Parting Ways

At this point she has exceeded her lifespan and the time has come for an upgrade. It sounds so impersonal to speak of her simply as a tool. She was a constant, from the saffron glow of dawn through countless slumber-less midnight strolls. She has served me nearly without fail for the last three years. Oh don’t get it twisted, she’s still one hella lady, it’s just that her memory ain’t what it used to be. I began to see little signs of her impending demise several months aback; random delays unrelated to Wi-Fi connections -like let me think about it for a second before I reply- Requesting a Reboot in the middle of an assignment then refusing to negotiate; just that annoying prompt: “System Error Please restart your device.” Entering her dotage the skews became more transparent and untimely and less easily ignored. Just this morning at the gym, you caused me to hold up the line when you decided to engage in a mid function nap. Her replacement arrived via mail order today, slender and all made up in a most attractive steel gray. I caressed her lubricous uncased body tenderly yet firmly and place her next to you on the bed. I am overcome with Ambivalence as I watch you drift away into the cloud, engaging in a cyber dance with my new companion. The final countdown begins and I stand by your side as your clock rate descends. Reluctantly, I adhere to your final prompt: “Delete Everything -Reset!” How else could you move on? I ease my new friend into her case, before asking her to capture your image. She complies and we post you in the social media graveyard: iPhone 11, Black, Used but in Good Condition, 256 gigabytes, comes with a pretty red case/card holder. make an offer! Bill Marable 1/25/25 8:32 am