THE MOMENT
Clive decided it was the type of situation he couldn't resolve over the phone. He needed to talk it out with a live human person to avoid any misunderstandings because he wasn't sure what was happening either. He signed up for an unusual service promising glimpses of the future. It was unexpected when he finally made the connection that his visions were coming through in YouTube ads. It was a slow realization that took place over a few weeks after he signed up.
Clive generally had an outgoing and friendly personality. He was willing to do things just for the fun of it and that was how he ended up subscribing to the 'Sharp Shorts' service. It was cheap enough for a lark, and he didn't expect anything after that, so when the ads started appearing he ignored them like any other advertisement. Once he made the connection that it was what he paid for he enjoyed the service a bit longer; until he saw his own death.
It wasn't a gruesome murder or a one-in-a-million freak accident. He just didn't wake up. The quick ad showed a closer friend with a house key stopping by and becoming distraught at the discovery of Clive's corpse. Then, the ad ended with the text, [Life ended. Sharp Shorts subscription terminated. Please visit Sharp Development to renew your subscription.]
It was a tasteless way to drum up more business, and not what he'd signed up for. He was supposed to have a lifetime subscription. It was fun while it was fun. But now he was starting to realize it might've been a scam since the beginning. Before it showed his death, its predictions were accurate and rather mundane. Things like him walking by certain landmarks or running into strangers dressed a specific way. Looking back on it, they were all technically instances that could've been faked. And now that they're showing him his death in such a boring way and telling him to resubscribe rubbed him in all the wrong ways. After some phone calls and a trip downtown, he found himself seated in front of an old woman with silver hair in one of Sharp Development's offices.
"So, you'd like to resubscribe?" Estelle, the old woman asked with a confused glint in her eye, but she maintained a permanent smile. "You didn't need to visit in person for that," she said.
"I'm sorry," Clive shook his head. As annoyed as he was, he had to admit Estelle had come across as sincere at every step, even as he ranted his ramble. "I was trying to explain too much at the same time. What I'm here to find out is about the morbid practice of showing people their death before asking them to resubscribe," he said. "Now, obviously, I don't blame you personally for it. But, it's crass and insulting, and I think Sharp Development needs to change it."
"Ah, a complaint," Estelle nodded. "Sharp Development takes complaints quite seriously, but, only if they're serious complaints," she said. "Before you ask, the criteria is very simple. If you're serious about changing it, do you have an alternative in mind?"
"What?" Clive asked. Was she asking him to do the company's job?
"Well, for example, where would you extend the invitation to resubscribe? From our perspective, it makes the most sense when you know your life is about to end."
"Know?" Clive asked. "So you're saying it's real??"
"You mentioned you had the service for a few months or so already... did you not believe us? We do offer a refund policy. Well, we did, until your subscription ended. Or, will end quite soon," Estelle smiled.
"Wait, wait wait..," Clive shook his head. He'd arrived with one set of ideas ready to go and now he had to dig out a whole new set from his mind.
"You're saying that the death I really saw is really going to happen to really kill me??" he asked. Despite lingering on the question, it wasn't his main concern. He was more insulted and confused by the implications it carried.
"Well, Sharp Development doesn't make a habit of lying to its customers," Estelle replied.
"SO WHAT THE HELL IS RENEWING MY SUBSCRIPTION GOING TO DO!??" he needed to vent his emotions with the question. It was getting to be too much for his mind to process. He felt bad about yelling at her, but not enough to apologize. And, to her credit, she seemed entirely unfazed by his outburst.
"I understand it's not something most people would register without being explicitly told," Estelle nodded with a warm smile. "When you decide to renew your subscription with Sharp Shorts, we...," she paused long enough to give him a friendly wink. "...renew your subscription. Or, extend your membership, if you'd prefer to think of it that way."
"Extend...? But, I'll be dead!" Clive replied.
"If you're dead, then you didn't renew your subscription in time," Estelle said.
"... is this a shakedown?" Clive asked. He wouldn't have ever expected it from Estelle directly; but, she worked for a corporation and those were entirely untrustworthy. "You're saying I won't die if I resubscribe... but I will if I don't?"
"That is what I'm saying," Estelle nodded first. Then, she shook her head. "However, it is not a shakedown at all. Those are simply factual statements. In the same way someone could say, 'you'll die if you stay standing on those tracks', as a train approaches. It's obvious you're not quite familiar with the full resources of Sharp Development; but, I can put it plainly. We have the technology to see the timeline of an Earth, and everyone on it. Sharp Shorts is a glimpse of that, monetized. According to the current timeline, you are on the verge of death. This is the most ideal moment to reveal other options to you. If you're not ready to pass on, we can help you avoid it. If you are ready, at least you'll be able to plan accordingly."
"How can I avoid it?" Clive asked. Maybe it was too big in scope and broke his brain slightly, along with all the other stress. But, he didn't have any anger any more.
"That's easy, just get off the track. For the small fee of your soul to resubscribe, Sharp Development will show you how."