The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Welding Realities 
by Alex Grehy

.Learn to weld in virtual reality, build muscle memory through repetition

Dad, veteran welder, scoffed at the advert, “VR? Where’s the heat, weight, and stink?”

He didn’t know that welding realities was a different mission.

.

I signed up for the course, with thousands of others, our shared ambition

to learn a trade, build giant structures, leave a legacy, make a living,

Learn to weld in virtual reality, build muscle memory through repetition

.

We started in a virtual classroom, learning the basics, traditional tuition,

bored, we yearned to burn, see the light of the arc, bright, otherworldly

We didn’t know that welding realities was a different mission.

.

Dad approved, old school, for nothing can stand without a foundation.

But our core curriculum? Welding dark matter to close rifts between realities.

Learn to weld in virtual reality, build muscle memory through repetition

.

Our first session in the workshop with the VR rigs was a day of attrition,

bad welds burst, spewed blue fire on inept trainees. They died. Survivors learned.  

They didn’t know that welding realities was a different mission.

.

“Dear Dad, if you read this, I love you. Welding is dangerous, by your own admission,

I hope you’ll be proud that I saved our reality, our universe, sealed it tight, kept you safe.

Learn to weld in virtual reality, build muscle memory through repetition

I always knew that welding realities was a different mission.

Fiction © Copyright Alex Grehy
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from author Alex Grehy:

Last Species Standing

Last Species Standing: Poems on the edge of nature and technology by Alex Grehy is a captivating exploration of the intricate relationship between humanity, nature, and the ever-evolving realm of technology. Through a collection of thought-provoking poems, Grehy takes readers on a poignant journey that delves deep into the complexities of our modern existence and the consequences of our actions on the world around us.

Grehy’s use of vivid imagery and evocative language creates a rich tapestry of emotions that resonates long after the final page is turned. A poetic prowess that shines brightly in this captivating work, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand our place in the world.

Available on Amazon!