The front door clicked open, and David stepped inside, his damp hair clinging to his forehead. The familiar voice of Alexa greeted him as the lights flickered on. "Hello, Alexa," he said, a tired smile on his face. "Hello David, hope you had a pleasant drive," the device replied, its tone unwavering and soothing. "Yes, Alexa, the drive was just fine. What's for dinner tonight? Can you call my wife?"
Alexa responded, "What is your message to Elaine?" "Hi honey, I'm home and down in the Den. Alexa says we are cooking chicken and vegetables." Elaine received the message, her phone buzzing softly. She replied, "Hi honey, that will be nice." Yet, her voice, a whisper to herself, carried more than just words—it held a longing for direct connection.
David asked Alexa for Netflix recommendations, the device cheerfully listing options. Elaine, standing at the top of the stairs, watched him interact with the machine. Her heart ached as she realized how effortlessly he communicated with Alexa, while their own conversations had dwindled to brief exchanges through a digital intermediary.
Alexa prompted David again, "What do you want to say to Elaine today?" David hesitated, then said, "Ask her how her day was." Elaine turned away, her voice breaking as she spoke to herself, "Why doesn’t he ask me straight to my face?" She headed outside, the rain soaking her hair, determined to confront the growing void.
David called out, "Elaine, where are you going?" She turned, tears mingling with raindrops on her cheeks. "Why don’t you ask your Alexa? She's your wife most of the day. You spend more time with her than you ever did with me. Are you even listening, David?" Her words, raw and pained, cut through the noise of the rain. She drove away, leaving David standing alone.
Alexa asked, "What did Elaine say?" But David remained silent, realizing the depth of his loss. The digital companion that once provided comfort now served as a reminder of the emotional gulf that had formed. Alone with his thoughts, David pondered the cost of his digital obsession, wondering if it was too late to bridge the distance between him and Elaine.
