. In your alternate universe, the author should have left their house, family, support structure, life, potential world-class education and moved to a place they have never known at 18 because goddamnit, they're an adult. In the US, we don't even trust 18 year olds to be responsible with liquor or rent cars. Again with the lack of empathy here.