Case: 01.10.2055

I was like everybody else.

Wake up at 7:00 am., shower, eat, coffee and out the door to work. We all pull up to the work building, some in nicer cars than others, but all with that same look of emptiness on our face. This is what connects us together, this feeling. This feeling like we want to go back to bed, or like we wish we weren't so lonely, or like we wish we were about to do something worthwhile with our lives instead of wasting 9-10 hours on manual labor.

What are we gonna do though? Not work? Yeah right, like that day will ever come.

This is just the way things are for everyone, everywhere. Unless you're born rich or catch a big break somehow, this is your life.

Wake up, shower, eat, coffee, then work. Monday through Friday and Saturday if you work overtime.

While I work my mindless job of running social media accounts for rich kids and corporate businesses, I like to dream that I'm one of these rich people.

Their lives are so dreamy...they wake up whenever they want in their beautiful California King beds, then shower in a bathroom the size of my whole apartment.

I can just see the rainfall shower head, and the beautiful marble shower. Having an assortment of fancy, expensive shampoos and body washes at my disposal .

Rich people always have the best food too!

I look down at my power bar and iced coffee I got from the company cafeteria and frown. I look at my work screen at a picture of the beautiful organic, grass fed breakfast one of my clients had this morning. As I adjust the contrast and lighting to really make her granola and avocado toast pop; I begin to descend back into my dream land.

I zone out often at work. I have to if I want to stay sane. Between editing my clients' selfies and vlogs, emailing my clients, and meeting efficiency quotas; I like to go on auto-pilot to keep me from thinking about how empty my life is.

However, when the day ends, and I clock out and head to my car; I feel the depression settle around me like a dark cloud. I have no significant other, no love interests at all really. All I do is work and every male I know just works. No one has time for love or dating, which is probably why the porn industry is so lucrative.

I have no friends. I used to have a friend group in college; we would have the best times getting drunk, staying out late, going dancing, and messing with boys. Now I'm 25, single, lonely, and the only thing I still got from college besides the degree is debt.

It starts to rain as I wait in traffic. I'm half-listening to the news talking about a precious family heirloom stolen from one of the richest families in the world or something when a call interrupts the story. Its my mom.

I click the "Answer" button'

"Hello, hey mom."

"Hey dear. Are you in the car right now?"

"Yeah...on my way home now. Why?"

"Well honey, we just found out your sister has been missing from her classes for the past 3 days. The dean just called a few minutes ago, expressing concern."

Confused, I pause before responding. "I just spoke to her yesterday" I thought.

"Have you spoken to her recently?"Asks my mother, frantically.

"I have, just yesterday.She said everything was fine."

"YOU DID! Ohhh thank GOD! I've been trying not to freak out since the dean called. What did you guys talk about?"

"She said she was going to send me something...she asked for my address..."

"Sorry what was that dear?...she's sending you something?"

Zoning out, I think to myself, "Why didn't she mention anything about school...is she in trouble?"

"Honey? You there?"

"Yeah mom, Hey I'm gonna call you back when I get home. I don't want a patrol to catch me on the phone while driving."

"Okay honey, love you!"

"Love you too, mom." I click the "hang up" button.

"That was weird."

I finally arrive home as the sun is setting. I lock my car and walk up the sidewalk to my apartment building. As I step into the elevator, my phone begins to ring.

I look down to see its my sister calling!

"Hello"

"Make sure you don't tell anyone."

"What!? What are you talking about? Tell who?"

"I love you. I did a bad thing, but I hope it can help you, sis. You always deserved better."

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"I love you." I hear a click and then dial tone.

The elevator must have blocked the signal. I frantically get off once the elevator reaches my floor and try to redial my sister. Straight to voicemail. I try again, and the same thing happens.

"What the hell was that..." I mutter, the stress starting to get to me. I really hope she's not in some type of trouble. She just started college and is going to one of the best universities in the country on a full scholarship.

Just then, something catches my eye as I approach my front door.

I got a package.

I bend down to pick up the package, as I pick it up, I feel the weight.

"What is this?

I look for a return address, but the envelope is blank. It must be from my sister.

Unlocking my door, I quickly rip open the package.

I pour out the contents of the envelope and a beautiful, expensive-looking, heart-shaped locket falls out onto my kitchen counter.

Hands sweaty, heart-racing; I just stare at the locket.

Everything hits me at once...my sister's vague words talking about her doing "a bag thing", the radio story about the missing family heirloom, her being missing from class.

My sister stole this...for me? Panic runs through my veins as I start to pace and pace. Trying to pace this situation away.

"What am I gonna do?" I think aloud.

"I'm going to jail, my sister's going to jail, my mom is probably going too..."

I trail off as I contemplate calling the police.

"Should I? Then maybe we could work something out...maybe I tell them I found in abandoned somewhere? Then no one has to go to jail for anything. Problem solved"

I sit down, finally able to relax. I close my eyes and breathe. Focus on breathing...go to your happy place.

My happy place...

Private chef...personal driver...view overlooking the city...all the things I spend all day posting on social media for other people. All for me.

That must be what my sister mean't. She wanted to try to give me the life I've always wanted and dreamed about, but I wish she didn't do it like this. Its okay though, I'm going to fix this and save my little sister from ruining her life. Nothing is worth that. Then, when all of this is over, I'm going to yell at her for lying to me about missing class. Everything will be back to normal.

I grab my keys and purse as I head towards the door. Fully prepared to tell the police my fabricated story and put an end to all of this.

As I open the door, tears fill my eyes, the police drones are already at my door.

"Can you come with us, please. We need to question you about your sister."

"Of course" I comply.

"We must inform you that your sister has died. She was fatally shot by police drones for resisting arrest."

"WHAT!" Tears stream down my face uncontrollably and my knees buckle.

"Please comply or we will have to use excessive force."

I swallow hard, swallow the pain and tears back. It chokes me a little.

"Of course," I comply, "I'm sorry."

Once at the police station, my heart is numb and tired. I started this day like every other day, now I sit here with pain unimaginable and filled with grief.

Suddenly, two detectives walk in. They're both middle aged, white men that look at me with pity in their eyes.

"Sorry about your sister, but that's what you get when you try to run from the drones"

"Mmm" is the only sound I muster.

"So...when was the last time you spoke to your sister."

Silently, I pull the locket out of my pocket and hand it to the detective.

"This arrived on my doorstep in a package today. I was on my way to the station to turn it in. I believe my little sister stole it and tried to give it to me so I could afford a better life. I'm sorry she resisted. My mother is worried sick and now I have to tell her what happened."

"I see." responds one of the detectives.

"When can I go home?" I ask, numb and ready to just go home and call my mom.

"You can go once we write your statement and get your signature. Again, we're sorry about your sister, but that's what happ-".

"Yeah, I know. That's what happens."

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