In This Life or the Next

Fifty Years More

Somewhere, a young woman was enjoying a day out with her friends.

They were dining at a local café. Eating pastries, drinking coffee, stuff like that.

"Here girls, let me take care of the trash," she said to her friends.

She got a short wave of 'thank-yous' in return.

The young woman gathered everything onto a tray and hailed a clean-up bot. A short trash can on wheels rolled up beside the table, and the young woman dropped everything into its open. The words 'Thank You' flashed across a little screen on its front before it went away.

"Hey, I'm gonna take a minute to use the bathroom. Don't miss me too much, okay?"

All the girls chuckled.

A few minutes later, the young woman stepped out of the bathroom.

Now, on the wall near the bathroom was a bulletin board where local businesses, musicians, etc. could put up ads for anyone interested.

Usually, she wouldn't look at it, but today, the young woman stole a quick glance at the bulletin board as soon as she got out of the bathroom.

And it just so happened that something caught her eye.

Something that made her whole body freeze.

She snapped a quick photo of what she saw and returned to her friends.

For the rest of the time, she tried to keep it in the back of her mind, but it was just so shocking to her that she couldn't focus on anything else. She had to call it quits early and leave the girls to continue their day out without her.

As soon as she got home, the young woman threw off her shoes and pretty much flew into her gaming chair.

She opened up a chat group with a different group of friends and called everyone.

"Everyone! Get in here! Now! Now! Now!"

She spammed the call button until everyone was in.

R: We're here!

S: Yeah, you don't need to spam us anymore!

"Sorry if I disturbed anyone, but you have to see this! You have to."

P: Get on with it then!

G: Don't keep us waiting.

A: Go ahead.

"Look at this."

The young woman posted the photo she took into the group chat, only this time, there was a bright red circle indicating where to look.

M: What are we looking at?

S: Don't you see the circle? Obviously read what's inside!

M: Okay! You don't have to shout!

The group chat went silent for a few moments.

K: Is this real?

"I haven't verified it yet."

F: Then let's go! Why haven't we done anything yet?

N: Hold on. What if it's fake?

I: Yeah, it's been so long after all. Who even remembers?

"That doesn't matter. We should at least try.

W: Okay, let's try it.