Glasses arrive today. The drone is late. I am on my third cup of coffee when it buzzes outside the frosted window that has replaced my door panel, the only source of light in my house now.
November 11, 2021- It became airborne. it was everywhere.
December 02, 2021 - My house, every house was sealed.
December 10, 2021 - Last time I stepped out. Last time anyone stepped out.
Finally!
1 year and 10 days cooped up in this neon lit darkness.
Wear my mask, retrieve the box. They look like swimming glasses. Just put them on the tag says. Everything goes dark. Did I close my eyes. I blink once, nothing. I blink twice, bright blinding light. I squeeze my eyes shut, tight.
I am right outside my front door, staring into the light. Sunshin. After a year. I take a tentative step, Mapping in progress, please try later.
Second cup of coffee for the day. Put on the glasses, blink twice. Transported outside the door. The stairs have appeared. Dust covered railing. Take a step forward, and another. Down the stairs into the fog. Mapping in progress, please try later. Glasses down, third cup on.
A week now. The stairs, the street and round the corner. Overgrown hedges, dirty streets. Not a single soul in sight, privilege of being an early adopter.
Winter mornings, roses in full bloom. I reach out and pluck one. Smell. Nothing. Add olfactory senses for $299. Blink to order. I blink.
A month now, I cringe at the dirty railing. Clean stairs for $9, Blink to subscibe. I blink. Your stairs will next need cleaning after a year. I smile.
MG Road mapping complete today. Long walk to see my favourite Banyan tree. Its cut down to a stump. Damn metro construction. I look at the new Metro bridge scornfully. Remove Bridge for $5 only. Blink to order. I blink. I put my hand on the stump and close my eyes, say a small prayer. Restore the Banyan tree for $26.99. Blink to order. I, ofcourse, blink. The Banyan tree appears. Leaves, branches and hanging roots, all of it, exactly as I remembered it.
Street dogs bark at me. Remove dogs for $9. I blink. I walk in peace.
I am tired. Have walked everyday. And bored. Walked the entire city. I want to go to Goa. Download Goa map for $299. Blink to order. I blink.
I walk on the beach, I smell the salt, I hear the sea. The waves hit me, I feel nothing. I kneel into the water, I feel nothing.
Add sensory implants for $999 only. Blink to order. I blink.
The drone arrives. Small box. Wear glasses to guide, the instructions say. I see my ear as if they are on someone else’s head. Incision right behind the left ear lobe, awkward angle but I do it. It hurts, but for the last time, hopefully. I pass out.
Back on the beach, I smell the salt, I hear the sea, the waves hit me. I feel the cold foamy water.
Browse worlds - Serengeti; Canary Islands; Antartica; New York City. I blink.
Browse experiences - Sky Diving; Bungee jumping; Hot Air Balloon. I blink.
Browse extreme events - Watch a beheading; Pride of lions hunting; Titanic sinkin…
Beep…Beep…Beep…low battery. Charge now. I panic. Unplug the purifier, plug in the glasses. Sit on the floor next to the plug point, sigh in relief. Siege of the White House…I blink
Browse Excitations - Prison Riot; Avalanche; I blink.
Browse Excitations - Prison Riot; Avalanche; Drug Raid - I blink.
I hear the door crash open. I jump from the window. I am chased down the street. I smell acid. Someone hits me with the butt of a gun. I fall on my face. It hurts. I bleed. I try getting up, someone hits me again…the world goes dark. Pay $45 to continue Excitation. Blink to order. I blink. I scrambble up, I run.
I should eat. Am I hungry. How long have I been sitting here? What is the time? How long has it been? I am addicted to this life, I think.
Browse Excitations - Prison Riot; Avalanche; Drug raid, World War 2 - unending edition. I blink.
I feel someone’s hand on my face. On the glasses, trying to tear it away, I scream and fight. The glasses fall. I see a faint light.
The frosted glass of the door, shattered. A silouhette in front.
“Who are you?” I scream
“We are rescuing all the early adopters” - He answers calmly.
“But the virus, its airborne”
“Vaccine has been out since January 2022”
“2022…What year is it now?”
“2024, 10th December 2024”
I stare at him. I try hard, to not blink.
