SHORT STORY SHORT FICTION

How I Became Eternally Connected to My Digital Life

Life moves fast, after all, and I intend to keep up.

It all started with a simple realization. My mornings are hectic, filled with meetings, updates, and more meetings.

The design is perfect. I’ll have all the essentials: a comfy satin cushion, ergonomic neck support, and direct access to my accounts. I’ve even set up notifications. “Imagine,” I said during a team meeting, “lying back, catching up on everything, totally uninterrupted.” A few of them laughed… Envy, probably. They lack the foresight to optimize downtime like I do.

As I finalize the details — syncing my playlists, setting up cloud backups, arranging for fiber-optic internet — I can’t help but feel smug. This is the future. My future. And while others waste their days on trivial pursuits like worrying about mortality, I’ll be comfortably reclined, living my best life.

They’ll see. When the time comes, everyone will wish they’d thought of it first.

Of course, it hasn’t occurred to me — not really — that the words “rest in peace” might not leave much room for customization. For a fleeting moment, the idea flits across my mind like a shadow at dusk: am I perhaps… slightly off-track? But no, that’s absurd. My vision is airtight. I’ll be reclining in ergonomic splendor, scrolling through my carefully curated feeds while the world continues to turn.

Speaking of feeds, I’m leaning toward the “Daily News” to start my mornings. Something light, with a touch of politics. I’ll keep the gossip columns for afternoons — post-lunch energy, you know??