zero percent
Mornings were annoying, but they undoubtedly improved and became friendly daytimes. Polly had to coax herself to like the mornings a bit more with some form of treat, like a delicious cappuccino, or a pretty breakfast with pastries, or yogurt, toasted muesli, and fresh fruit on top.
She checked her emails, emotionally halfway between liking and disliking the day. She popped off the lid from her takeaway cappuccino and sipped chocolate froth. A warning appeared on-screen for low battery charge, ten minutes remaining, and as she attached the power cord to her notebook, another notice appeared, reminding her of a morning meeting. Some photocopies had to be made before this meeting, so she hurried away from her desk with the required documents.
At 9:40 she returned and progressed with some work. Phone calls. Another meeting. Making PDFs. Sending faxes. At 11:40 she considered a second coffee and her eyes drifted to the battery level indicator in her notebook's menu bar. It was at 0:00 remaining time. She crawled under the desk to check the power point and found that it had been switched off by someone. She was about to switch it back on but changed her mind, and unplugged the cord entirely. She continued working. Left the building for lunch.
At 1:40, Polly sat down at her desk and checked the menu bar. Battery level was 0% with a remaining time of 0:00. She emailed Orion. He asked her if she was sure. She was. He asked her to give an update at 5:00.
There was no change. "I don't like this," she wrote.
This time, returning home, she carefully removed her keypass from her purse before swiping the purse past the sensors. They beeped and activated the doors and the elevator. Polly opened her notebook at home and it showed 0%. Orion also came home earlier than usual. Although he didn't consciously mean to, he sat at a distance from her on the couch.
"It's been zero percent all day," she said.
He peered at the computer whilst retaining physical distance.
"It must be a glitch," he said.
"I got inside without using the keypass," she said. She looked at him and copied his cold expression. "It must be a glitch?"
He frowned, irritated. "I'm going to get some dinner. I think I'll eat out."
Polly heated up some soup for herself and made a decision not to talk to him about such things.
She checked her emails, emotionally halfway between liking and disliking the day. She popped off the lid from her takeaway cappuccino and sipped chocolate froth. A warning appeared on-screen for low battery charge, ten minutes remaining, and as she attached the power cord to her notebook, another notice appeared, reminding her of a morning meeting. Some photocopies had to be made before this meeting, so she hurried away from her desk with the required documents.
At 9:40 she returned and progressed with some work. Phone calls. Another meeting. Making PDFs. Sending faxes. At 11:40 she considered a second coffee and her eyes drifted to the battery level indicator in her notebook's menu bar. It was at 0:00 remaining time. She crawled under the desk to check the power point and found that it had been switched off by someone. She was about to switch it back on but changed her mind, and unplugged the cord entirely. She continued working. Left the building for lunch.
At 1:40, Polly sat down at her desk and checked the menu bar. Battery level was 0% with a remaining time of 0:00. She emailed Orion. He asked her if she was sure. She was. He asked her to give an update at 5:00.
There was no change. "I don't like this," she wrote.
This time, returning home, she carefully removed her keypass from her purse before swiping the purse past the sensors. They beeped and activated the doors and the elevator. Polly opened her notebook at home and it showed 0%. Orion also came home earlier than usual. Although he didn't consciously mean to, he sat at a distance from her on the couch.
"It's been zero percent all day," she said.
He peered at the computer whilst retaining physical distance.
"It must be a glitch," he said.
"I got inside without using the keypass," she said. She looked at him and copied his cold expression. "It must be a glitch?"
He frowned, irritated. "I'm going to get some dinner. I think I'll eat out."
Polly heated up some soup for herself and made a decision not to talk to him about such things.