"Are you sure you want to shut down the device?"

That's the question asked of me
by my Sony e-Reader.
And for a moment
I'm not sure how to respond–
it sounds so final:
"…shut down the device?"
It has the feeling of dissolution and death:
"Are you sure you want to sever all ties?"
"Are you sure you want to end the relationship?"
"Are you sure you want to pull the plug?"

There have been a few times in my life
when I've been given this horrible, weighty choice–
to do something this complete,
so conclusive that life from that moment–
if I answer "Yes"–
is forever different.

And I have said "Yes"–
to the end of friendship,
the end of romance,
the end of life support.

"Are you sure you want to shut down the device?"

It could be that you face this question today.
Not only do you lose,
but so does the other.

Generally,
we make these decisions for loss
with the promise of gain on the far side–
the promise of release
and the hope of renewal.

Still…sobering irreversibility. 

An exclamation mark appears [!]
as if to tell me:
"Well, now you've done it!
There's no turning back!" 

Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.