Roberto orders a DigiLatte while waiting for Amanda. The taste is never quite right, his VR Hood triggering the wrong part of his insular cortex, but it’ll give him something to do during awkward moments. He scans the café, the latency threatening to give him a headache.
He thinks about his parents, meeting the first time face-to-face. Too risky anymore, but at least you’d know what you’re getting. No worries about another months-long relationship with Kathy-Who’s-Really-Steve.
“Hola, Roberrrrrto.”
A cat avatar with Amanda’s features appears and takes the seat opposite him.
Roberto sighs and changes his order to a DigiTequila.
Matt Krizan is a former certified public accountant who writes from his home in Royal Oak, Michigan. His short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in various publications, including Daily Science Fiction, Stupefying Stories, and Dark Moments. Find him online at mattkrizan.com and on Twitter as @MattKrizan.
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