Welcome, I am your narrator for this tale.

  At least once in everybody’s life, The Question pops into their head.

  “What is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?”

  The obligatory answer, of course, is “42” because of Douglas Adams’ masterpiece The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

  As much as I love Adams and his work, he was wrong.

  I’m here to share the real answer.

  ~

  The clitter-clatter of keyboards echoed throughout the office, cubicle after cubicle, each faceless worker tapping away to please their middle-management overlords.

  Myself? I was reading beginner tips for Baldur’s Gate 3. I’ve been here for a decade—haven’t done any work in nine years. There are perks to being another faceless drone.

  Bored of Baldur’s Gate, I clicked over to Baldur’s Balls, when it hit me. I’d forgotten my lunch.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Shit,” I said. “I was really looking forward to that leftover Chinese food.”

  “Did I hear leftover Chinese?” my cubicle neighbor asked. “That and cold spaghetti make the best lunches.”

  I froze. My cubicle neighbor was gorgeous. Ten years, never once did I notice. Thank god for leftovers.

  “I’ve got some leftover fried chicken,” they said. “Wanna join me, since, you know, you forgot yours?”

  I felt my cheeks heating up. “I—I’d love to. I mean, not like love-love,” I squeaked. “I’d greatly enjoy that.”

  They chuckled. “It’s a date.”

  My heart nearly stopped. I held out my hand. “Riley.”

  “I know,” they said. “We’ve worked next to each other for a decade.”

  “I don’t exactly socialize.”

  “I’ve noticed.” They offered a hand. “Robin.”

  As we walked toward the breakroom, I snuck a glance at their monitor. They’d been playing Fallout 76.

  “I think I might be in love,” I whispered.

  “What’s that?” Robin asked.

  I panicked. “Uh—looking for my imaginary gloves.”

  ~

  Usually at this point, people are rolling their eyes.

  “Oh great,” they think, “is this another true love is the meaning of life story? Or happiness makes life worth living trope?”

  No. This is only the beginning—the call to adventure. There’s still an entire circle to finish.

  ~

  call to adventure, even if it doesn’t look like one yet. No answers are being given here, only questions being nudged awake.

  River and Friends Series: River and the Bug, The Adventures of Alison Alistair, and The Reaper Wears a Scarf. Please check them out!