Sylvia woke up with a hollow longing. So she brushed her teeth in fifteen seconds, shoved a meager breakfast down her throat in twenty-five, and changed her clothed in seventy-nine. Everything had to be done as quickly as possible so she could get Next Door. Finally, she was able to leave her apartment. But ‘apartment’ would be a generous way to describe her living space. It had a mattress, sink, toilet and microwave all in a single room. Her mother had criticized her for taking it. “Well it’s cheaper than the others in this area, but where will you have guests? Will you serve Hors d'oeuvres? On the toilet seat?” But Sylvia didn’t have people over much. Why would she need them? She turned to lock the door which had been painted red by a previous occupant. Sylvia had painted it grey. Bright real world colors were so abrasive.

“Hey, Sylvia!”

Sylvia inwardly groaned and turned around to see to the redheaded creature called Rodney.

“Jesus, you look like shit!”

Sylvia started edging across the stained carpet to the metallic elevator door that had just opened.

“Oh, I’m catching that! Need to head own to the basement to get some cleaning supplies.” He ran to it and held the door open for her.

Sylvia clenched and unclenched her fist as she entered the empty elevator.

They weren’t even any other people in the elevator to distract him. Fantastic.

“So, how have you been?”

Sylvia thought maybe if she studied the yellowed buttons with intensity he’d ignore her.

Rodney sighed and ran a hand thorough his frizzy hair.

“Heading Next Door?”

Sylvia glared at him. “Yes.”

“Why, Sylvia?”

“Because when my parents died in the revolution they left me an inheritance. Now I can go every morning before my shit job instead of once a week. You try doing filling static reports for fifteen hours and not needing a high.”

“But that kind of high?”

“Yes that kind of high!”

“Why do you think the company wants everyone to call it ‘Next Door?’ So it’s like you’re going to see a neighbor and no one will know-”

“I don’t care who knows or what they know! I am tried of you harassing me everyday. I do my job, who gives a shit if I go Next Door?”

“A virtual simulation will never match up to real life.”

“Ha!”

“Especially with the sexual. Really, Sylvia I know it’s weird to talk about it, but do you know how much natural conception has decreased? And how much less humans seek physical connections?”

“The population doesn’t need any more kids.”

“What about physical connections with people?”

“Oh come on Rodney, everyone here knows you go once a week at least!”

“I only go because if you see me over there you don’t hate me.”

The only noise that filled the elevator was the whirling sound of the machine passing another floor.

“I used to be your friend you know,” he began. “I miss you.”

The elevator door opened to floor one.

“I don’t use the sexual stuff. Not a lot.” Sylvia looked straight ahead while she spoke. “I mean I used to, but now, I just have someone to talk to. And everyone loves me in there.”

She walked out the elevator.

“And I miss you too, but I’m not the person you remember.”

The door closed and Rodney didn’t try to stop it.

Sylvia walkout out to Next Door there was a line already. Everyone avoided eye contact. Rodney was right. She didn’t seek out people anymore if she could get the right simulation. And she didn’t have just lovers in there, she had friends. Some liked to interact with others hooked up to the Next Door. She thought it was hypocritical. The really skinny guy and the chick with blue hair stood next to each other silently. But in Next Door they were the most passionate of lovers. Some lied and said this was a heightened sexual and social masturbation. But she didn’t want just that. If so she would have bought a vibrator and a cell phone. She wanted the connection that only that microchips and programming could provide. As she entered the large archways, she began to shake, craving the colors and sensations of a virtual world. She paid the man quickly and rushed in. Once inside, she laid down on a plush seat and felt the droids wiz out of their hiding places to attach the cords to appropriate places on in her skull. She had shaved her head so didn’t get didn’t tangled in her curls. The plastic shell fell around her and a metallic scent filled the air. Sylvia gripped the grey handlebars and didn’t think of Rodney as she slipped into non-reality.