The Ethernet Disconnect

The frayed ethernet cable behind my gaming PC had been a problem for weeks, but procrastination won over practicality every time. I'd just yank it back toward the router whenever my stream cut mid-ranked match.

'You need vitamin D supplements,' Mom announced, dropping a bottle on my desk like it was a life preserver. 'You're pale as a ghost. No wonder you're always 'depressed'.'

She did air quotes, because Gen X humor apparently peaked in 2004. I mumbled something about gaming tournaments and she disappeared, leaving me with the orange bottle.

That night, stream died again. I huffed, crawled under my desk, and discovered the problem: my dog, Buster—a chaos demon in golden retriever form—had chewed through the cable completely. Exposed wires like tiny copper teeth.

'Man,' I muttered, but stopped when Buster trotted in, tail clearing everything off my nightstand. He flopped beside me, chin on my paws, those dopey eyes somehow knowing I needed backup.

Suddenly it hit me: I'd been avoiding parties, hanging out with friends, anything that felt like effort. blamed it on 'social anxiety' or 'introversion' or whatever TikTok diagnosis was trending. But maybe I was just frayed at the core, like that cable, letting everything just... stop working.

I found old patches on Discord—gaming friends who'd moved on. One invite caught my eye: Luna's house party, the one I'd bailed on three times.

'Going out,' I yelled to no one in particular.

Mom appeared instantly. 'You're being social? I knew those vitamins would help!'

Buster bounded down the hall like he'd been invited.

The party was terrifying and amazing and exactly what I needed. Luna hugged me like she'd been waiting, and when some rando made fun of my intro shirt, I actually laughed it off instead of spiraling.

Walking home at 2 AM, BuzzCut frisbeeing through empty streets, I felt different. Not fixed, just... connected again.

'Hey Mom?' I called into the house. 'Those vitamins actually work.'

She smirked from the couch. 'I know. I've been replacing them with placebo gummy bears for weeks.'

I stared at her, then started laughing. Buster joined in, barking at nothing.

The cable could wait. Some things are supposed to be wireless anyway.