Maybe this will be another weird story.
But I guess I should introduce myself.
My name is Marek. I live on the outskirts of Krakow.
With a dog. The only being I still get out of bed for.
I used to be a firefighter.
Now I'm suspended. Officially — because of depression.
Unofficially — because I stopped coping.
I glance at the clock.
20.09.2067.
It's been seven days since they let me out of the facility.
Seven days, and I still don't know what to do with my life.
– I need to get up... – I mutter under my breath.
Soon it'll be too late for a walk again.
I force myself out of bed, like someone tied me to the mattress.
I put on socks, a T-shirt, shorts.
On my way to the bathroom, I stop by the mirror.
I look.
And I see someone who looks like me... but isn't me anymore.
– Fuck, what the hell happened to me...
The apartment looks even worse.
Curtains tightly shut.
Food boxes scattered all over the floor.
The world outside exists, but not for me.
– I should clean up...
Silence.
– ...but I don't feel like it.
– Come on,
The dog immediately lifts his head. His tail starts wagging like crazy.
I smile for the first time in... I don't even know how long.
Maybe that's the only reason I'm still here.
I put his harness on. He never liked collars.
We leave the apartment and walk up to the elevator.
Same note on the door again: OUT OF ORDER.
– Fuck... again? That's the fifth time this week...
I look at the button. Dead.
– Of course... seventh floor. Perfect.
I stand there in silence for a moment.
Wondering if I should even go.
I glance at the dog.
Tail wagging like crazy.
– Alright... come on. We'll take the stairs.
We start moving.
As I go down, I build a plan in my head:
get down fast, avoid people, get out of the building and straight to the park.
Straight and no people.
I get so lost in those thoughts that on the half-landing I bump into someone.
An older woman. Groceries scatter down the stairs.
– Oh God! Are you okay? I'm sorry, I—
I stop.
The woman slowly gets up and starts brushing off her coat.
– I'll pick it up – I say quickly and go down to grab the scattered items.
When I come back, she's sitting on the stairs.
Touching her head, her ear... glancing at her phone every few seconds.
Suddenly she looks at me.
– Nothing happened, son – she says calmly. – Luckily the implant kicked in... I can hear you again.
She smiles faintly.
– You can apologize again now.
I feel my stomach tighten.
– I'm sorry... really.
She nods.
And I can already see it all in my head.
What if that implant hadn't worked.
How much it would cost.
How much I would have to pay.
And that I simply can't afford it.
Still a bit shaken, I say to the older woman:
– Do you want me to help you carry the groceries upstairs?
She looks at me and replies:
– No, that's not necessary. I can see you're in a hurry...
And she was right. I'm in a huge hurry to take my dog out... because he's about to make a mess in the hallway.
I say goodbye and head down to the main exit.
I'm about to leave when something catches my attention.
Mailboxes.
Covered in ads.
Implants.
Memory enhancement.
Sensory boost.
Emotional stabilization.
I stop for a moment.
Too much of it.
I sigh and grab a few at random.
Stuff them into my back pocket.
– At least I'll have something to read... – I mutter.
– Come on.
We leave the building.
The sun hits me straight in the eyes.
– Fuck... I hate leaving the house...
I pick up the pace.
– Come on, quickly to the park.
The walk takes maybe five minutes.
The whole time I'm thinking about those implants.
How does it work?
Does it really help?
Can you really... fix your head?
We enter the dog park.
I unclip the leash.
– Go. This is your moment.
The dog runs off immediately.
And I sit down on a bench.
I spread out the flyers.
And start reading.
I read the first one.
Usual slogans: memory improvement, emotional stability, impulse control.
I flip it over.
Small print, lots of technical gibberish.
I'm about to put it away when something catches my attention.
One sentence. Like it was added later. It doesn't fit the rest:
"Pilot program active. Status: participant."
Next chapter coming soon.Add to library to not miss it.