Chapter 4: Discovery
A wave of loneliness hits me when I login to the Metaverse. Being surrounded by avatars makes me feel more alone than sitting by myself in my apartment. I’ve never known the Metaverse without G-Ma.
The Jungle especially doesn’t feel right without her. I have to create a new sandbox. In memory of her, but not clouded with memories of her.
I search for ‘extinct forest’ experiences. The Miombo Woodlands in South Africa is the top result. It’s not as vibrant as the Amazon but it works as a natural escape from my urban reality.
Once my virtual birds and Falcor are moved in, it feels good. I think something about it no longer existing IRL makes me appreciate it more.
I climb a tall tree with a view over my new home. Now settled, news headlines are my most accessible distraction:
*MILITARY INTERCEPTS SUPPLIES TO WASHINGTON BITCOIN CITADEL
*EXPERTS PREDICT BITCOIN ON THE VERGE OF DEATH
*IN RESPONSE TO PROTESTS OVER LIVING COSTS ANALYSTS EXPECT TIME IS COMING FOR UBI INCREASE
Demoralized, I impulsively close my feed.
The last headline rings in my head. G-Ma’s final words come to mind, ‘Your time is coming, Otto’. My eyes draw to dad’s clock. They fixate on an anomaly. The minute hand is now at Ⅲ.
<clock image: cypherdiaries.net/chapter-4/>
I scurry to get a closer look.
Out of dumb curiosity, I grasp the physical key protruding from its wooden body. With a slight twist, I feel gears grind as it turns in my hand. Upon a second turn, the pendulum door pops open below. Pulling back the door with lowered eyes reveals a folded piece of paper inside.
<paper image: cypherdiaries.net/chapter-4/>
My bewildered mind struggles to make sense of the enigma as I retrieve the paper. Unfolding it unveils a sequence of characters. My glasses search the text and display a matching Metaverse address.
"Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it."
― M. Scott Peck
Chapter 5 coming soon.