The Terms of Eternal Fulfillment
Spooky microfiction on Perfection.
The Terms of Fulfillment are never Eternal. -Michelle Liew.
**********************************************************************
At 1 a.m. Ella’s phone buzzed. “Do you accept the Terms of Eternal Fulfillment?” Drowsy, her fingers pressed “Accept.”
Her coffee pot never ran dry the next day. Her dining table was always full. Promotions stacked high - she was in demand.
Then, the notifications pinged. “Smile wider.” “Laugh louder.” “Answer that comment.”
Ella tried to remove the app, but her phone kept restarting. Her reflection was pristine- no cracks, no scars.
“You signed. You promised perfection."
Ella shrieked, but her scream flatlined into a permanent, sterile smile. “Promise fulfilled.”
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (5)
This was brilliant!
Sounds like a movie I just watched. I warn everyone about getting stoical about our phones, we automatically are set to obey and do so without thinking. BEWARE
Oof, that was chilling! A perfect cautionary tale about wanting too much and signing up for what we don't understand. Ella's descent into a sterile, forced "perfection" is haunting. Such a clever twist on the idea of fulfillment!✨
Oh no, this is scary because it could happen!!!! Seems like where we are headed 🙃
Oh my, not everything is as good as it seems to be. Loved your story!