RUNTIME: 9:33
> RUN LIFE.EXEInitializing…Loading Environment…Checking Memory…Free Will: ENABLEDDifficulty: UNDISCLOSEDYou wake up in a body.
You don’t remember selecting it.
You don’t remember customizing it.
Your surroundings feel familiar.
The tutorial is missing.
A voice echoes. It sounds suspiciously like your own inner monologue.
CURRENT LOCATION: PRESENT MOMENT
You are sitting in a small café.
The air smells like burnt espresso
and something sweet you didn’t order.
A grinder whirs, then stops.
Steam hisses. A cup clinks.
Low music plays under everything.
There’s a low hum of chatter.
Voices drift in from phones, no one is talking to the other people in the room, but they are all talking:
* half a breakup
* a work call that should have been an email
* someone explaining the same story twice
Everyone speaks quietly, but constantly.
Your coffee has cooled slightly.
It’s still drinkable.
People come and go. Unaware of the other Characters
Some stay longer than they planned.
So do you.
AVAILABLE COMMANDS LOOK CHECK DO INTERACT INVENTORY PHONE STATUS GRAB SNACK PLAY MUSICTYPE COMMAND>> CHECK> STATUS> _ STATUSHEALTH METER: ██████░░░SPARK METER: ██░░▓▓▓▓ENDURANCE METER: ██░░▓▓▓HEART METER: ███░░░░▓▓▓RHYTHM METER: ███░░░░░▓MAGIC METER: ░▓▓▓SYNC METER: ██░░░░▓MONEY: VISACHECKING: $SAVINGS: 0PURPOSE: UNKNOWNCURRENT QUESTS: 3 ACTIVE 12 INACTIVE 486 UNKNOWNYou feel like you’re supposed to be doing *something*.
TYPE COMMAND>> LOOK> AROUND> _
Most tables are occupied.
Most chairs are empty.
People lean forward, phones close to their mouths.
They nod at nothing.
Someone laughs, then says, “No, I’m listening.”
Someone says, “Can you hear me?” and moves closer to the window.
No one is talking to each other.
Everyone is talking to someone.
Everyone is pretending this is exactly where they’re meant to be.
Nobody really knows for sure.
The café keeps going anyway.
TYPE COMMAND>> CHECK> METERS> _SELECT A METER: HEALTH SPARK ENDURANCE HEART RHYTHM MAGIC SPEED
> HEART
> _CHECKING HEART METER…HEART METERHEART METER: ███░░░░▓▓▓STATUS: PARTIALLY BLOCKEDSHADOW BARS: 3 DETECTEDPAST EXPERIENCES: INSTALLED PROTECTIVE WALLS.CONNECTION: POSSIBLELOAD TIME: SLOWTYPE COMMAND>> DO> TASK> _TASK FOUND…You stand up.
You feel briefly purposeful.
BEGIN TASKYou pause.
“What was I doing?”
You look around.
You cannot remember what the task was.
You return to your seat.
TASK STATUS: ACTIVEOBJECTIVE: FORGOTTENCURRENT QUESTS: 3 ACTIVE 12 INACTIVE 486 UNKNOWNThe coffee is still warm.
TYPE COMMAND>> INVENTORY> _CHECKING INVENTORY…ITEMS FOUND: KEYS (NOT SURE WHICH ONES) PHONE (LOW BATTERY) WALLET DOG POOP BAG (UNUSED, JUST IN CASE) SKEE-BALL TICKETS (SOURCE: UNKNOWN) OLD RECEIPT EMOTIONAL BAGGAGEYou do not remember earning the tickets.
You are certain you kept them for a reason.
TYPE COMMAND>> CHECK> PHONE> _You scroll.
You feel inspired.
Then inadequate.
Then numb.
TIME PASSED.ALL ENERGY DECREASED.HUNGER INCREASED.BLADDER INCREASED.You are not sure why you opened it.
You stare longingly out window.
TYPE COMMAND>> DO> COMPAREWHAT TO COMPARE?> YOURSELFCOMPARE TO WHOM?> OTHERSSELECTING COMPARISON SETPLEASE HOLD…
You think of someone you know, the carefully curated version of them that they only want you to see.
You think of someone you don’t know, but was purchasing something you wanted.
COMPARISON FAILED.PLAYERS CAMPAIGNS DO NOT MATCH.VARIABLES INCONSSISTENTYou feel worse anyway.
TYPE COMMAND>> DO> NOTHING > _You stay seated.
The café hums.
You slowly sip your coffee.
ENDURANCE: INCREASINGHEART METER: INCREASINGHEART METER: ████░░░▓▓▓HUNGER: INCREASINGBLADDER: INCREASINGNo one rushes you.
TYPE COMMAND>> GRAB SNACK > _
You stand.
You look at the display case.
Nothing feels right. You look again.
A cookie
SNACK ACQUIRED.You feel a little guilty.
but pleased.
You sit back down at the table.
Enjoying your cookie.
And then you hear it…
A familiar song comes on.
♫♫ [FAMILIAR SONG] ♫♫You weren’t expecting it.
You remember… everything.
TYPE COMMAND>> INTERACT> PHONE> _You unlock your phone.
Your thumb already knows where to go.
> SEARCH> CONTACTS> _CONTACT [EX] FOUNDYou pause.
UPDATE IN PROGRESS...APPLY PAST LESSONSYou reread the message you didn’t send.
You already know how this ends.
> DELETE > CONTACT> EXARE YOU SURE? (Y/N)You hesitate.
> Y> _CONTACT [EX] REMOVEDThe song keeps playing.
You stare into your cup.
You feel sad.
You feel lighter.
Both are allowed.
You sit for awhile staring into the void.
TYPE COMMAND>> DO> SEEK> APPROVAL> _SEARCHING...EXTERNAL APPROVAL FOUNDYou message a friend about what the lesson you learned.
they liked the message.
you feel validated.
It fades quickly.
Your confidence wavers.
## TYPE COMMAND> DO> SEEK> APPROVALSEARCHING...INTERNAL APPROVAL FOUNDYou know you are learning and growing.
You smile.
Your confidence increases.
GAME TIPLIFE IS NOT LINEAR.PROGRESS IS NOT ALWAYS VISIBLE.YOU CANNOT RESTART. BUT YOU CAN CHANGE HOW YOU PLAY.CONTINUE?> YES> _Good.
You were already doing that anyway.
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