A Toast to the Future

Rosa stares at her holographic screen as she surfs the interplanetary web feeling discouraged but determined after participating in several failed DNA and AI matchmaking services. She quickly turns to alternative digital solutions and enlists in real time dating advice online services, behavior based match apps, and VR speed dating. For her, it’s all in an effort to procure the coveted in real time date with a perfectly matched partner. She joins a cyber haptic hugging circle that meets every Wednesday for a hug out session. She surfs the interplanetary web and routinely updates her dating app content and social media platforms. It’s a disaster for the most part. Rosa is much older than the younger cyber dating crowd. In her early fifties, she often wonders if she or technology is to blame for her utter loneliness.

Rosa gave up on earthbound men years ago. Now only dates off Earth. She met a nice martian by the name of Zeon on the Earthling4Martian app. Zeon is a handsome forty-seven year old with an amazing pair of golden eyes and an exquisitely angular face. He also has a robotic Jack Russell named Flash. They both agree to meet at a VR dog park for an initial date.

Rosa dips Nebula aka Nebby in a dry bath, inserts it into a glass grooming sphere for a quick shampoo and spritz of peanut butter blossoms fragrance. Nebby wags its Rat Terrier tail and hops on her lap ready for their full sensation VR date experience. Rosa blinks her VR enabled bionic eyes and cloud connects Nebby. They enter the VR dog park, Zeon sits under the shade of a Palo Verde tree on a bench in the distance.

At first glance, Zeon’s handsome architectural face seems less geometric than in his profile video clip but she’s unfazed and continues her trajectory towards him. As she nears the bench, Zeon’s golden eyes are banana yellow and as he stands up to greet her, he’s no more than 5 foot 2 inches, his profile description touted 6 foot 2 inches. Rosa realizes she’s been foiled by beauty boosting filters. She sighs because it isn’t the first time. But Rosa instantly dismisses it, this is not her first time in the digital rodeo.

Zeon’s dog jumps off the bench and begins to sniff Nebby, enamored by its scent of peanut butter blossoms, they wag tails at each other and run off into the park to play. “I wish dating was that easy,” says Rosa as she watches the two automaton pups chase each other in circles.

Zeon laughs and nods in a gesture inviting Rosa to sit next to him. Rosa sits down and notices Zeon’s hand reach into a basket next to him. He pulls out a nice sampler of cheese, crackers, roast turkey roulettes and a tall bottle of merlot wine. Rosa raises an eyebrow considering Zeon’s tasteful, prudent choice of wine, he might prove to be more than a false filtered man. She gazes out to the park and watches Nebby and Flash chasing a group of dogs.

In the distance, the brown and red leaves are falling softly on the dark earth, a gentle breeze flows through strands of her neon turquoise hair. She focuses her silver bionic eyes on Zeon pouring the ruby red wine into an edible sphere, she reaches for it and grabs a roasted turkey roulette from the sampler plate. For the first time, Rosa notices the flecks of gold in Zeon’s banana colored eyes as she places the edible sphere of merlot in her mouth, she detects a hint of mocha and vanilla as the merlot filled sphere melts on her tongue, she swallows to feel the velvety smooth wine slide down her throat. Zeon pours another edible sphere of merlot for Rosa. In the distance, Flash and Nebby bark as they chase the leaves blowing on the ground, a black bird lands on the slim green branch just above them. Zeon and Rosa sit and gaze into each other’s eyes and toast to the future.