September/October 2024

A group of friends become trapped in a computer scientist’s digital utopia Dr. Murray lay in the hospital bed, breathing heavily. He was surrounded by wires and IV bags which were plugged into his body. The nurse stood by checking his faint heart rate. “I’m sorry, sir, we’ve done everything we could’ve done for you. Are you sure that there isn’t a loved one that we could call for you?” “No, I have no one. But I beg you, have someone take care of my creation.” Before the nurse could inquire about what the creation was, Dr. Murray relaxed into his bed. The heart rate monitor flatlined. *          *          * School had ended an hour earlier; the yellow light from the late afternoon sun filtered into the empty locker hall and splashed onto the spotted floor, creating dazzling colors. Ryan grabbed his blue rolling backpack and set it on the ground. As he closed his locker, he heard a fluttering noise; his origami dragon had fallen onto the floor. “Hey, where’d you learn how to do that?” asked a voice from behind. Expecting to be pummeled, Ryan shot his hands up into the air and slowly turned around. Instead of seeing a big eighth-grader, Ryan saw a girl with short red hair and braces. She had freckles on her face and a pair of big round-rimmed glasses. She wore gray trousers and a stuffy-looking purple sweater. “Are you talking to me?” asked Ryan “Yeah, does it look like there’s anyone else in this hallway?” replied the mysterious girl. “Don’t you see that ghost down the hallway?” said Ryan. He tried to make a joke like the popular kids did, but it didn’t seem to land. “Interesting joke . . . can you teach me how to make that origami dragon?” “Uh—yes sure,” replied Ryan, shocked that someone was interested in his unique hobby. Over the next thirty minutes, Ryan taught this girl how to fold origami dragons. He even told her his secret origami fold that would prove that he folded that dragon. “Thanks,” said the girl. “My name’s Laurice, by the way,” she added. When Ryan went home, he was bursting to tell his parents “Mom! Dad! Someone cared to talk with me in the first month of school. New record!” Of course, his alcoholic dad would just get angry, and his mother was too busy editing Instagram photos to care. “Mom, I’m home. Can you please make me dinner just this once?” asked Ryan. “No, for the millionth time, can’t you see I’m busy?! Just eat the chips on my table,” yelled Ryan’s mother. Just then, Ryan’s father walked in through the door. His breath stank of hard liquor as he yelled, “Marissa, I lost my job again. You’re going to have to make money on your dumb WhatsApp or something like that.” “Ugh! You lose your job one more time and we’re getting a divorce.” Ryan wasn’t even hungry anymore. He made a run for it before things could get serious. As Ryan sat on the curb outside of his house, listening to the all-too-loud sounds of his parents cursing at each other, he looked up at the stars and wished he could be as large as them, that someone would care about his problems. “Hey buddy, you look blue,” said a familiar voice. Jumping, Ryan looked around and saw Laurice. “Is that your house? Sounds like whoever’s inside is trying to kill each other,” Laurice observed. “Yeah, I hope Dad doesn’t do too much damage like last time,” replied Ryan. “You can come to my house if you’d like,” announced Laurice. “Just down the street, and mom’s grilling brisket. Dad just eats the food, but he does have a job.” “My dad doesn’t. He just lost his sixteenth job. I hope we don’t have to move again,” replied Ryan sulkily. “Well, come to our house while the food’s still hot. You look like the science room’s skeleton!” They’re not going to realize I’m gone anyway, thought Ryan, so he followed Laurice to her house. That night, Ryan met Laurice’s kind parents and had some mouthwatering brisket. With Laurice, Ryan had his first actual fun in forever. As Ryan left the house, he felt comforted that people out in the world cared about him; Ryan felt just like those significant stars in the universe. For the first time in Ryan’s life, he enjoyed school. He had a new friend in Laurice. At least for now. *          *          * “Laurice, Laurice! Yesterday my mom finally agreed to make me some food! Sure it was from that terrible TikTok recipe, but at least she—” Just then, Ryan noticed that Laurice was not at her desk. Another kid was sitting at Laurice’s desk. “Hey, sit at your desk. Laurice sits there.” “What are you talking about, Einstein kid? I’ve been sitting here all year.” “Simmer down. What’s the problem here?” asked Ms. Marble. “Well, he’s sitting in Laurice’s seat,” exclaimed Ryan, evidently flustered. “Who is Laurice?” asked Ms. Marble. “Probably some gamer girl Ryan met online,” said the boy. Everyone erupted into laughter. Embarrassed, Ryan beelined towards his desk and sat down. Ryan was so hasty that he accidentally tripped on a desk leg and hit his head on the table. For the rest of the day, Ryan was confused and had a headache. After school, Ryan was walking back home, pondering whether Laurice was an imaginary friend or a hallucination; he had read about hallucinations in a science magazine and knew how real they could feel. But they certainly can’t be so real that I would get duped into going into a house and eating brisket, and I don’t think people hallucinate for two weeks, thought Ryan. As he was thinking, he looked towards his left and saw Laurice’s house. “Hey! I can get to the bottom of this if I ask