social revolution ensued in the early 2000s. Since then the world had been exponentially changing and society would never be the same.
The latest network was scarier than ever. At one point, everyone had a smart phone. Now a good portion of the population owned a Halo device—a 360 degree headset which recorded the person wearing it and his or her surroundings. The additional factor about a Halo device, which made it unique, was users could record a holographic image of themselves and upload it within a virtual theme. The combination of the projection image and the setting were called virtyou videos. With hundreds of themes available and more being developed every day, it was becoming exceedingly hard to tell what was real on networks such as HaloYou. And thus, meeting someone online remained as precarious as it had been from the start, if not more so. Fortunately, no one Charley actually knew used the Halo technology. If they were on HaloYou at all, they posted plain-old, forward-facing, videos. However, she knew it was happening since she’d been involved in a few articles for POV discussing the Halo as the next cyborg implant to become available.
Charley counted herself lucky on this score as well. She and Michael had met and fallen in love in a different, easier time for romance—just before the irreversible social chasm was formed. For them, the pieces had fallen together so quickly and the fit was exact. Somehow, it was understood—neither of them was interested in just dating; they had not met in a bar, nightclub or another socially ambiguous place where people meet just to have a good time. She remembered it clearly.
They’d met at the Art Institute of Chicago in the summer of 2006. He was leading a small group lecture on the painting techniques used by the old masters. She was among the group. Two of her friends were meant to join her this particular afternoon but had bailed at the last minute. If they had come, Charley and Michael probably would not have made a connection. She and her friends had gone to lectures together before, but it was their custom to leave right after the lecture. Fortunately, this time, she stayed for the discussion afterward. Michael seemed especially attentive to her. She appreciated his direct gaze when speaking and likewise, instantly attracted to him. She learned early on, he was born in the United States, but was ancestrally English. He looked and acted English, handsome and sedate. These few characteristics were especially appealing, but his smile was what made her feel weak-kneed.
Appearance wise, he didn’t look too different now from how he did back then. He was tall, just over six feet, with an upright posture and lean, but muscular build. He had perpetually ruffled, dark-brown hair, now receding slightly and graying at the temples; kind green eyes ensconced with full groom-worthy eyebrows and eye creases when he smiled, showing straight, bright front teeth with slightly crooked eyeteeth. His nose was angular and thin. Charley thought it the most perfectly attractive nose, as far as a nose can be. Only his full, rosy lips were decidedly un-English.
She was head over heels in love and surprised by the fact, since she didn’t think it could happen again. And now, while she told herself their relationship was fine, truthfully she wished it was better—at least a little back to the way it used to be. This was unfair. Because Michael was set in his ways, and had an everything is just fine attitude , he was boring, just like her; together they were even more so. Personally, fine was not enough. And she couldn’t accept the “to each their own” fallback—not when most things a person does directly affects another. After so long it seemed they had grown complacent. They needed a swift kick and she hoped to inspire the opportunity.
・ ・ ・
When Michael came home, Charley gave him a glimpse of these inner workings and he expressed his thoughts in an all too
The latest network was scarier than ever. At one point, everyone had a smart phone. Now a good portion of the population owned a Halo device—a 360 degree headset which recorded the person wearing it and his or her surroundings. The additional factor about a Halo device, which made it unique, was users could record a holographic image of themselves and upload it within a virtual theme. The combination of the projection image and the setting were called virtyou videos. With hundreds of themes available and more being developed every day, it was becoming exceedingly hard to tell what was real on networks such as HaloYou. And thus, meeting someone online remained as precarious as it had been from the start, if not more so. Fortunately, no one Charley actually knew used the Halo technology. If they were on HaloYou at all, they posted plain-old, forward-facing, videos. However, she knew it was happening since she’d been involved in a few articles for POV discussing the Halo as the next cyborg implant to become available.
Charley counted herself lucky on this score as well. She and Michael had met and fallen in love in a different, easier time for romance—just before the irreversible social chasm was formed. For them, the pieces had fallen together so quickly and the fit was exact. Somehow, it was understood—neither of them was interested in just dating; they had not met in a bar, nightclub or another socially ambiguous place where people meet just to have a good time. She remembered it clearly.
They’d met at the Art Institute of Chicago in the summer of 2006. He was leading a small group lecture on the painting techniques used by the old masters. She was among the group. Two of her friends were meant to join her this particular afternoon but had bailed at the last minute. If they had come, Charley and Michael probably would not have made a connection. She and her friends had gone to lectures together before, but it was their custom to leave right after the lecture. Fortunately, this time, she stayed for the discussion afterward. Michael seemed especially attentive to her. She appreciated his direct gaze when speaking and likewise, instantly attracted to him. She learned early on, he was born in the United States, but was ancestrally English. He looked and acted English, handsome and sedate. These few characteristics were especially appealing, but his smile was what made her feel weak-kneed.
Appearance wise, he didn’t look too different now from how he did back then. He was tall, just over six feet, with an upright posture and lean, but muscular build. He had perpetually ruffled, dark-brown hair, now receding slightly and graying at the temples; kind green eyes ensconced with full groom-worthy eyebrows and eye creases when he smiled, showing straight, bright front teeth with slightly crooked eyeteeth. His nose was angular and thin. Charley thought it the most perfectly attractive nose, as far as a nose can be. Only his full, rosy lips were decidedly un-English.
She was head over heels in love and surprised by the fact, since she didn’t think it could happen again. And now, while she told herself their relationship was fine, truthfully she wished it was better—at least a little back to the way it used to be. This was unfair. Because Michael was set in his ways, and had an everything is just fine attitude , he was boring, just like her; together they were even more so. Personally, fine was not enough. And she couldn’t accept the “to each their own” fallback—not when most things a person does directly affects another. After so long it seemed they had grown complacent. They needed a swift kick and she hoped to inspire the opportunity.
・ ・ ・
When Michael came home, Charley gave him a glimpse of these inner workings and he expressed his thoughts in an all too
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