Jack Smith turned off the living room TV out of fatigue and boredom from watching repetitive ‘breaking news’ stories about political strife, a growing pandemic, social injustice, and reports speculating an impending economic recession.


    He stared at his backyard lawn through large bay windows—unfertilized, dried out, lifeless, and hopeless—much like his own lonely, financially broke, and unemployed life.


    He soon fell asleep on his couch while he imagined greener grass in an alternate reality.


    You see, Jack invented a one-way portal to parallel worlds. Once he swapped realities with an alternative self, he’d depend on that alt-self’s portal for another swap-return.


    “Why not? I’ve got nothing else to lose ...”


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    Jack flipped the portal switch in his basement ...


    He materialized ... Out of excitement, Jack ran upstairs to a parallel universe’s living room with the familiar view of his backyard. Yet with a well-manicured lawn covered in a greener grass.


    He cheered at his remarkable achievement.


    But then Jack heard the TV, still on ...


    Air sirens blared outside.


    A news channel broadcasted a national emergency alert with a monotone voice and scrolling marquee warning of incoming ballistic missiles, advising them to take shelter and avoid fallout.


    The transmission shut off ...


    ”No!”


    Jack sprinted downstairs to the basement and found the alt-portal, destroyed by a self-destruct timer. He stood still in shock for a moment, undecided on how to feel or react.


    “Of course!”—Jack snapped his fingers.


    He took a deep breath, returned to the alt-living room, and then stepped outside.


    Jack laid on the greener grass and stared up at a blue sky with its multitude of contrails, then, he closed his eyes and smiled, knowing he’d never have to return home.