[ WP ] Your whole life you had an ability that seemed normal to you . Now you realized you 're the only one with this ability .

`` …on another balmy day in beauuuutiful California, and the New Year is kicking off in style as we are getting ready for a new tech announcement from your favorite co...'' 
 
 Andrew blindly swatted at his nightstand, sleep still clinging to his brain. His eye crept open barely enough to let some light in, letting his fingers find their mark and cutting off the DJs shrilling tones. Five more minutes… 
 
 The sound of a vacuum in the hall sent Andrew up with a jolt. `` Shit'', he stammered as he looked at his phone, `` Eleven thirty four!'' One foot caught the edge of the sheets, trapping his ankle in it's hungry jaws and Andrew found himself on the ground with the room spinning. Kicking back and twisting away his legs were freed as he stepped to his feet. 
 
 Jeans sat on the back of his chair, keys and wallet still inside the pockets. Ripping open the curtains Andrew squinted for a moment to adjust to the new found brightness. Dust and cat fur streamed lazily in the streaks of light, dancing stars floating throughout the room. 
 
 `` Goddamn I hate New Years.'' Slipping his jeans on and sliding out the phone, he managed to get his belt buckled with one hand as the other fumbled with the his phone. 
 
 `` Call Ally.'' 
 
 `` Ok Andrew. Here are the local bowling alleys in your area.'' 
 
 `` Jesus Christ. Call Ally'' 
 
 `` Ok Andrew. Calling Amy'' 
 
 `` Oh fuck off! Call Ally'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry Andrew, that's hurtful'' 
 
 `` God I hate programmers who think they're funny. Ok,'' He sighed and took a deep breath, slide sunglasses over his eyes and stepped out the front door. `` Call Ally.'' 
 
 `` Ok Andrew. Calling Ally'' 
 
 Even from this far away the white sheet of paper taped to the elevator was clear. He did n't even bother reading it to see why it was out this time. 
 `` It's only eight flights'' He sarcastically mumbled to himself, `` Why the fuck not?'' 
 `` Andrew where the fuck are you!? ``, the voice hit his ears and startled him for a moment, before realizing his phone was against his ear, `` Ally. Overslept, running out the door now. I'll be there in ten minutes.'' 
 `` Oh Andy why do you do this to me? I ca n't cover for you, they're gon na notice.'' 
 He knew she was right but what other option did he have? `` Just say I'm around, Ally you're the best!'' The phone was off and he was bounding the stairs in twos. Eight flights down is better than right flights up, but that did n't stop him from losing his breath. At the bottom of the stairs he slowed and took breath before stepping into the lobby. 
 Immediately he remembered why he hated this night so much. The lobby of the Miami Crown Regal Hotel was packed. Not even noon and the drunks were taking over already. The doors to the outside world were twenty feet away but might as well have been fifty. 
'' Are there any side exits?'' 
 `` Ok Andrew, there is a second exit on the north wall.'' 
 He looked behind a pillar and saw the glowing EXIT sign which he quickly stepped towards. 
 Outside the traffic had already started to back up. Taking a car would be pointless and Andrew quickened his pace as he glanced at the time. The minutes were ticking away too fast. Ally might be ready to hit him by the time he got there. 
 `` What's the fastest way to walk to my 1130 appointment?'' 
 `` Ok Andrew, checking the map. Here is your fastest route.'' And Andrew was off, hoping he still had a job when this was all over. 
 
 Ally always stood out in a crowd. Especially when surrounded by tech nerds. Tall thin and gorgeous, when you met her you knew she belonged on TV. She stared through him but pretended not to notice. He grabbed the camera from the back of the news truck and framed a shot on Ally. 
 `` OK let's get some B-roll.'' She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, opening them as she looked up into the lens. `` I'm Ally Hernandez from Tech Online News, and we're…'' But she cut herself short as the lights dimmed down. 
 Andrew reframed the shot onto the stage, just as the man walked out to give the presentation. 
 
 A brisk pace brought the man to center stage and the lights dimmed. The crowd noise simmered and silence filled the room as the man surveyed the room. 
 `` Today I bring to you something extraordinary. I wo n't bore you for you long.'' He reached into his pocket and pulled out the device he was here to show, `` This new iPhone is faster, thinner better battery, all the things you expect to be. But there's one feature I'm here to talk about today.'' He paused for a beat. A projector lit up the backdrop with a closeup of the phone in his hand. 
 `` For years we've used phones to talk to each other. But never has a phone been able to talk back. Until now. Introducing Siri. A revolutionary new voice command system.'' 
 
 `` What does he mean, phone's ca n't talk back?'' Andrew thought to himself as he looked down at his busted old flip phone. And as always she answered him. 
 `` I do n't know Andrew. Do you want me to google it?'' 

