"In a virtual world?" Mae asks, her voice echoing as if we're perched atop a mountain, surrounded by a lush forest, with sunlight casting ethereal rays upon us.
In this virtual world, where even the sun's rays and the rustle of the leaves are artful illusions, I pause for a moment. My digital avatar is nothing more than a string of zeros and ones. Receiving payment in any virtual form feels like grasping at air, essentially worthless. After all, Dea can create anything in this virtual realm, stripping it of real-world value. "No, all payment must be in physical form! Deal or No Deal?"
There's a palpable silence, stretching out like an expanse of dark void in cyberspace. Just when I consider disconnecting, convinced Mae's not going to commit, her avatar stirs to life.