Of the items in the store,

All were second hand

An old computer did I buy,

With a broken stand

 

One side was badly scratched

Two knobs were missing too

But that’s not the story

I’m about to tell to you

 

'T was about the second week

Of the ‘puter at my place

Sitting there against the wall

Near the old staircase

 

I recall the night was late

As I readied me for bed

When I turned my computer off,

The screen … it turned blood-red

 

The appearance caused a start

I gasped a gulp of air

I couldn’t turn my gaze away

I stood right there and stared.

 

Then a low murmuring

From deep within the set

Cold chills ran over me

I’ve not forgotten yet

 

A voice, low and menacing

Containing graveled rasps

I could not then stop again

My involuntary gasp

 

I stood there mesmerized

My gaze remained transfixed

Emotions racing through me

And all of them were mixed

 

The Voice on the other side

Of the blood-red display screen

Issued a command to me

So ominous and mean:

 

“Place your hand upon the screen

And repeat these words to me:

Where you are right now,

Is where I need to be”.

 

I felt my arm move upward

Powerless to resist

I felt a burning in my palm

As the display screen it kissed

 

I heard a voice and realized

The speaker it was me:

“Where you are right now,

Is where I need to be”.

 

As the words transmitted,

Involuntarily,

I could feel a change come on …

Overwhelming me.

 

As I stared in disbelief

My hand – it disappeared

Absorbed into the blood-red screen

As the burning onward seared …

 

Through my wrist, up my arm

It’s hotness I could feel

Inward was I screaming

Not believing this was real!

 

In reflection from the screen

I was being pulled into

I saw a face, and then I screamed:

“That horrid face is YOU!”

 

The rapid assimilation

Continued then until

All feelings were extinguished

And all was calm and still.

 

A trillion beings there transformed

To tiny bytes and bits

Then ‘t was every part of us

All websites now transmits

 

Now here I am deep inside

A computers’ display screen

If there’s disturbance felt

Oh so sharp and keen

 

Just place your hand upon the screen

And read these words to me:

 “Where you are right now,

Is where I need to be”.