The first day of the rest of your life

Waking up

The alarm rings loud in your ears. The same alarm you've been hearing all your life. It's always the same sound, high pitched, repetitive. It's impossible not to hear it. You had tried headphones, blocking the windows, and looking for soundproofing materials in the illegal market, but there is no use. The global alarm will always be heard by every human at the precise hour they need to wake up to be a productive consumer.

You leave the bed and go through your morning routine. You have recently moved into this cramped apartment with other young people like you. You would have preferred to stay with your family, but that was not possible, independence and autonomy are skills every employee needs to develop or something. You miss your mom. Breakfast now is coffee and not much more. Food is scarce until you get your first paycheck and your roommates are in the same situation.

On the bright side, your roommates are cool people and even agreed to celebrate adulthood with a small party at the end of the month. Given all of you are still employed, of course. Otherwise, it would be awkward.

You get your clothes ready for your first day at work. You will be working as an intern in one of the office buildings in the best part of the city. You should be nervous about starting to work, but you've been preparing all your life for this moment. Every decision that led to this point was taken from someone else, that knew better than you what you were good at it, your strengths and flaws, skills and quirks. This is what you excel at, this is what you are meant to be: working in front of a computer answering emails and following the orders of your boss.

Commuting

The sun is up, but you can't see it because the sky is grey with heavy clouds. It's probably going to rain, and you don't have an umbrella, one more thing to get with your next paycheck. You adjust your jacket and leave for the subway station. People around you have the same vacant look on their faces, even the kids. There aren't many sounds. People don't talk with each other, and cars now have the technology to reduce sound and air contamination. Another accomplishment of your new employer Krap Inc!

You get in time to the subway and find a seat. That must be a lucky sign! You think. A smile appears on your face. The person in front of you looks at you affronted, almost offended. Discretely, you school your face in the standard frown customary in public transport.

You check your phone and scroll to the various platforms, looking for the content that will give you that hit of dopamine you need to keep going. You don't find it, but the cats looked cute in a video. It does not matter because you get out at the next station.

Meeting Abby

At the very moment you step into the building where you are going to work for the rest of your life, Abby materialises in front of you. You jump a bit in surprise, but she is unaffected. She seems as real as you. You extend your arm to poke at her shoulder, and touch nothing. The hologram speaks to you:

-Have you not received the documents to prepare for today? I'm a hologram, and I do not mind if you try to touch me, but we have strict rules about human interactions.

You apologize and assure her you are prepared for today. The people entering the building barely pay attention to you and the hologram. Everyone is more preoccupied to get to their office and start the day.

Abby leads you to your post and gives you all the information you need to begin your tasks. The office is big and lacks walls or any separation between the tables. The walls are beige, and the windows are big. The place is well-illuminated. There are no decorations beyond a couple of fake plants. The desks, the devices and the people are all devoid of any detail of individuality or personality. You watch yourself in the reflection of a window and know you'll fit right in. Many of your coworkers are already focused on their computers. The only one that has a separate office is the PM of this floor.

The Project Manager

When Abby is finishing her introduction, a tall man with short blonde hair and glasses calls you to his office. The PM, Abby informs you. You go alone to the office, and offer him your hand. The PM does not take it, and he doesn't invite you to take a seat. You stand there in the middle of his office. He has a good view, but not great. It's just the 8th floor, there are many more floors more important than this one. You know it. The office is not much, to be honest. A desk a bit bigger than yours, a TV, a couch and his computer. He does have a coffee machine just for himself. He was talking to you, and you have no idea what he said, but you nod and try to look like a good employee. He buys it, you think, and let you return to your desk.

Teammates

Your teammates don't introduce themselves in person. Instead, they send you their CVs and a letter of presentation. Abby tells you that information, along with what your boss told you, will be part of the evaluation you need to complete at the end of the day before you leave for home.

She disappears as suddenly she appeared, and you can finally do some work. Mainly reading and answering emails with requests and projects you have no idea about, but you would hopefully be informed in time, or you don't. You'll have to resort to your skill "I thrive in dynamic and changing working environments."

Lunch break

The alarm that signals lunch break blasts in the building. Everyone eats at their desks, some talk with the person they have seated next to them, but many don't. No one talks to you. You eat a sandwich and look out the window. A bluebird flies by. You smile. The bird looked elegant in their movements, and something else you can't, you shouldn't name. The person eating in front of you also saw the bird and your reaction. They look intrigued at you. The alarm blasts again. The lunch break is over.

Board of directors

In three different moments the sound system plays prerecorded audio from the Board of Directors. It's always the same. Something about the importance of productivity, teamwork and profit. Very motivating, you appreciate those messages so much. They really help you to answer emails faster.

Meetings

The best part of the day was the meetings. So many, with different combinations of the same people. About very important topics for the future of the company. Several solutions to problems were discussed, but none were approved because more meetings will be needed before making a decision. Everyone contributed their clever opinions and you got to listen and take notes of every detail. Abby said it was a great learning opportunity. You are so grateful.

End of the day

You pass the test, and for some kind of miracle, you got the answers about what your boss told you correctly. Maybe today was your lucky day. Abby tells you you did well and expects much from you. You really hope not to disappoint her. It's weird to think that because Abby is a hologram. She doesn't have feelings. Does she?

Back home

The commute back home is uneventful. You are very tired, your good luck continues because it starts raining when you are already in your cramped apartment. You have a quick dinner, something from a can, and then you go to bed.

Your dreams are full of subways, grey faces, and big, bright voids. Buildings collapse. You walk through the devastation untouched, unharmed. A pair of eyes open inside your mind. Bluebirds fly and pick you up. They take you to the sky. You are...

The alarm rings loud in your ears. The same alarm you've been hearing all your life. It's always the same sound, high pitched, repetitive.