Chapter 3
The impact was a dull thud followed by a sharp crack. The collision sent the old phone spinning from Adam’s hand.
It seemed to hang in the air for a moment.
Then it landed on the hard pavement with a sickening sound. The screen popped out of the black plastic casing. It landed face down a few inches away from the phone’s main body.
The device had already been fragile. Now it had finally given out completely.
Adam stared at the wreckage on the ground. His eyes were wide with disbelief. A sound escaped his lips. It was a low desperate groan.
"No, no... my phone."
He immediately dropped to his knees on the busy sidewalk. A woman walking past had to step around him. He did not notice her. His world had shrunk to the small pile of broken plastic and glass at his feet.
His hands reached for the pieces. They were clumsy and shaking. He carefully picked up the main body of the phone. Then he picked up the detached screen.
He held them in his open palms as if they were a wounded bird. His fingers traced the new spiderweb cracks that now covered the glass.
He pressed the power button on the side of the phone. He held it for a second. Nothing happened. The screen remained black and lifeless. He pressed it again.