The World We Live In

1

Laying in my room alone I stare up at my phone bobbing my head slightly as I hum along to my favorite group, 'Destiny's Fortune'. I had to have watched their new music video a hundred times but the song was so good and I couldn't get over how my biased, Sun Hyun-Shik, looked. I savor the happiness only they can make me feel nowadays. As I watch with a smile my door is suddenly thrown open. I look over to see my mom fuming at me.

"You skipped your classes again?" 

I sit up slowly and pause my video, preparing for the onslaught.

"I'm in college Mom... It's not like I have to attend.. "

"No, but you're secluding yourself and you're failing your tests because you're not where to learn!" My mom snaps at me but I can hear the quiver in her voice. It breaks my heart to hear.

"I-I'm sorry mom... It's hard.."

She shakes her head disappointed and takes a breath as she sits on my bed. "Do we need to get you back to see your therapist?"

I shake my head no, "It doesn't help... It's just another thing I have to dread.. "

She takes my hand in her softly as her eyes can't help but drift down to the scars on my arm, "I need to you try honey... I can't have you shutting everything out again... "

"I know Mom... I don't know what to do about it... I don't want to feel like this either but I can't bring g myself to get out of bed anymore... "

She sighs and glances down at my phone. "How many times have you watched that? " she asks with a soft smile.

"Not enough... " I say with a small laugh.

She looks at me with a twinkle in her eyes and a bit of sadness, "is that all that makes you happy anymore?"

My lips fall into a frown at her words, "Sometimes... Yes... "

She nods and stands up to leave. She kissed the top of my head before walking out of the room.

I lay back and press play on the video again, a smile instantly creeping onto my lips as the group dances and sings on my screen. My heart swells at the feeling and I almost tear up realizing they really may be the only thing keeping me alive anymore...

~~~~~

I fell asleep with the video playing and woke up suddenly as another video started. Waking up groggy, I rub the sleep from my eyes confused. A yawn escapes me as I look down at the video playing. A spoiled-looking teenage girl screams on her lawn as a group of men takes away her AIC (pronounced Ace, meaning Artificial Intelligence Companion) companion on what looks like a gurney. I pick up my phone looking curiously at the screen as a reporter begins to talk.

"Young girl's AIC forcefully shut down and removed from her possession after she chose for him to look like an Idol she favors and posted an inappropriate video claiming it was the real Idol, stirring up controversy for the Idols group. The Idols company quickly figured out what happened, swiftly filed a lawsuit, and ordered the AIC be removed from her possession immediately. Furthermore, they've demanded a ban on the girl having another AIC until she's older. Bringing the question of 'Should children and young adults be allowed AIC's for any reasons other than medical?' back into the light. We will update you as we receive more information on the lawsuits. "

The video ends and I pause it before another can start, scrolling down to look at the comments. The comments are full of older people saying kids should be banned from having them and younger people saying what she did was wrong and she was going to ruin it for the rest of them. I sigh as I scroll. What is wrong with people... I wonder to myself as I shake my head in disbelief at the girl.