Chapter 9: Love 2024

Year: 2024

The hegemonic nature of crafted love is brilliantly concealed in every emoji he sends. No one even remembers there's anything to be concealed. Behind the faint glow of the 16 Pro Max, a freshly pressed, silk-screened T-shirt with the words “Joy Division” perfectly placed askew, hovering over a picture of Ian Curtis smiling. Over the shirt, a strategically frayed Chambray coat, perfectly marked by a postmodern acid-washing.

His phone vibrates.

“Why are u mad? :( :(” he texts back.

“again?? i'm pissed. wtf José”

He sends a digital bouquet of flowers.

“...” she's typing. He waits.

“when am I going to see u...”

“it's not just work, it's my life. and I'm doing this for us. you now how much I love u (heart emoji)”

Silence.

He sends a cute cat emoji, followed by twenty different-colored hearts.

Silence.

Finally he texts, “every post, every sale, I do it for you, for us, I love u too much to not make the best qlty life possible”

Silence. “...”, she's texting back. He waits.

Finally, a single heart emoji appears on his screen. He smiles, knowing he's bought another 2 hours of work.