He stared at it for a long while, the dimunitive piece of machinery that was giving him so much grief; a recessed filter switch. A small, on/off switch down in the crevasse of the computer. Without the damn thing on, it'd overheat for sure.1
He had tried everything: screwdrivers, paper-clips, chopsticks - he even went so far as to gnaw at the corner of the PC. Megabytes upon megabytes of documents, pictures, love-letters... Gone, all gone. He threw his back against the wall, and sat in a crumpled heap, defeated. He had kept all those letters and photographs, memories, relics even, of a long since lost relationship. He hadn't the heart to let go, so he lingered for four years. For four years, he would walk past, quickly read an old love note or email, and continue on. Oblivious. Stubborn.2
Until the damn thing broke, of course, and now the only thing stopping him was a one inch, .20 cent piece of plastic. A god-damned recessed filter switch. He stared from his corner, tools and the like strewn about. He stared at that switch, until he thought he'd bore holes through it if he stared any longer. Then he picked himself up, and looked at life through a new light, as if the ties were undone, the bridges burned. And for the first time in four years, the spell was broken... but was he ready to move on?3
And most interestingly of all, was it because of a small, recessed filter switch?4
Author notes
Just a little vignette(sp?) I wrote up. Don't expect /Paradise Lost/, or anything.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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A good read, I liked it !!
"... because of a small, recessed filter switch? " Where the hell was MY recessed filter switch when I needed one, HUH ? It is not fair, I want a do over !!!
I think it is the most amazing things that can affect our lives in the most amazing ways. The littlest piece of equipment that goes haywire and says now you got no choice, times up game over. Maybe a nickle on the side walk tomorrow stops him from stepping out in front of a bus ... Who knows ? If my life has a cosmic plan, the architect drew it up minus a letter and with a sense of humor ... cuz I'm sure mine is of the comic variety. You held my attention, short though it was and quick to finish ... but still complete. Well done.
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That's an interesting take on how technology and a person's reliance on the past can be paradoxically intertwined. I thought the description was the best part of the piece technically, but his relevation on life and love came a bit too easily or quickly though. In any case, I enjoyed it and good job!
Edited on Apr 07 because ''.
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