BREAK (Short Story)

By Dan Leicht

He rested his mug on the table and rubbed the scruff on his chin. He’d been writing an essay for three hours straight and decided it was time he took a break. From the table to the refrigerator was about ten feet in his apartment, but something happened that made the journey for a sparkling water considerably more difficult.

His phone screen lit up beside him and he saw a text from her, the one who couldn’t decide where she wanted to eat. She picked a chain restaurant, one she looked up to find was close by his apartment. With a masterful reply in mind he picked up his phone and was zapped by what he thought was static electricity. Again he went for the phone, and again he was repelled.

“What’s happening?” he said aloud hoping his roommate would hear him from the other side of the room. His roommate had spent the entirety of a Sunday playing video games without moving from the couch.

“Dude, come see this,” he requested of his roommate.

“Just a second. This boss is freaking ridiculous. I’m only eight levels behind it. It shouldn’t be this difficult.”

“That sounds important. But come over here and try and pick up my phone.”

“Why?”

“Just give it a shot.”