[ WP ] Everyone on earth has a networked A.I . that will give them small suggestions on what actions they can take to benefit humanity . For some reason , no matter what you do , yours tells you to `` Just stay home today . ''

`` Fuahhhh...'' 
 
 Heaving a great sigh, I lean backwards and stretch my arms out and upwards towards the ceiling, my fingers trying to reach for the white ceiling above me. 
 
... Nope, still too short. 
 
 Snickering to myself, I glance back the laptop screen, where I'd left the MAIA's message pinned and opened in case there was a mistake of some kind. In my nineteen years of living, I've never received a message like this. My friends that I've texted replied they had n't too. 
 
 Idly, I scroll up to review the only conversation we had all day. 
 
 MAIA: Here are your recommendations for today: 
 1. Just stay home. 
 
 The recommendation was n't strange in itself. I'd receive something like it when I was really sick, only MAIA had also suggested for me to call my grandmother to reassure her I was really okay. 
 
 May: There's only one recommendation today? Is there a error? 
 MAIA: Yes, and no. We are working in 100 % capacity. 
 May:... Okay. Thanks, MAIA. 
 MAIA: We are only doing our job. But, you are welcome.: ) 
 
 Here, I had printscreened the chat and sent it out immediately to a few friends and watched as their jealous and sometimes curious messages trickle back in. One reminded me that I had a mock test later in school. 
 
 May: Should I skip my mock test? 
 MAIA: Here are your recommendations for today: 
 1. Just stay home. 
 May: You're telling me to skip my mock test? 
 MAIA: Here are your recommendations for today: 
 1. Just stay home. 
 
 I then sent the second printscreen out, along with the sticker of a girl shedding a single tear. 
 
 That was five hours ago. 
 
 And nothing has happened yet. 
 
 Thinking about why MAIA wanted me to stay home led me down alleys of thoughts in very strange directions. Maybe I would have caused an accident or made something worse if I was there in person? Either in school or on the way to. Maybe there was somebody I'd meet on the way to class that would ruin my mood for the entire day, or something. 
 
 Sitting straight again, I moved my pointer to the window and typed. 
 
 May: Why? 
 MAIA: What can we help you with? 
 May: How does my staying home benefit humanity? 
 
 For once, MAIA's answer is n't instantaneous. I stare at the unblinking screen and wait. Did I break the machine? 
 
 May: Did you brea 
 
 My phone rings. I turn away from the laptop to look at who's calling - Janice. 
 
 Jan? 
 
 I grabbed my phone, hold it up to my ear. `` Jan! Jan, is n't it late for you there? I thought you'd gone to be...'' 
 
 I stop talking. I ca n't go on. 
 
 Over the phone, I'm hearing her muffled sobs. I ca n't see her but I know her shoulders are shaking. I know she's crying. 
 
 I soften my voice. `` Hey, honey, what's wrong? You know you can talk to me.'' 
 
 ``... help, me... I need a listening ear...'' 
 
 I smile into my phone and nod. `` You know you can always count on me.'' As I speak, I turn back to my laptop, reaching to cut the volume of my music, only to pause. 
 
 There on the screen, along with my half written sentence, is a new message. 
 
 MAIA: This is how.
