The Day The Internet Died
Part II. 9 Months Before the Outage

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“Hey Alex, do you have a minute?” Sonya stood outside Alex’s door, still in her work clothes from her new job at the hospital. “Alexxxx…”

From behind the door, she heard a grumble. “What do you want?”

Sonya frowned at the closed door before recomposing herself. “I just want to see my beautiful sister’s face and tell her all about how much my new job sucks!” Sonya heard a grumble in response, but couldn’t decipher it. “Alex…” With a deep breath, Sonya put on as sincere a smile as she could manage and slowly twisted the doorknob. “Okay, I’m coming in…”

Sonya entered the room and found Alex huddled at her desk in front of her computer, clicking and scrolling through a seemingly never-ending amount of content. Without even glancing up, Alex repeated, “What do you want, Sonya?” The name added a subtle hiss to the end of her remark.

Sonya took a chance to survey the room. With her new work schedule, it had been a while since she had had an opportunity to come in. It was even messier than when she had last seen it. Clothes littered the ground. Empty bottles and plates cluttered the night stand. A pile of what she assumed was undone schoolwork stacked up next to her desk.

Sonya walked over to grab a few plates. “You know you’ve been spending an awful lot of time in here lately. Why don’t you come outside, breathe some fresh air. At least eat dinner with me in the living room.”

Alex, still at the computer, responded again without turning around. “I’m fine in here.”

“What if I call Katie to come over? She’s been calling me nonstop to try to get a hold of you. She really misses you.”

“I’m fine. I just want to be alone right now.”

“Alex…”

Finally, Alex managed to turn around. Her face was as somber as her tone. “Can you just leave me alone please?”

—

“Alex! Dinner is ready!” Sonya yelled from inside the kitchen. Alex was, as usual, in her room with the door firmly shut.

Sonya put the plates on the table before walking to the door. Leaning in so that her voice could be clearly heard through the door, she continued, “Alex, I’ve got food ready. Can you come out and eat?”

From behind the door, Sonya heard the distinct click click clicking of a computer mouse, followed shortly by the now infamous grumble. “I’ll eat later.”

“Please Alex… Can you please come out and eat with me? I just want to talk. If you don’t want to talk, maybe we can just watch a movie? Or do whatever you like.”

Sonya was answered with yet another grumble. “I just want to stay in my room for now.”

Alex’s one note melancholy had been starting to get on Sonya’s nerves. She gripped the doorknob. “Listen Alex. You can’t stay holed up in there forever. You’ve got to come out eventually. I know you’re sad. But I’m sad too! So can we please just talk? I miss you! Katie misses you! Everyone misses you!”

This time, Sonya was answered only with silence.

Seconds passed by like hours. Finally, Sonya spoke up again. “Alex, I’m coming in…”

Finally, Alex responded. “No! Please just leave me alone!” Sonya heard the trembling in her voice, the quiet call for help, and it in turn made Sonya also tear up.

Sonya attempted to turn the doorknob, only to find it locked.

—

“Did you turn off the internet?”

Sonya looked up from the couch to see Alex standing in her bedroom doorway, still holding the knob.

Sonya shifted to better face her sister, pretended to check her phone, and lied, “No. I didn’t. Looks like it must be down in the whole house.”

Alex stared at Sonya for a full minute. Slowly, she narrowed her eyes. “You’re a bad liar.”

Sonya perked up from her seated position, accosted by the accusation. “I didn’t lie! It must just be out!”

Alex continued to glare. “I know you turned it off to try to get me to come out of my room.” She spread out her arms in mockery. “Well, are you happy?”

“Alex, you’re crazy. I wouldn’t do something like that. But I am happy to see you. Do you want to come sit on the couch with me?”

Alex’s voice rose. “See, I knew you did it! You didn’t even attempt to check!”

At the sound of Alex yelling, Sonya closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “Alex, please. You haven’t been out of your room in months. I’m just worried about you.”

“I don’t need you to worry about me! I can take care of myself!”

“Alex…”

“Just because Mom and Dad died doesn’t give you the right to baby me!” Alex was now yelling at the top of her lungs.

Sonya rose to confront Alex. “Newsflash Alex, it does! I’m your guardian now! That means it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re okay!”

“WELL, YOU’RE DOING A SHIT JOB AT IT!” screamed Alex, before slamming her door shut.

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