It is Just a Virus

Chapter eight

The next day I was suddenly discharged from the hospital. In the morning the doctor came, he said that the results of the tests are much better and now he sends me home, but with the condition of compliance with bed rest. The nurses quickly helped me pack my things, and just as quickly escorted me out of the building.

I went home. I had nothing to pay for the taxi, so I walked home. Quarter after quarter. Rubbish on each at every step. Stench and fog swallowed Groome Town. The mask protects against toxins, of which oxygen now consists, but does not particularly protect against fetid odors. Due to the thick smog, one can only see one step forward. You take a step, you look closely, another step and again a small overview, so as not to enter into dirt and decomposition. Insects of known and unknown breeds are circling over garbage, trying to climb under their clothes and even bite somewhere. No one has long removed garbage from the streets, it has nowhere to take away. It's disgusting to leave the house and see this nightmare. Most of the inhabitants of the Earth have almost moved to the V-world. They leave the system, only to order the delivery of food and oxygen, and then again plunge into the virtual. They work there, study, travel, marry. And then they decide to meet in life and are disappointed. People go crazy with this. They have everything in the system, but waking up realize that there is nothing in real life and the reality is so terrible that it is better not to leave the house at all. The problem of our world in the twentieth century as overpopulation has already been solved for twenty years. Less and less women decide to give birth to a child in a world drowning in a garbage. There is no more blooming planet.

I opened the door of my room and went inside. Silence greeted me with sadness. I looked at the oxygen level in the room and took off the mask. I forgot to turn off the cartridge. The supply of oxygen is running out. And there is no money to buy oxygen. The last working day could be profitable, but, alas, I failed miserably. I threw the keys on the table. Immediately changed into home pants and a T-shirt and lay down on the bed. What to do? In front of me there were two problems: where to quickly make money for oxygen and how to save  Patricia. I was hoping that I could save her. «In system». 

I did not come in V-world for three days, while in the hospital. Doctors forbade me to come here to correctly diagnose my state of health. To return here it is pleasant. I left the room and went to the bar where I worked. The sun warmed, blooming greenery gave freshness, and a light breeze intoxicated with purity.

Laila is back in the shift. Today she is with orange hair, which is famously combined with a working apron. She likes to experiment with the color of her hair. Seeing me, a smile disappeared from her face:"Hi, Dan."

"Hi," I said, sitting down at the bar.

"How are you feeling?"

The bruises have already disappeared, and now I felt 100% excellent, here in the virtual. At least physically. For the emotional experience, I'm not sure what was worth sharing.

"Everything is relative. I came to find out if you need help. I need money. I want to earn some money."

"Would you like some coffee?"

"I have nothing to pay off. So what about the part-time job?"

"I'll buy," said Laila and ran away to prepare flavored drink.

What's wrong with her?

She was slowly preparing coffee for me. Too long for coffee. I got up from the chair and walked closer to the girl:"Laila, what's the matter?"

She looked down at the bar:"You got fired."

"What? Come on."

Laila put coffee to me and, finally, looked into my eyes: "All employees are aware of how you failed. Well, how did you fall on the shift. And that you did not cope with the influx of visitors. Of course, and Mr. Penton also found out. He said, to everyone, that you are an example of bad work. And he said he told you that you were fired."

"He did not tell me anything!" I said, raising my voice.

"Calm down. Maybe he decided to intimidate us?"

Suddenly the bracelet sounded. Only passed the synchronization. I pressed the button and lines appeared in front of me. A letter from Mr. Penton. He tells me that I am fired because of incompetence. He did not pay me anything because of the damage caused to me on the last working day.

I sat down in a chair near the bar.

"I'm sorry," said Laila and slipped me a cup of coffee, "to cheer up at least a bit." 

I sat for ten minutes without moving. I got up, and without saying a word, I left the cafe. Legs themselves led to the bench, where Dion took me on the night of their acquaintance. The courtyard was not far from the bar and I found it quickly. In the afternoon, everything looked different. Pretty little houses, painted in yellow and orange colors, were drowned in the luscious green of majestic trees. A small playground in the center of the courtyard created an atmosphere of normality. In V - the world in every courtyard there are such playgrounds, although there are no children here for a long time. 

I sat down on a bench and looked around. The silence and tranquility around were soothing. Although in my state it is difficult to talk about peace of mind. One day is worse than another. The terrifying appearance of Pattie, the whole floor of half-dead bodies. Dismissal. Concussion. The stolen card. What's next? There is no one around who can help. Thoughts returned to Dion. He could help, but how to find him is unknown. I'm staring at the foliage, through which the sun made its way. And anxious thoughts retreated for a short time. At some point, I realized that I could not give up. I cannot and do not want to lose Pattie. I need to reach out to those who sell this stupid program with a virus. Find out for antivirus and buy it. If they have the virus, there must be treatment. The business card is most likely a clue. There remains the problem of money. I could only ask my parents for help. I don't want to disturb them, but there are no more options. I thought about my parental home. And at the same time I stood in the middle of my children's room.