Prompt:
Describe or narrate a scenario about a device found a decade into a future in which society as we know it has come apart. Your description should address issues related to communication and elicit feelings of decadence.
Narrative:
It was too late.
She approached a sign on the side of the grassy, abandoned highway that read, “Vancouver 600m.” It had been lodged into the grass on the shoulder of the road, perhaps by another wanderer, for others to see and recognize.
It’s the year 2052, 14 years since the fall of society. Fourteen years since the great war.
Behind her, cities lay in ruins and the once-bustling streets and highways of her past were now silent and empty. She searched east, to the places of her childhood memories and summer vacations spent. The lakes still sat the same, but nothing else remained except debris and memories of what once was. She thought to herself that if only they had all lived as if they were on summer vacation, none of this would have happened. “I’ll head back to the city,” she thought to herself.
As she returned through the intersection into the core of what once was her home, she felt a sense of belonging even though it was all gone. She combed through the wreckage and navigated her way north towards her old neighbourhood. In the distance, a pair of raccoons rummaged on the patio of a two-story home, a Vancouver special, as they searched for food. She could see pieces of debris fall from the patio and scatter along the yard.
Suddenly, she stopped.
A bright light shining from the newly formed mess bounced off a surface, reflecting the rays of the warm sun. She started for the house in the distance, hoping for an artifact from the past. As she approached the yard, the raccoons scattered from the patio back through the sliding doors of the house. There, she knelt to look closer, and there it was—a cellular device nestled between layers of dust and rubble. It was a sleek, glassy phone, its screen cracked but otherwise in good condition, hopefully still functional.
Without hesitation, she reached for a cube from her backpack, attached it to a cord and plugged it into the phone. With a hesitant yet familiar touch, she powered it on. A faint glow illuminated the dust that surrounded her, revealing a fragmented interface. This phone, once an essential piece of communication, now stood as a relic of an era that once was. It was a symbol of the decadence that had led to society’s downfall.
She immediately swiped, clicked and searched through the device.
The memory was filled with messages, social media posts and news articles from a time when people were more concerned with digital likes and shares than the real-world consequences of their actions. Everyone picked a side and heard no one but themselves. As she opened and scrolled through the messages, she saw the last desperate attempts at communication before the great collapse.
From Sydney to Family Group Chat: Hey everyone, the power just went out here. Is everyone okay?
From Tijana to Best Friends Group: Guys, I can’t reach my parents. Has anyone heard anything about the situation in the city?
From Ashton to Work Colleagues: Hi everyone, I know it’s chaotic, but we need to finalize the report. Can anyone still access the server?
From Laura: I love you. No matter what happens, remember that. Please stay safe.
From Community Alert System: Emergency broadcast: All residents are advised to stay indoors. Do not attempt to travel. Further instructions will follow.
From Johnny: Do you have any extra water? We’re running low and the stores are empty.
From Eliza to Seven Group Chat: Does anyone know what’s going on? The news is saying different things and I’m scared.
From Government Alert: Attention: Martial law is now in effect. All citizens must comply with curfews and directives. Stay safe.
From Luca: It’s been years, but I just wanted to reach out. I hope you’re okay. Take care.
From Sydney: Hey, where are you? I’m heading to the shelter. If you get this, meet me there. Love you.
These messages, filled with fear, confusion and a sense of an impending end, brought her back to the uncertainty of it all. The phone’s battery was nearly depleted, and with each passing moment, the screen flickered, threatening to go dark forever. Now, she felt a newfound sense of sorrow reading through the messages.
This phone, once a necessity of connectivity, now only served as a haunting reminder of what was lost. The prosperity of the past was evident to her as she thought back to the high-tech designs of the past. The volume of data stored within this tiny device served as a reminder of their spoiled existence. Yet, it also highlighted the fragile connections and the ease with which they were created.
She held onto the side button as the device finally powered down.
Tears trickled down her dirty cheeks as she began to stand with a heavy heart. She packed the cube and the phone into her backpack and turned for the gate. The device, like the society it once served, was now just a ghost of its former self. It was a symbol of the nature of human progress that ultimately also led to its demise. She quietly stepped back out towards the road, to a destination uncertain, a silent witness to the end of an era of what once was.
It was too late.