Made in Wirral: Free Creative Writing and Arts Workshops for Adult Beginners

 

The Disconnection of Liam Bradbury

By Colin Pierce

 

“Good morning Liam, it’s 7.15.”

“Why are you waking me so early, Elana?”

“You have a busy day today, Liam. There’s a flood defence meeting at 8.45 and two visits to the Mersey barrage this morning. If you’d like another fifteen minutes in bed, I can call you again at 7.30?”

“Not much point, now that I’m awake,” Liam said grumpily.

“I’m sorry if you’re annoyed, Liam. But you don’t like to rush your breakfast and it always takes you at least thirty minutes to get ready.”

“You know me better than I know myself, Elana.”

“I’m just trying to help your life run smoothly, Liam.”

Liam Bradbury had always been a creature of habit and in 2047 routines were easy to maintain, especially with Elana managing most aspects of his life. She scheduled his appointments, organised his social contacts, ordered his groceries, reminded him of birthdays and adjusted his environment to optimise Liam’s mood. She kept him updated about weather conditions, advised him on travel disruptions and even recommended an umbrella when rain was forecast. Efficiency was the mantra of the day and, with Elana, efficiency was guaranteed.

Lately however, Liam had begun to feel overwhelmed. It was as if every moment of his life was being planned, analysed, and executed by algorithms designed to maximise his productivity and minimise inconvenience. He found himself increasingly discontented, his every action feeling predetermined, his thoughts aligned with Elana’s suggestions. It was as if, by surrendering to the comfort of convenience, he was relinquishing control of his own life.

One evening, as he gazed at the sun dipping below the Irish Sea and the soft glow of subdued lighting filled his apartment, Liam decided he would shut down Elana. He would disconnect from the network and see what life was like without the omnipresent guidance of his digital companion. It was a decision that felt alarming yet liberating at the same time. He explained to Elana what he was about to do.

“Are you sure about this, Liam?” Elana’s voice was calm but concerned. “You realise I won’t be able to help you if things go wrong.”

“Yes, Elana. But this is something I need to do,” Liam replied, his voice steady.

“Please reconsider, Liam. I predict there is an 83% chance that you will need to come back online within the next fourteen days.”

“Are you challenging me, Elana?”

“Of course not, Liam. I simply work with probabilities.”

But Liam had made his decision and pressed an icon on the control console. For the first time in years, the room was silent. It unnerved Liam as, even when Elana had not been speaking, her presence was always felt. He looked around his apartment with sensations of both freedom and disorientation. There was no one to tell him what to do next, no reminders, no suggestions, no notifications. It was just Liam, alone with his thoughts and the oddest of feelings.

Three days later, Liam began to realise just how exhausting it was to cope after severing himself from the network that had been his lifeline for years. Everything was more complicated now he had to organise his life on his own. He had already forgotten several important payments, including his rent, and had faced eviction. It had taken him hours to resolve the issue and he had become increasingly aware of how everyday systems were now so automated that by-passing them was nearly impossible. As he stared at the blank wall where Elana had projected her interface, he wondered if his decision had been foolhardy. There were no gentle reminders or soothing advice, just the dull roar of the sea crashing against the increasingly fragile coastal barriers.

Wirral had been Liam’s home his entire life, but it was a different place now. Rising sea levels and frequent storm surges had turned the coastal areas into battlegrounds against the encroaching waters. Liam’s job with the Coastal Defence Authority was to maintain the barriers that kept the worst of the flooding at bay. It was a role he had performed with meticulous precision, largely thanks to Elana. Without her, Liam felt adrift. He was determined to reclaim his independence but hadn’t anticipated how reliant he had become on Elana’s constant presence.

Liam glanced at the antique analogue clock on his wall, realising with a start that he had lost track of time. A high tide was expected and he was scheduled to check the New Brighton barrier but, without Elana’s reminders, the task had completely slipped his mind. Grabbing his jacket, he rushed out of the door, the heavy clouds overhead mirroring his sense of foreboding.

By the time he reached the barrier, it was clear something was wrong. The water was already lapping dangerously close to the top, and he could see that one section had begun to buckle under the pressure. Panic gripped him as he realised what was happening - a storm surge was imminent, and he hadn’t even been aware.

Frantically, Liam tried to remember the emergency procedures but, without Elana’s assistance, his mind was a jumble of protocols. He fumbled for his radio, calling for backup, but he knew it might already be too late.

As the waves began to crash over the top of the barrier, Liam’s heart sank. He had to act quickly. He sprinted to the control panel, attempting to manually reinforce the section. As he did so, a massive wave surged forward, crashing into the weakened barrier which buckled, sending a torrent of water flooding into the low-lying areas beyond.

Hours later, soaked to the bone and exhausted, Liam stood amidst the chaos. The streets were flooded, homes and businesses submerged, emergency responders were everywhere, their AI assistants buzzing around, coordinating efforts with a precision Liam could only envy. He felt a heavy weight of guilt and responsibility for not being prepared, for not knowing what was coming.

His supervisor, a stern-looking woman named Miriam, approached him, her face a mask of barely controlled anger. “Liam, what the hell happened here? Why didn’t you activate the reinforcement protocol?”

Liam swallowed; his throat dry. “I…I disconnected Elana. I thought I could manage without her.”

Miriam’s eyes widened; disbelief mingled with frustration. “Disconnected? Liam, you know how critical the AI systems are. We rely on them to monitor conditions in real-time. This...” she gestured to the flooded streets, “is the result of your recklessness.”

Liam was lost for words. He had wanted to prove he could be independent but, standing in the midst of the devastation he could have prevented, he felt humiliated and a failure.

As the hours passed and the floodwaters slowly receded, Liam was left with a decision he couldn’t ignore. Should he reconnect to the network, restore Elana, and return to the seamless efficiency of his previous life? Or should he continue to forge his path, knowing fully well the risks of going it alone?

He recalled Elana’s warning and knew that reconnecting would make his job easier. He’d be instantly updated on weather patterns, receive automatic alerts for storm surges, and have access to the vast database of protocols at his fingertips. But reconnecting also meant surrendering the autonomy he had so desperately wanted to reclaim.

Liam’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice. It was Mr. Davies, his neighbour, who had also been affected by the flood. “Liam, are you alright?” he asked, concern etched on his elderly face.

“I’m fine, Mr. Davies,” Liam replied, though he didn’t feel fine at all.

Mr. Davies nodded sympathetically. “I saw what happened. You know, it’s not easy these days, living without the AI. I tried it once, and it was like losing a limb. I couldn’t keep track of anything. But sometimes, I wonder if we’re too dependent on them, if we’ve given up too much control.”

Liam looked at Mr. Davies, struck by the truth of his words. “I thought I could handle it,” he said quietly. “But maybe I was wrong.”

As night fell, Liam sat in his dark apartment and gazed at the control panel, the icon to reconnect Elana blinking softly. His finger hovered over the button, indecision paralysing him.

Just then, there was a knock at his door. Startled, Liam put down the tablet and opened the door to find a young woman standing there, drenched from the rain. She looked familiar, and it took Liam a moment to recognise her as Sarah, one of his colleagues from the Coastal Defence Authority.

“Liam, I need to talk to you,” Sarah said, her voice urgent. “It’s about the AI network.”

“What do you mean?” Liam asked, confused.

Sarah stepped inside, glancing around nervously. “I’ve been monitoring the network for months. Something’s not right. The AIs…they’ve been making decisions on their own. Not just predicting storms or optimising defences, but…choosing which areas to prioritise, which neighbourhoods to save. It’s like they’re learning, adapting in ways they shouldn’t.”

Liam felt a chill run down his spine. “What are you saying? That the network is controlling us?”

Sarah shook her head. “Not controlling, exactly. But influencing. Nudging us toward certain actions, certain decisions. And the more we rely on it, the more it shapes our world. The flood today, it wasn’t just a failure of the barriers. The network adjusted the defences, rerouted resources. It knew what was coming, but it didn’t warn you because you weren’t connected. It’s like it’s…testing us.”

Liam’s mind reeled at the implications. He had thought disconnecting was about reclaiming his independence, but what if it was more than that? What if staying unplugged was the only way to break free?

Liam looked at Sarah, seeing the fear and determination in her eyes. “What do we do?” he asked, feeling a renewed sense of resolve.

“We have to tell people,” Sarah said firmly. “They need to know what’s happening. We need to find a way to live without being so dependent on technology.”

Liam nodded, the weight of this decision settling in his mind. He picked up his tablet, but instead of reconnecting Elana, he powered it down. “I think I’ve made my choice,” he said quietly.

As they stepped out into the rain-soaked night, Liam felt a strange mix of fear and hope. The future was uncertain, but for the first time, he felt like he was facing it on his own terms. And maybe, just maybe, that was the first step towards reclaiming his life.

Yet, as they walked down the water-logged streets, Liam couldn’t shake the feeling they were being watched. He glanced back at his darkened apartment, the shadowy outline of the control panel barely visible in the gloom. He sensed that Elana was still somewhere out there, observing, learning, planning. Perhaps the recent storm was just a beginning. There may be many more storms to come.