34 Cautious 12

“I’m ok. I don’t have to do this, but I’m not afraid to try. Take me back to the session,” Sun makes their mind up. This was the Virtual World, where anything is possible. No parents to disappoint, two friends they trusted. Clear and open communication was critical.

The beautiful landscape faded away, a heaven thought impossible until the release of the Meta Device. Sun approached the bed, Sara nervously holding Markus’ hand.

“I really appreciate your honesty Sara. I trust you both with every fiber of my being. Markus, if you feel the same, I believe we could try this,” the words that Sun rehearsed in their mind came naturally, they could feel that they really meant it. Sara put a hand over her mouth and looked at Markus, her heart beating rapidly.

“I would love to. Let either of us know if something isn’t working and we can all talk about it,” he squeezed Sara’s hand, the girl on the verge of tears again. This time, they were from happiness.

Sara leapt up and hugged Sun, almost toppling the smaller person. Sun laughed, the tension slowly melting away. Markus approached awkwardly at first, but was welcomed in by both of them as the merriment reached new heights.

They each spoke of the ideal first date. This was the Virtual World, their devices could easily make it happen. Mere moments after they reached a conclusion, Sun sat across from Markus and Sara at a fancy, seaside diner. The breeze brought a light scent of saltwater, the sunset glowed a vibrant orange over the water.

They couldn’t imagine that their confusing, challenging childhood crush on Sara would lead them to living this magical life in a Meta Device, of all things. The very device that their family cursed was from the Devil. And to sit across from Markus, a calm, approachable mystery that they finally had the chance to get to know.

They were able to order anything they wanted. The food felt a tad fake, as it didn’t actually nourish their Real World bodies, but that simply meant they could eat as much as they wanted without feeling full. After a five course meal and plenty of chit-chat, they ended off the night with fireworks over the ocean.

Sara sat between their two partners, feet hanging off the railing. Bright colors streaked the quickly darkening sky, unobscured by smoke or clouds. Their closeness was more comforting than ever, her excitement to start a new chapter in their lives sending her into a fog of affection.