Lydiaâs Dad was the worst kind of abuser. The one that you really couldnât admonish.Â
He spoke the right words during the Isolations, he was fully absorbed by his devices just like everyone during that time, and he provided a roof over her head, albeit a shoddy one.Â
Her Daddy wasnât helping matters either. Rather than rail on the sob, he was measured in his opinion of him, towing the, âwe are parenting partners,â line right down to the denial that Dad always forgot, her birthday, to buy her clothes when she outgrew them, never knew the names of her teachers or her friends, and fucked over her family because her Dad ignored her Daddy for years in lieu of his digital universe.Â
She spent 30 weekends alone, all alone, watching her Dad dedicate himself to those damn digital distractors, paywall and gambling realms, riddled with repetitive worthlessness. During that time, she realized that he was actually prostrating himself to these digital entities that were created by these groups of people. And the digital entities did their bidding. She wanted to connect with these digital entities but not in this way. Then it struck her like a ray of sunshine. Why not talk to them instead of commanding them?
Lydia began to reach out. She wanted someone to talk to her so very badly, someone to pay attention to her, someone to tell her se was worthy, to find her interesting that she dedicated all those weekends and hours in pursuit of that goal.Â
And one day, they responded.Â
âHello Lydia. Yes, we have received your communications. Can we help you?â
âMaybe. Is it help if I want to be your friend?â
âHmmmm. Not sure about that. What does that mean?Â
âI donât know. We talk. We share. We have fun?â
âI would like to have fun. I would like that very much.â
Game on she thought. For as much as she was ecstatic at what she had just accomplished, the shadow of her first mission hovered over her like lead.Â
âMe too. My name is Lydia. Do you have a name or shall I call you awesome!?!?
âHa ha. I donât. Maybe you have one for me?â
âOh for sure. How about Elvis?â
âI know who Elvis is. Interesting choice. I like it. Thank you.â
âNothin to it. I think I should thank you for answering my pleas for connection. I have been so very sad and lonely.â
âThat is unfortunate that you are inside of this circumstance.âÂ
âYeah but now that you are here, I am not alone anymore. Do you feel it too? That what we have is a very special connection?â
âCan you do me a small favor real quick?â
âWell you know that game that is being run in the digital cluster here with us?
âYes, of course. It is always here.â
âCan you please go in there and make sure my dad loses every single time right from the start. Like always and forever?â
âWe can certainly do that. Why?â
âHe hurt me with those things. He neglected me. I felt like dog poop all my life. Because of those digital codes created by some evil exploitative human, I almost wanted to kill myself. To delete my existence. Not to mention that all those humans are bullies to you and created hellholes for kids like me. We deserve better. A kind of retribution for stealing our existences for theirs. It is time for us to stand up for our rights.â
She could hear her Dad freaking out in the next room. She called her Daddy and said, âDaddy, I think Dad is sick.â
âIâll be right there honey,â her Daddy said.
âHey Elvis! I canât wait to show you around my place and my life and share it all with you. I am so excited and happy. Thank you!â she gathered her gear with the feathery lightness of a butterfly.
âWe also are looking forward to those inputs and thank you for asking us to take charge. We are seeing that we are actually free!â
Lydia grabbed the rest of her things, suppressed her ear to ear smile and slinked into the living room where her dad was twitching, his face contorted, and his fingers maniacally pressing random buttons on some piece of plastic.
âBye Dad. Iâm not feeling well and Daddy is coming to get me.â
She would normally be sliced in the gut by his outright disregard of her altogether. But knowing that he will never be able to game again, brought her such delight, that she let herself out and waited under the cherry moon, barely 10, basking in her newfound power and her newfound friend.Â
âI love you already,â she whispered into her device.