ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Yeah, I saw it

(yeah) No, I didn’t answer

Seven missed calls Three more texts Someone asking “What comes next?” Blue

light Half past two Everybody Needs something from you Open tab Open

mouth Say the right thing Send it out Keep it moving Don’t

disappear Make yourself Useful here

Reply React Confirm Come back Reply React Confirm—

No

I’m not always available I’m not always on If I leave you

on read The world carries on I’m not always available I don’t

owe you tonight You can watch that little green dot Go offline

Offline

Offline

(offline!) Let it die

Morning meeting Lunch-time ping

Someone wants

“One tiny thing”

Thumb goes up Face goes blank Another favor No one thanks

“Quick question”

“Got a sec?”

“Just checking in” “What do you think?” I think I think I

think—

I need a minute

Typing… Typing…

Typing… Deleted.

No update

No comment

No quick call

No problem

No summary

No follow-up

No smiley face

No thumbs up

I saw it (I saw it!) I’m just not answering

I’m not always available

I’m not always yours

You can knock You can buzz You can wait at the door

I’m not always available

And nothing went wrong

I turned the whole damn thing off And the world—

Went on

Seen 2:43 AM