Virtual Bliss

Written by Paul Gamlowski

Frank picked up a bundle of letters from the mailbox and headed back into his house. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down, opening up one envelope at a time. Most of it was Junk mail, except for one letter that caught his attention. It had his employer's logo on the return address and the name "V.B. Relocation Systems," with the word "confidential" stamped across the front. He ripped open the envelope and unfolded the letter inside:

———

Dear Valued Employee,

Your employer is undergoing a major corporate restructuring. We have been contracted to offer a relocation package. The company plans to reduce its physical workforce to accommodate a more automated and digitized infrastructure.

Recent advancements in robotics and AI have allowed companies to significantly reduce the need for a human labor presence. Companies can now re-invest the cost reduction and higher creative efficiency to maintain a competitive edge in an ever-evolving technological market.

Your employer values your mind, creativity, and cognitive abilities and wants to help you continue as a viable individual with a sense of dignity and pride that the company embraces.

With breakthroughs in virtual networks, an entire reality of joy and adventure awaits you. You will no longer suffer sickness, ill-health, or aging, and your life will continue forever.

We have optimized our neural networks for a complete digital transference with zero memory degradation and to maintain the full integrity of your sense of self, personality, and essence.

The company has invited select employees, like yourself, to relocate to a virtual node—a transfer of consciousness to the Virtual Bliss network. If you choose the digital transference and dissociation of your corporeal body, you may have it cryo-frozen, buried, cremated, or donated for the advancement of science.

However, if you elect to inhabit your own body. In that case, we do not foresee a ladder of promotion, nor can we guarantee any term of employment. Communication with staff will be hindered, as you will be decentralized from the company's essential network and processes. We are authorized to offer a separation package and career counseling to help you seek other employment opportunities.

We hope that you decide to transfer to our virtual network and grow as a mindful entity, experiencing true bliss in eternity. We believe that once you experience Virtual Bliss, you'll never want to return to the hardened struggle of a physical existence again.

You will be able to create a life of your own choosing, while the creativity of your consciousness, your experience, and your mind will evolve and collaborate with others to bring innovation and prosperity for a better world.

Kind regards,

Lynne Adams, H. R. and Relocation Guidance Counselor

Virtual Bliss, LLC—"Bringing to you a new life with limitless possibilities."

———

Frank folded the company letter, grabbed a pencil, and put both in his pocket.

He passed through the hallway. On the walls, he looked at the mounted picture frames with academic awards and work anniversary certificates—10 years, 15 years, and 25 years—and pictures of his daughter's wedding, his grandchildren, and throughout the years, the family dressed up for the holidays. He then arrived in the bedroom and stared at the top of the chest of drawers—a picture of his late wife.

A few days later, Frank's body was discovered, holding on to the photographs, taken out of their picture frames, with a handwritten suicide note found in his pocket that simply said, "You can't have them. They're mine."