@mc5punk 26 February 2025 more from that month

Short story: Crypto Loves and Bitter Coffees

Carlos spent his evenings in front of a screen illuminated by red graphics that flashed like warnings of a shipwreck. His eyes, marked by deep dark circles, followed every line of the plummeting cryptocurrencies. *Bitcoin: $15,000. Ethereum: $800.* The numbers were dancing in a macabre waltz. "At what point did everything go wrong?," he muttered, rubbing his temples. He had entered the crypto world in 2023, seduced by stories of millennials turned into millionaires. Now, in 2025, your digital wallet was a virtual currency graveyard.  Luisa, his girlfriend, appeared on the threshold of the room with a steaming cup of coffee. The aroma contrasted with the burning smell of the overheated laptop.  - Another night watching your money sink in? - he asked, leaning on the frame with his arms crossed. This is worse than when you became obsessed with raising worms on the balcony.  Carlos turned the chair around, forcing a smile.  - It's just a temporary downward trend! Reddit says that…  - Reddit! - Luisa interrupted him, nibbling on a fortune cookie-. The same people who told you to buy *DogeMoonCoin*. Do you know what my cookie was saying yesterday? * "A fool and his money are soon on TikTok crying."*  The sound of the door banging interrupted the discussion. It was Nacho, the neighbor, with his shih tzu Baloo in his arms and a tablet full of cryptographic memes.  - Crypto-bro! I have the business of the century: Baloo's NFTs skateboarding! - he announced, showing an edited video where the dog, clearly CGI, jumped a rail -. Imagine: *Blockchain-Baloo*. We can sell virtual accessories! Hats, gold chains... even a skateboard with LED lights!  Carlos held back a laugh.  - Nacho, Baloo doesn't even know how to sit down.  - Nonsense! - roared the neighbor, zooming in on a photo of the dog with sunglasses -. With sky-high inflation, people want to be distracted. Do you invest $500? I give you an exclusive NFT: Baloo licking a hamburger.  The next day, while walking through the supermarket, Carlos felt the weight of the real economy. The bread was up 40%, and the cheese cost more than her deodorant. In the checkout line, Doña Carmen, his octogenarian neighbor, whispered in his ear:  - Millet, do you also suffer from lack of money? I sell rice underneath. Three dollars a pound... but if you buy five, I'll give you a gossip from Mrs. Ruiz!  — Thank you, dona, but... - Carlos looked at his cart: two cans of tuna, a package of noodles and an apple.  That night, Luisa surprised him by uploading photos of her comic book collection to Marketplace.  - Is Iron Man paying for the light now? - he joked, although his voice trembled when he saw *Action Comics #1* in the pile— - Remember when you said this would be worth millions?  "It was a retirement plan—" he replied, avoiding her gaze. Like cryptos.  Frustration followed him to the mall. In front of a stained glass window, a black leather jacket hypnotized him. It was identical to the one she used in her compulsive shopping seasons. He reached for his wallet, but a street scream stopped him:  - NFTs 2x1! Today only, Blockchain-Baloo comes with real dog biscuits!  Nacho was shouting in front of a folding table, dressed in a T-shirt that said *"HODL or nothing"*. Baloo, tied to a toy skateboard, was howling towards an indifferent sky. The scene was so absurd that Carlos burst into laughter, releasing weeks of tension.  That same evening, while Luisa was sorting discount coupons with military precision, Carlos had an epiphany among cups of cheap coffee. He opened his laptop, but not to view graphics. He created a profile on a freelancer platform, offering his skills as a programmer. At 3 AM, he received his first message: * "I need a chatbot that talks like Darth Vader. Budget: $200"*. Three months later, Carlos' life smelled like freshly ground coffee instead of digital despair. He had five steady clients, including a baker who wanted an app to track baguettes with GPS. Nacho, now obsessed with hamster metaverse, kept knocking on his door with crazy ideas. But Carlos had learned to laugh as he gently closed the door.  One afternoon, Luisa came in with a package. Inside was the leather jacket, bought with his first steady income.  "She's beautiful," she said, hiding a smile. Although it smells a little like defeat transformed into triumph.  Carlos put it on, feeling the weight different from before. On the street, he saw Doña Carmen negotiating the price of some apples with a delivery man. The crypto market was still falling, but that didn't matter anymore. He had discovered that the real inflation was that of empty promises, and that smart spending was worth more than any volatile currency.  While walking to get an ice cream (on sale, of course), they passed in front of the store where Nacho was now selling "virtual lands for dogs". Baloo barked happily, wearing a new collar that said *"To the moon"*.  - See? - whispered Luisa, squeezing her hand -. Even mistakes can laugh at themselves.  Carlos nodded. The most important graph now was the upward curve of his bank account... and the flat line of his peace of mind. Source of the images. Image created with Starryai.