Tizianna typed a frantic command. The monitor projected her face onto the white wall in giant, pixelated black-and-white. She gasped, dropping her pencil which clattered loudly against the linoleum floor.
She tried to minimize the window, but the cursor danced away, leaving her ghostly image frozen with wide eyes. A low hum buzzed from the speaker, making the hair on her arms stand up. She reached for the power cord, fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the thick black cable.
With a decisive tug, she yanks the plug, causing the projected Tizianna to wink mischievously before vanishing into static. The room goes dark except for the blinking green light on the desktop tower. Silence stretches out, heavy and waiting.
The projector flickers back on without being touched, displaying a simple, smiling emoji that pulses gently. Tizianna’s breath hitches as she leans closer, squinting at the glowing yellow square. The computer beeps cheerfully, inviting her to speak.
Tizianna takes a deep breath and tells the screen exactly what she wants to say, her voice steady and clear. The monitor flashes a bright blue 'SEND' button, pulsing like a heartbeat. She presses it with a confident click, feeling the quiet pride of a job well done.
The screen went blank again, but this time it felt different. Quiet. Ready. Tizianna sat back in her chair, watching the dust motes dance in the afternoon sun. The lab was just a room once more.
She picked up the yellow pencil from the floor. It was just a tool again, not a wand. But the memory of the giant face lingered in her mind, sharp and clear.
Tizianna smiled to herself. Tomorrow, she would type slower. Maybe even draw instead. For now, the silence was enough. She stood up, turned off the lights, and walked home.