He flopped onto the couch, scrolling his phone. A notification popped up: Maya checked in at ‘The Daily Grind, Portland.’ He locked the screen and looked at the TV. 14%. Still.
Leo felt his chest tighten. He tried to turn the TV off. The power button did nothing. He yanked the plug from the wall. The screen stayed on. Glowing. Waiting.
UPDATE COMPLETE. YOUR RECONNECT TV IS READY.
14%. Still 14%.
It had been a housewarming gift from Maya. “For your new beginning,” she had said, handing him the oversized box with a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. That was two weeks before she told him she was moving to Portland. Two weeks before the “new beginning” became a euphemism for living alone.