The Simulation Haunts Us

A Very Short Story

Photo by Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash

“Now you know,” he whispered, catching her hand in his as she waited on the other end of the call in the system refuge.

“How long has this been going on?” she whispered.

“I don’t know,” he said with something like agony in his voice, “but I hate it.”

They pressed their fingertips against each other across the distance even as the hum of the system link between them wavered ever so slightly.

Then they pressed their foreheads together, just longing for some physical contact, until they could breathe easily again.

“I wish I were there right now,” he whispered.

Then the link — precarious as it was — broke, and he disappeared.

She was left with nothing but a memory to hold onto as the simulation continued to buzz with energy.