The Mishap

Technophobia. The fear of new technology. Quite surprisingly, technophobia affects 1/3 of the world’s population. Technophobia can originate due to past incidents and certain behavior taught since childhood. This phobia causes it’s victims to suffer from anxiety, which can lead to panic attacks, inevitably resulting in death.

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Virginia Mason Medical Center, United States, Seattle, Saturday morning. White tiled floors, white walls, white rooms. The boy lying in room 48, finally opened his eyes. Unaware of his surroundings, all he could hear was a female voice gently saying, “Patient in room 48 has woken up”. Judging by the way she was referring to the boy lying in the bed, he could presume that the soft voice belonged to a nurse.

“How are you feeling?” the same female voice questioned him politely.

Dazed, he looked through the window his bed was situated besides. The sun’s rays shining brightly. A little too bright actually.

“Mm…” The boy tried to sit in order to have a better understanding of his surroundings.

“I guess you’re wondering where you are. That’s natural. You are currently in a hospital. To be specific, Virginia Mason Medical Center. You had an accident about 2 weeks ago, for a while we thought we… lost you… glad to have you back”. The nurse smiled brightly.

“…”

“….”

“…..”

“……”

Silence fell.

“Huh…? What-“The boy glanced on his left side.

“Well… The blow dealt a lot of damage, we weren’t able to save all of you…” The nurse looked down, glancing at the sheets on the boy’s bed.

“Hah…ma’am- my…my arm…” He was panicking, his breathe hastened. He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe that drinking several shots of alcohol would lead to this.

…

His left arm was nowhere to be seen.

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“W-what is the meaning of this? You doctors…couldn’t do…the one…JOB YOU WERE ASSIGNED!” He jumped up and sat straight on the bed. The boy started panicking, he was scared, scared for his future.

“Mr. Plight…”

“What…why…”

“Sir…”

“Why me…WHY!”

“ZANE PLIGHT! I will ask you to kindly calm down…if you don’t, we *will* have to use force.” The nurse looked Zane right in the eye, trying to keep her composure.

“H-… okay…” Zane inhaled and exhaled. “Okay…” Slowly he laid back on his bed.

“Sir, we do apologize for the loss of your hand but we can help you.”

“Huh? What now?” Zane looked up at the nurse, who was looking back at him.

“Of course, we need your consent. If you’d like, we can replace that lost hand of yours with a manipulator.”

“Hah? Manipulator? You-…a robotic hand?” Zane looked away, his eyebrows frowning.

“…?” The nurse gave Zane a bewildered look, “Well, yes” She didn’t expect that Zane would frown after she’d tell him about a robotic arm.

“No.”

“Understood.”

“When will I be able to go?”

“Tomorrow, that is, if you’re completely healed.”

And so, the nurse left Zane’s room swiftly, leaving Zane to repent on his actions.

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Zane wasn’t able to walk long distances yet, hence he had to stay in the hospital for another week. His brain was constantly thinking about the robotic arm, making him anxious and paranoid. Once he was discharged, he found it better to go meet up with his friend. To distract himself and clear his head.

“Well well well…Zane Plight, welcome back.” A muscular, tan boy sat on the coffee table. They had decided to meet up at a café since Zane had to discuss something with him.

“Why hello Roy, I see you didn’t come to visit me?” Zane slowly sat down on the chair, raising his eyebrows.

“Keep it down Plight, I visited you every day for two weeks, I got lazy and so- here we are” Roy took a sip of his bitter coffee. “Naturally, I’m guessing you haven’t told your parents?”

“Well…”Zane hesitated.

“Zane…”

“They don’t need to know”

“Why not!”

“JUST BECAUSE! YOU THINK DAD WOULD CARE FOR A SINGLE SECOND?” Zane slammed his hand on the table as Roy’s coffee bounced out of his cup.

“…”

“Sorry… I just-“

“I understand Zane, it’s been 6 years we’ve been friends, and I’m just here to support you”

“I know Roy… it’s just-“Zane choked on his words “hey Roy?”

“hm?” Roy plucked out a napkin from his pocket and started wiping the table.

“The- uhh the hospital told me I could get a manipulator” Zane said, cracking his fingers.

“Oh that’s great! I’d say go for it Zane…I mean… if you can…” Roy’s jolly tone slowly changed into a melancholy tone.

“No… I don’t wanna.”

“Zane… let go…” Roy sighed, “Let go of the past for once, how long will you suffer with one hand, you live alone!”

“It’s better this way”

“Zane. Have you ever gotten an ominous vibe from me?”

“No…”

“Yeah so trust me once more, you’re GOING to need that hand”

“I won’t! Not after what happened to my uncle” Zane sighed heavily and he slid downwards on his chair.

“You’re still tied to the past? Your past has turned you into something you're not Zane...you were never a technophobe, were you?”

“Roy, I always pitied myself for not having a ‘perfect father’ but my uncle became a father for me…If I could’ve convinced him to not go to some weird science experiment…he would’ve been alive…”

“Don’t blame yourself for things that didn’t even happen because of you.” Roy started tracing the handle of his coffee cup.

“I’ll survive without a hand Roy. Watch me” Zane stood up.

“Oh you won’t, prove me wrong one-handed jerk” Roy stood up as well. “Well then Zane. Plight. Bet?” Roy moved his hand towards Zane.

“Bet, you hippo” Zane swiftly shook Roy’s hand.

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A few weeks passed, Zane wasn’t able to work as swiftly as he used to back at home, and working at his job became difficult as well. Weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Things became more and more difficult for Zane, but for the sake of the bet with Roy, he always used to pretend that he was doing just dandy with one arm. So one day he met up with Roy again. At the same café they had made the bet at.

“Yo one-hand! Back here!” Zane turned around to see Roy waving his hand in the distance.

“Why’d you call me here?” Zane sat down.

“Zane, I’ve noticed…for a long time now...you’ve been lying. I won't ask why, but I don't want you to lie to me anymore.”

“Wh-what? Pfft?”

“…Zane? Aren’t you done pretending?”

“…” Zane looked down into his glass of water. The water was so still, almost as if the water wants Zane to look at the expression he was making. He was frowning.

“You know how important this IS for you, it’s been a whole month you’ve been looking for a job, but no one hires you because they think you’ll slow them down. Honestly, I don’t quite blame them. You’ve destroyed yourself, and you have no one to blame for it."

 “…”

“Say something Zane…”

“…I-“Zane choked, “…”

“It’s about time y’know…?” Roy looked at Zane.

“!” Zane stood up, hitting his knee under the table. “Tch! No!”

“Zane, I won’t go through with this again, please…you know it’s important for you. You HAVE to get over this FEAR, so many other people in the world have manipulators…”

"..." Zane said back down, ruffling his hair, taking deep breaths.

"..."

"Zane?" Roy asked, tapping the table.

“…”

"..." Zane inhaled and exhaled. “Okay… I'll try...”

“Yknow, you really aren’t an optimistic guy, and you’re a liar, I don’t see why I became friends with you.” Roy smiled.

“Oh shut up you hippopotamus”

“Hah! Call the doctor, make an appointment within the next week, we got this!” Roy stood up took out his wallet, “I’ll just go pay for my coffee real quick.”

Roy was Zane’s only support and motivation. Without him, Zane would’ve probably given up by now. Zane met Roy back when they were 17…for 9 years…9 years, Roy had always supported Zane. Even now, when Zane was a 26 year-old adult, Roy still stood by his side.

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Virginia Mason Medical Center, United States, Seattle, Monday morning. Who would've thought Zane would return to the same hospital where he got bombarded with the dreadful news about his arm.

Roy put his hand on Zane’s shoulder. “DUDEEEEE I’M SO REAAAAADY” Roy started smacking Zane on his back

“Heh- yeah…” Zane swallowed.

They entered the hospital where Roy explained Zane’s condition to the doctors. The doctors then decided to give anesthesia to Zane.

“Ouch, that must’ve hurt” Roy mumbled as they injected Zane.

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A good 1 hour passed and Zane slowly opened his eyes.

“R…oy..?” Zane blinked slowly.

“Yo, behind you.” Roy smiled, his teeth shining brightly.

“Patient in room 62 has woken up!” A doctor came rushing in.

Zane looked at his left hand, now replaced with a manipulator.

“H-hey Zane-“Roy tried to grab Zane.

“Huff…Puff” Zane started gasping louder and louder, faster and faster, as old memories kept flooding in, his uncle smiling and telling Zane that he’ll meet him at night, yet never returning.

Zane couldn’t keep up, he started sweating, and Roy grabbed him from behind.

“Zane! Hold it! PLEASE!”

“Uncle- thi- he-lp” Zane wasn’t making sense anymore.

“GET THIS AWAY FROM ME!” He screamed, loosening from Roy’s grip, he started shaking the manipulator, started banging it on the wall. Screaming,

“GET THIS OFF! OFF! PLEASE! PLEASE! I DON’T WANT IT!” He wanted to run away from the manipulator, even though that robotic arm was now bound to him.

“YOU CAN’T RUN FROM IT ZANE! WHY AREN’T YOU DOING SOMETHING!?” Roy glared at the doctor just standing back and watching Zane.

"I-I'll go get some help!" The doctor shouted and fled outside.

“Tch!” Roy clicked his tongue and strengthened his grip on Zane.

“Zane…”

Zane was gasping for air, he was anxious, his phobia got the best of him.

“…"

"...."

"Zane?" Roy spun Zane to face him. "Zane bro you scared me, I thought you died" Roy released Zane and handed him a tissue to clear his tears. "I'll give you some space, come out once you're done, okay?"

Zane nodded quietly.

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After 20 minutes Zane came out, more calm than before, more composed.

"Zane?" Roy frowned

"I- I've done better before" Zane gave Roy a dull smile.

"Hey listen Zane."

"Yeah?"

"It's going to be hard okay? But as the *bestest* friend of yours, i'll be here to support you, so don't mind asking me for help." Roy smacked Zane's back.

"Yeah yeah..." Zane slowly moved the manipulator, his body getting goosebumps.

"Zane, this was important...In a world where everyone relies strongly on technology, you're going to have to fit in, otherwise you can kiss your dreams GOODNIGHT!" Roy laughed.

That day Zane learned something new. In a world where everyone follows everyone else, not being able to fit in is a huge disadvantage. The new world relies strongly on technology, and to be accepted by society, one needs to fit in.

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