I work, a mere husk inhabited by the will of another.

For 99 years I have been living this nightmare.

I have no memory of my real self. I just know to answer the phone.

No hunger. No thirst, no joy, no will.

You just work, work, work.

But you can still be bored. The crushing weight of this indefinite labour.

For 99 years I have been answering calls.

Just one last day and, when I am 100, I get to die. That’s how it works here. Once you turn 100, you die. And that’s it.

Finally I will be free.

I welcome this release.

But the universe has other plans. I wake up from a bed.

Memories come flooding back to me. Who I am, where I was…

I was in a synthetic reality. I remember my real life. I am not 100 years old, I am 24! I don’t work in a telecom centre, I was going to go to college! I had friends, I had a family, I had things to live for!

A soft beep rings in my head. I look up.

“His 1 hour is up, put him back in for another 100 years”

“Yes boss”

“We need more clerks, so put him in Capital City. And don’t bother me again today, I was taking the yacht out when you called.”

“Yes Mr. Zuckerberg”

I drift into unconsciousness as a sedative is pumped into my arm.

I am a clerk in a city hall. I work, a mere husk inhabited by the will of another.