Page 179 - Musings 2021

because you claimed to be technologically challenged. I left for one reason and one reason
only- I began hating it. I started dreading the job. The video wouldn’t even be shot yet and I’d
already be dreading the long hours of editing something that was already perfect to begin
with, just for your satisfaction. That’s why I started loading up on school work. For obvious
reasons, I couldn't tell you the truth, so I gave you just a fraction of it. I said I was too busy
and that it was getting in the way of my college applications, applications that you were
supposed to send in too, by the way.

Debbie: Why didn’t you tell me then?

Sue: Well, I’m telling you now that it’s doing a lot of good. We went from seeing each other
every day of the week to seeing each once every couple of weeks. You never called anymore
because you were too busy creating that candy coated world of yours. I could leave town
right now and you wouldn’t notice.

Debbie: You're overreacting, Sue.

Sue: I don't think I am. My best friend is gone! You don't even look like her anymore. You
say things like LOL and OMG. We used to make fun of people who talked like that. And now
you do pretty much anything that you think will make you blend in with the crowd. We used
to pride ourselves on originality, we used to say that we’d get views without conforming to
what the online world thinks is or is not cool. You've gone all the way from being an
authentic content creator to a sheep who just follows the herd and that has never been you.
I’ve known you for thirteen years and you have never been that person.

Debbie: People change Sue! Maybe it’s time to part ways. People drift apart all the time.

Sue: I know people change. What bugs me is that you didn’t change for you. You changed
just so that a bunch of people who barely knew you would watch your videos and boost your
views. You changed just for the popularity and you're still miserable.

Debbie: Sue, it’s a very normal trend among creators. You grind for a while, give the people
what they want, once you have a certain number of subscribers, you can do whatever you feel
like doing and it gets much easier. Here, (she motions Sue onto the bed and makes her sit in
front of her) sit here. I think this would be a great angle to film from (she tries to fix Sue’s
hair).

Sue: (Swatting Debbie’s hand away) this. This is what I’m talking about. We can't even fight
without you obsessing over what would look on camera.

Debbie: (Looking excited for some reason) Oh Sue, I’m sorry. I had to.

Sue: Had to what?

Debbie: Well, there’s this trend going viral on TikTok. The gist of it is you shoot a fight with
your best friend and I thought it would make for a cool episode for social media awareness
week since I knew you were going to lecture me about it anyway. (She goes to the corner of
her bed and reveals a camera kept strategically under her pillow. Its red light is blinking. She
has been shooting their entire fight) I knew you wouldn't agree to fake it so, I thought this
would make it easier for me. Hey, (Sue looks enraged and has gotten up) where are you
going?

179