Super Short Story: The Dreaded Future

So I built a time machine and travelled into the future…

I didn’t go far, just about 30 years or so- and it was just as well, as the time machine didn’t stop me from ageing, so I was about 58 though without the 30 years experience…

Great…!

Anyway, I walked out of the round, metallic sphere into a street thirty years in the future. I was immediately aware that not a single person I saw amongst the multitude was without a small, square device which they all were gazing at intently. One unfortunate individual was so intent that a speeding car ran him down in the middle of the road as he crossed. As the car passed, I could have sworn the driver had one of the square devices as well, which he seemed preoccupied with…

No one took any note of the incident; they were all staring at their devices and tap, tap, tapping the screens with their incredibly thin, pale fingers…

As I walked along, staring at the human road kill, I bumped into a short, large man, who instantly exploded with profanity. He swore at me solidly for a good minute or more and then walked away, his rage fading instantly as the device recaptured his attention.

Looking away from him, I noticed a group of young people across the street, four of whom were making love right there, for all to see. Nobody said a thing and it went on until they were done, a good five minutes later. Then they pulled their square thing out of their pockets and carried on as though nothing had happened…

Walking forward to the street corner, I saw a McDonald’s packed with customers, all of them fat and obese beyond belief. The door opened and a man, the largest, most grossly fat thing in human flesh I have ever seen, struggled wearily out of the doorway. He was paler than a wraith and sweat streamed from his face. He wobbled forward a few paces, and then suddenly collapsed onto the ground, holding his chest wildly. He gasped for a few moments, eyes wide, and then died right there below me. Nobody looked or came running over, except one woman who glanced briefly as the man collapsed, a weird, ugly smile briefly crossing her face.

It was all appalling, outrageous, disgusting…

I wanted to be sick…

All of a sudden, I started running, heading back to my time machine. I reset the machine to my original time and got back there. After arriving, I got out of the machine and went out for a walk, desperate for air.

As I walked wearily along, I accidentally bumped into a young man who was using his smartphone. He swore briefly at me under his breath and then moved on, looking back at his phone.

And I guess that’s when I understood…

(Copyright Daniel Macintyre 27/10/2024 protectmywork.com)