“Dopamine Hit” by Barb Nobel

 

Twenty minutes.

That’s all.

Then bed by 10:40.

I have an early day tomorrow.

Or 10:45 if something is really interesting.

Look!

A message replying to my reply.

“You’re a putz”.

What!

I’ll tell him.

I’ll use my literary skills.

Write a short but blistering reply.

There: “You’re a double putz.”

Wait.

What good will that do?

I’ll only get back nastiness in return.

Backspace.

Backspace.

Delete.

Check messages.

No messages.

Look at this cute puppy.

Post a reply.

“He looks like a cute potato!”

The poster will like that.

Oh.

It’s that woman’s video.

Only twelve minutes long.

Topic today:

What’s the worst thing that a friend did to you?

OMG.

That’s terrible.

This is bad too.

But not as bad as the first one.

Hmmmm.

Why would a friend do such a thing?

Uh huh.

Uh huh.

Whew.

Nasty.

Hey.

I got a Like back on my puppy comment.

Let’s see what other people said.

Aaaah.

Everybody likes this cute puppy.

Well.

Not this person.

Must be a bot.

A real person couldn’t dislike a cute puppy.

Oh.

I forgot to check for message requests.

Okay.

No requests.

No spam either.

Let me look at possible friends.

Oh.

I think I went to school with this guy.

Maybe.

Get off here now.

I’ll just check the police reports.

Good. They found that missing teen.

Why do so many teens go missing anyway?

Probably just partying and didn’t tell their parents.

Whatever.

I’m glad he was located anyway.

But there’s a missing elderly now.

And an assault downtown.

Oh no!

It’s 11:10.

Shit.

I need to get to bed.

Well.

Just one video.

A funny video about dogs.

To help me relax.

Just one.

Under seven minutes.

Wait.

Under eight minutes.

Here’s one.

A shark attack video.

Eight fourteen.

What’s another fourteen seconds anyway.

Then to bed.

Soon….

***

Barb Nobel is happily retired and writing in Toronto. She has one published book of short stories: eDgy pEopLe. Check it out here.

For more short stories, poetry, and essays by you fellow writers see here (and scroll down).

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, afternoon workshops, and writing retreats here.