Oh, poor Jack! How fragile is life; one day, all can seem rosy then, in the blink of an eye, everything can shatter into tiny pieces. How easily we can misinterpret how others will react to our comments and actions, even within a virtual reality, or maybe we're more susceptible to scrutiny when everything we do or say is recorded.
This story is so carefully crafted; from the very first sentence when just 'two squares' are open, with one camera off, the reader anticipates that there's trouble ahead. Lisa's pause and intake of breath before delivering the company's carefully scripted 'concern', delivered from a very objective stance, (as all good training on dealing with 'difficult conversations' recommends!), builds up the tension and anticipation of the bombshell to come, and how this will devastate Jack.
An emotional rollercoaster of a story! I do hope that a happy ending is in sight!
One again, great writing, Wayne - can't wait to see what happens next.
Wayne, Part 2 hit like the floor dropping out from under everything you set up in Part 1. You built all that soft belonging and then just… pulled the thread, clean and quiet. You’re dangerously good at writing the kind of collapse that looks small on the surface but leaves a bruise afterward.
Oh, poor Jack! How fragile is life; one day, all can seem rosy then, in the blink of an eye, everything can shatter into tiny pieces. How easily we can misinterpret how others will react to our comments and actions, even within a virtual reality, or maybe we're more susceptible to scrutiny when everything we do or say is recorded.
This story is so carefully crafted; from the very first sentence when just 'two squares' are open, with one camera off, the reader anticipates that there's trouble ahead. Lisa's pause and intake of breath before delivering the company's carefully scripted 'concern', delivered from a very objective stance, (as all good training on dealing with 'difficult conversations' recommends!), builds up the tension and anticipation of the bombshell to come, and how this will devastate Jack.
An emotional rollercoaster of a story! I do hope that a happy ending is in sight!
One again, great writing, Wayne - can't wait to see what happens next.
Wayne, Part 2 hit like the floor dropping out from under everything you set up in Part 1. You built all that soft belonging and then just… pulled the thread, clean and quiet. You’re dangerously good at writing the kind of collapse that looks small on the surface but leaves a bruise afterward.
Thanks Ashuka - glad you enjoyed and thanks for the feedback. I’ve got a couple of your pieces in my inbox that I’m going to read now.