– Oh God, everything hurts so much – I think to myself.
I try to get out of bed, but my body won't cooperate, everything hurts like I got hit by a truck and then run over by a steamroller. With great effort I get up and walk toward the bathroom, I look in the mirror.
– I look like shit, dark circles under my eyes, my hair sticking out in every direction, my face is swollen.
I quickly splash my face with cold water, maybe it will help me wake up. At one point I hear my phone in the other room going off like crazy.
I run and check.
– Right, I have to call the clinic and make an appointment.
I unlock my phone, dial the clinic number and call. Of course, I hear an automated voice.
– Welcome to NeuroMedica, my name is Aneta and I am your personal assistant.
I think to myself – of course, artificial intelligence – I never liked it, but the world is changing, moving forward, you have to get used to it. Artificial intelligence, holograms and all that are everywhere now.
– Hello, my name is Marek and I would like to make an appointment.
– Mr. Marek, in order to proceed, I will need your personal number – the system responds.
And here's the problem, I didn't prepare anything. And finding that number now, on the spot – that's definitely not going to happen. I start thinking and I remember the first 3 digits, 639.
– 639, 639 – what was next – I think to myself.
And in one moment, information appears in front of my eyes:
[SYSTEM 0.0.1v]
Personal Number: 639-587-694-12
I freeze, I don't know what's happening. I don't know how to describe it. What just happened. In the phone I hear:
– Mr. Marek, you have 15 seconds left to provide your personal number, otherwise the call will be terminated.
After hearing that, I quickly say:
– 639-587-694-12 – I also provide my date of birth for verification.
– Alright, what would you like to schedule?
– Routine blood tests.
– Please wait – after this message, silence, and the waiting music starts. And I'm still standing there, thinking about what just happened. And how all of this works.
– Mr. Marek, I have an available appointment today at 11:15 with Dr. Jackowicz. Would you like me to book it?
– Yes, please.
– In that case, thank you for your call and have a nice day.
– Thank you.
"Goodbye" somehow doesn't come out of my throat. After all, I was talking to a machine. Probably even the receptionist at the clinic is just a hologram. I look at the clock and see it's only 8:15. I still have some time. Time to try to understand what's happening to me.
– Maybe I need to focus really hard for it to start working – let's try – I close my eyes and try. I think intensely about the appointment. About the time. About the doctor. About the details. A dozen minutes pass. Nothing.
– Alright... so that's not how it works.
I sigh.
– Come on, my friend. Let's go for a walk.
Outside, the sun greets me. Warmth. Calm. Birds are singing as if nothing is happening. As if everything is normal. I decide to go to the Vistula. Plenty of space, the dog can run. Maybe even jump into the water... which means I'll have to wash him later.
On the way to the river, I keep thinking about the doctor's appointment, and since I forgot to take my phone, I have nowhere to write it down. So I keep repeating to myself:
– Appointment with Jackowicz today at 11:10, don't forget – I repeat it maybe 8 or 10 times.
At one point, a window with information appears in front of my eyes.
[SYSTEM 0.0.1v]
[CALENDAR 0.0.1v]
22.09.2067
APPOINTMENT WITH JACKOWICZ AT 11:10
SET A REMINDER 30 MIN BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT
[YES]–[NO]
I freeze in place. What do I do now, how does this work. How do I even accept this.
– Yes – I mutter under my breath.
Another message appears:
[SYSTEM 0.0.1v]
REMINDER HAS BEEN SET FOR 10:40
Now I have no idea how all of this works. I didn't do anything like this. I was just repeating to myself that I have a doctor's appointment today. I need to figure out how to trigger the system. From what I can see, everything is version 0.0.1v, so it's fresh software. But how it works, I have no idea, and the most important question – what can I actually do with it.
It takes about 20–30 minutes at a normal pace to reach the river, so I get there at 8:45. I let the dog off the leash, and I sit on a bench to think all of this through.
– Now I don't even know if this is hallucinations or if I actually have some kind of system in my head – I think to myself.
Is someone controlling me, is someone reading my thoughts, seeing through my eyes and hearing through my ears? Good question. I have to be careful what I say, although it doesn't really matter, because if they're reading my thoughts, they'll know everything anyway.
The most important question is how to trigger this damn interface, or maybe these are separate applications that I can use. I come up with a stupid idea, although it might actually work.
– System, what time is it – I say to myself – and nothing, nothing at all, no reaction.
– How does this work, maybe I just need to think it, not say it out loud – I say to myself.
– Show me the time – I think – still nothing.
If only there was some kind of manual for this interface. It would help me a lot. Maybe I have to teach it myself how to trigger it.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
Alright. Calm down.
Focus.
On one thing only.
Time.
Just time and nothing else.
– System, what time is it – I think.
Suddenly a message appears:
[SYSTEM 0.0.1v]
TIME: 08:50
DO YOU WANT TO PIN THE TIME PERMANENTLY
[YES]–[NO]
I open my eyes immediately.
– Oh fuck – I whisper.
– So that's how it works.
In my mind I answer – YES.
Another message:
[SYSTEM 0.0.1v]
WHERE IN THE INTERFACE SHOULD I PIN THE TIME
I think for a moment.
– Top right corner.
[SYSTEM 0.0.1v]
SETTINGS SAVED
The message disappears, and I see the time in the top right corner, pinned permanently. I move my head left, right, and it's still there.
But what I also notice is that using this interface costs me a lot of effort, especially mental effort. My head is pounding like crazy now.
But the most important thing is that I know how to use it. Or actually, I don't – I've only set the time.
– This is so stupid – but what else can I use this for?
Next chapter coming soon.Add to library to not miss it.