Chapter 76: Neural Weave

The advancements in direct neural interfacing had reshaped daily life in profound ways. In the bustling hub of Neo-London, Dr. Lena Petrova ran a clinic specializing in neural-weave therapy, helping people integrate more seamlessly into the omnipresent digital network. Communication wasn't just spoken words; it was shared thoughts, emotional overlays, and instant data transfers. Education had become an immersive download, and collaboration was a collective consciousness.

But with such profound integration came new ethical quandaries. Petrova increasingly saw patients suffering from "neural overload" – minds unable to cope with the sheer volume of information and shared consciousness. There were also whispers of "ghosting" – instances where fragments of consciousness seemed to linger in the network after death, or where individuals experienced involuntary merges with others. Petrova, once an ardent proponent of the neural weave, began to question the pace of progress. Was humanity truly ready for such intimate, inescapable connection?