There once was an e-mail. Perhaps not the most eloquent of e-mails, but it sure did get the point across. The writer of the e-mail was a disgruntled man. There were words of confusion and slight anger that made up the bulk of the e-mail. This made the e-mail feel as though they contained a message of great importance.
As soon as the writer hit send, the e-mail took this as its moment to shine. It would surely be sent back to the writer with helpful words or perhaps even reassuring ones. What ever the response would be, the e-mail couldn't wait to be returned.
However, what the e-mail had not anticipated was that sometimes, some e-mails get sent to a place of doom. The customer service department of a major corporation. A journey it could not have foreseen.
As it arrived at its destination, the e-mail felt excited and a little nervous too, but seeing as it was surrounded by 1104 other e-mails, all unread like itself, it felt that they might not be the only one to feel this way.
For days, weeks it waited. For someone to open it and finally respond. Two months later the moment arrived. With the click of a button it was opened and the reading commenced. The e-mail felt overjoyed. After all, this was its entire reason for being. At long last the e-mail got to fulfill its purpose in life.
Feelings of guilt, shame and insecurity for not returning to its original writer with an answer which had plagued the e-mail for all those weeks instantly dissipated once it was opened. The e-mail waited anxiously for the reader to hit the reply button. See, the e-mail had heard whispers of others being opened and then simply closed once more without any reply at all! Some, were even deleted without ever having been given the chance to convey their writer's message.
Even though the e-mail wasn't too sure about all that, some e-mails tended to be dramatic after all, such thoughts would no longer occupy the e-mail for there it was. Another click of a button. But wait.. that was not the reply button. It was the forward button.
A little unsure but still excited the e-mail continued on its journey. It seemed it had not yet reached its final audience. While this was admittedly an unexpected turn, the e-mail remained optimistic.
On its way it went! This time around the e-mail had founds itself being surrounded by even more companions. Now having gained some experience the e-mail felt a little less thrilled about that than the first time. More companions meant waiting even longer to be opened. Feeling confident that at least it had reached the correct inbox helped the e-mail stay motivated. It would wait patiently until it was their turn.
To the e-mail's surprise it was opened after a mere few days. With a renewed sense of purpose the e-mail anticipated the click of the reply button. And yet, all over again the forward button was pushed instead. The e-mail was now more confused than ever. Was it still not in the right place? How many inboxes would it have to visit before it reached the one it was intended for? Had the writer sent the e-mail out into the world on a careless whim? Or did they simply not have the right informationon as to where to send the e-mail to?
All these and many more questions tumbled around in the e-mail's mind as it was sent forward yet again. Upon arrival at their new inbox a dreadful realisation hit the e-mail like a ton of bricks. This place. It seemed familiar. It had landed among 1100 or so other e-mails. Some of which it had gotten to know quite well during the two months it had previously spent there. It was back in the customer service inbox!
Feeling quite demoralised, the e-mail sat around and waited. It was losing hope, because the added message it contained was the same as the previous one: "Does this belong in your department?". The e-mail wondered if that question would ever be answered. Where did it belong? And, would it ever find its way back to the original writer?
The answer to that would present itself a few days later. For a third time it was opened. The enthusiasm had worn off and the e-mail awaited the dreaded click on the forward button. Doomed to roam inbox after inbox. However, something happened the e-mail never, even in its darkest hour had considered possible.
The e-mail was closed and marked "unread". Never to be opened again.
Comentários