YOUR
FUTURE STORY
You Touched that Button.
10 MINUTES AFTER
"Excuse me!" Someone touches my shoulder.
I turn around, seeing the red hair and brown apron. She is the waitress in that small cafe where I just had a lunch.
"Umm, you just lost something...a letter..." She looks into my eyes while giving me the paper.
"Huh?" I raise my eyebrow slightly.
Pedestrians crossed the street even though the group of people were still marching. Leaves, stirred by the wind, fall to the ground and the shoulders of people.
The date near my old uncle's signature on that letter is Jan 16, 2186.
That must be something wrong; as I'm sure I still live in 2018. But yes, I remember I just stepped out of that small cafe around the corner of this... Bar Code Street - what a weird name! I can't even recall there is such a street in my residential area.
More and more pedestrians joined in the marching group. People are shouting yet I can't hear their voices clearly, the only word I can pick up is ''job''...Red hair and I have been pushed back and forth, facing each other. I notice there is a tiny hole on her neck, black with silver edge.
''...I know you have an unpleasant relationship with your new work partner Rye, you told me she was smart, adorable, and full of energy, but being jealous or distancing yourself isn't a good choice. In today's world, we have to learn how to team up with Artificial Human...''
​I push red hair away, grabbing other people nearby, and look around their necks…Many of them, have that tiny hole…
"...You should always trust your inner self, you might just need a little rejuvenation. I have arranged a mini holiday journey for you, Last summer your aunt and I tried it, which was lovely experience! To get you started, you just need to head to the grey building on the Bar Code street, go ahead!''
The wind blows the dust on the street, The air on the street is quite fresh now, it is an feeling of autumn coming.
I finally see that grey building, actually behind that cafeteria. I follow the instruction posted near the terminal, then, all of sudden, the light drifts down and one hologram appears in the air. I pull the hologram to me and touch the button on that screen. A line of yellow text suggesting that I need to login in as a guest. After typing my old uncle's name as a referrer, another line of yellow character appears:
"Congratulations! You have unlocked a mini journey! Please stand in the centre! We need to scan your body.''
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A dizzying white light forms a big bubble around me.
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"All Done! However, we strongly recommend that you read the Survival Guide on Old Earth before you hit the Start button."
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SURVIVAL GUIDE ON
OLD EARTH
This mini guide is designed to show you how to survive on Old Earth when you return. We realize that some visitors coming from past are just accidentally landing in our city.
01
Forbidden Time zone
We are now in 2186, and you need to go back to Old Earth. In case Time Machine can't work perfectly, and you are unable to land in the year you desire, please do your best to avoid landing in Year 1984.
02
Find A Counselor
You might feel a bit uncomfortable when you go home, this is called ''Galaxy Culture Shock''. If you think you need to talk to someone, instead of speaking with any grown-up, please find a child to start your conversation, which would make you feel much better.
03
Healing Food
To the best of our knowledge, ramen, as the most delicious food on Old Earth, can be very healing when you are truly hungry back home.
04
Emergent Contact
When you go home, you might have been much older due to the ''Galaxy Time Difference'', if you need to rejuvenate yourself, please contact Dudu Sunny, who is our agent still living on Old Earth. She is a full-time Digital Nomad who might be helpful on this issue. Her virtual hideout: https://confuciuskiller.com
If you are aware of this, you can now touch the start button and close your eyes!