Bonus Episode 3: The Discovery of Cringe

“…This is painful.”

Peresphone didn’t look away from the screen.

“…Define painful.”

“…Secondhand embarrassment.”

We had found… social media.

A mistake.

“…Why are they recording themselves crying?” I asked.

“…Attention,” she replied.

“…Inefficient.”

We continued watching.

Worse content appeared.

“…They’re oversharing.”

“…Excessively.”

“…Why?”

“…Validation.”

I paused the video.

“…We will never be like this.”

“…Agreed.”

From behind us—

“…Good.”

We turned.

Mother.

“…Social media is a performance,” she said calmly. “…And most people are terrible actors.”

Father added quietly from the corner:

“…And worse writers.”

We nodded.

“…Conclusion,” Peresphone said.

“…Avoid entirely,” I finished.

“…Correct,” Mother said.

We deleted the app.

Immediately.

Problem solved.