VR or AR?

When virtual reality headsets came in the 1990s by Nintendo and became a technology sensation in 2016, they only became more popular and more games began to develop. Throughout the years, V.R. technology has expanded to entire helmets and the most expensive - VR Rooms. In 2100, a new game called ‘My Life' released but everyone was suspicious. 'My Life' had to be connected to the owner’s wifi to initiate the game.

My grandmother was constantly Effie about any technology of the late 2000s. She understood the ‘need' for it in today's age due to her own generation dying out, implying less letters to write by hand. She recalls when the first VR sets came out and how technology advanced throughout the early 2000s. She still has some paperback books in her house as they stopped producing them in 2050. Every time I went to visit her, her ‘policy' on the new tech was very lenient and I loved it. She allowed me to read her books and I gladly listen to her stories.

When 'My Life' and the VR Rooms came out, she implored me not to get the game but to be very careful if I decided to get the room. I asked her why she didn't want me to get the game as it appeared harmless.

“Because I've read the fine print and how the game was created,” she stated. “There's a learning program behind the game. When it's connected with the wifi, it seeks data on you. 'My Life' is a game meant to show you a reality that it deems worthy of you.”

“But that would seem so beautiful, Grandmother,” I said, leaning in some. “Don't you want to see another reality?”

“My dear Mage,” she whispered. “This is my reality. ‘My Life” is not and may never be real.”

Later that month, she died. I was 10. I didn't cry as I should have but I always did go see her grave every day after school or a few hours on the weekend. I was lost without her and I wasn’t close to my parent. We had so much in common.

Two years later, ‘My Life' was recognized as the People's Game for the 22nd Century and more downloads with better programming and lower costs were released to the public but with an age restriction of 15.

Three years later, all of my friends went out and got the game over summer in school. They asked if I was going to buy the game and when I replied no, their faces changed and they walked away. I felt out of place immediately but later shrugged it off. When we came back, I quickly noticed differences in my friends and it terrified me.

“Hey Mage,” one of my friends smiled at me as I sat down. “I had fun with you last week.”

I frowned and watched him. “Jason,” I started. “We didn’t do anything last week.”

“Of course we did!” he called. “We went horseback riding and went to that roller coaster!”

For the first time in years, I wanted to cry. My best friend thought we did something when we haven’t. He has been texting me, yes, but I noticed the change in the texts as well. “Jason, have you been playing that My Life game?”

“Of course. Almost everyday,” he says. “You know this. I’ve told you.”

“Have you been in your VR Room have a long period of time?” I asked, digging for more answers. What was happening?

“My parents pull me out when they get home,” Jason responded, his smile disappearing. “Why?”

I leaned back in my chair and stared at him. His father went on weekly business trips and his mother worked all day just to go to the local bars then come back home. I quickly counted the hours he would be alone in his house and it was incredible. I remembered what my grandmother said only five years ago about the game and swallowed hard. Could she be right?

“Jason,” I quickly snapped, leaning forward. “You have to stop playing that game! It’s messing with you!”

Jason shook his head no and stared. I saw his expression change to anger and he stood up quickly from his chair. “You’re just saying that!” he yelled.

“No I’m not!”

“You said you loved me, Mage!” Jason screamed, tears rolling down his face now. “You said you have loved me from the beginning! I kissed you!”

“That was the game, Jason!” I explained, trying to say calm. “You’re my best friend! Nothing more!”

Jason seemed to snap as he flipped his chair over and walked away from me. I looked around and saw that the other students were watching. I swallowed hard and turned to go to class.

As I sat at lunch, everyone seemed to be in their own world. Through the course of only a week, many relationships were destroyed because of this game. Boyfriends thought their girlfriends were cheating and vise versa. Like Jason and I, many friends thought they hung out. This VR game was destroying lives right before my eyes and it seemed I was the only one who saw this. A computer game was learning about people’s lives and showing them what to do or what they want to see in real life. Less and less people came to school.

One day, Jason sat next to me and we just watched each other. He looked like he’s been crying more.

“I got rid of the game,” he started, looking up at me. “Mage, I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok,” I whispered and grabbed his hand. “That game is no good. It’s destroying people.”

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Less and less people came to school for the rest of the year. The creators of ‘My Life’ pulled back the game and destroyed it after learning about the millions of death it caused, giving money to the family of the lost. Many children and parents were playing the game, being so wrapped up in the virtual reality of it and dying from hunger. I remember sitting with Jason as week after week we sat together, listening to the choir sing songs at our friends’ and parents funerals. The world will never be the same.