Image by Pheladi Shai from Pixabay

Brianna laughed as she watched the latest special from her favorite comedian on the television. It was raining out, a good night to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good show. She wrapped her quilt around her and settled in. As she took another sip, her wristband flashed with a text message. She turned her wrist over to see who was messaging her.

Bri, I’m at the beach. It’s mega here. Come join me! Might find you a swet boi.

It was from her best friend Ida. Brianna glanced at the show. It only had a few minutes left. She grabbed her visor and her keyboard.

Be there in a few. Want to catch the end of my show.

Boring. Life’s too short for shows, gf. Get yo ass to the beach!

Brianna sighed. Ida wouldn’t leave her alone if she didn’t come now. She put her visor on, logged in, and followed the link Ida had sent in her first message. She selected her beach body avatar and a nice bathing suit – she knew Ida would hate it but she refused to wear a bikini – and logged into the beach.

“There you are, girlfriend,” Ida said, grabbing her and hugging her. “Why aren’t you in proper beach attire? You’re never going to get a boy wearing that outfit.”

“I’m not man crazy like you are, Ida,” Brianna said. “I was enjoying my show. Mike Shom doesn’t perform much anymore and it’s a rare treat to see one of his acts.”

“You and that comedian. I swear, if he showed up on the beach right now, you’d go all drooly at him,” Ida said.

“No, I have class,” Brianna said.

“You’re saying I don’t?” Ida asked with a laugh. “You’re right. Never did claim to be a classy bit, now did I?”

“Ida, I’ve got work in the morning,” Brianna said. “If you want me as man bait so you can drool, you picked the wrong night to drag me here. You should have messaged Nettie or Mona. They’d have done you up a feast.”

“Oh, those two. Can’t get a word in edgewise when I’m with them,” Ida said dismissively. “Come on, Bri. You gotta want some action. Far as I know, you still haven’t done it.”

“Never have, don’t know that I will,” Brianna said. “Don’t see the appeal.”

“You’re no fun,” Ida said, pouting. “You’ve got to admit, this place is gorgeous though, right?”

Brianna looked around. Ida was right. White sandy beach, deep blue ocean, palm trees swaying in a light breeze, this was a beautiful simulation. There were men and women strolling under the golden sun, some single some with partners. “You did pick a good one, Ida,” she said. “If it were real, I’d be sprawling working on my tan right about now.”

“Come on, let’s sample the goods,” Ida said, pulling on her arm.

“I’ll park my ass on a blanket while you troll the scene,” Brianna said. “I’m seriously not in the mood to be on the hunt tonight.”

“Fiiiiine,” Ida said in a whining voice. “You’re no fun.”

Briana set out a blanket and pulled out a book. She read while Ida hit up every male she met who didn’t have a woman on his arm. Finally, as it was nearing midnight, a message popped up on her screen.

Got one. I’m headed to a private chat room with this one. Don’t wait for me. I’ll V you tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

Briana sighed, put her book back in her inventory, and packed up her blanket. She logged off and tossed her visor onto its charger. She went into her room and curled up in her bed. She wondered idly what it would be like to meet someone, not on the Net like Ida always did, but in real life.

Personal connections were so rare these days. Everyone hooked up on the Net. Every job that wasn’t done by robots was done on the Net. No one left their homes. Even food and necessities were delivered without human interaction. It was a lonely world if you weren’t on the Net.

Children were born via IVF. You never even met your child’s father. It was just whoever the sperm bank decided to pair you with. And with it being law that every male donate sperm, you never knew what you were going to get. You raised your child until they turned eighteen, and then by law, they had to move out into their own place and you never saw them again except on the Net.

Briana wondered, not for the first time, what had led to such a contactless society. What had led to such a broken, virtual world that she was almost forbidden human interaction except in the virtual spaces mandated by the government. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a life where physical touch was not forbidden.