Online Chats, Smileys and Emojis

"After my third operation of the thyroid cancer, the doctors still weren't able to give me a definite answer. One thing they could agree upon was that the radiotherapy isotopes weren't working, so...

Published28 October 2015

Reading Time 1 mins

Author Stories of Nepal

Location Nepal

"After my third operation of the thyroid cancer, the doctors still weren't able to give me a definite answer. One thing they could agree upon was that the radiotherapy isotopes weren't working, so that meant with every reoccurrence of the cancer I had to undergo surgery. And then there were tests, reports, more tests and more reports. All these brought a lot of agony, also some sort of realisation that I will not have a life-span of a healthy person. And that was that, but I remember, after the surgery, despite the slurred speech, I had asked the doctor how the surgery went. And he had told me it went fine with a thumbs up which had reminded me of the 'Facebook Like'. And I remember contemplating, 'Funny, that the surgery has left a permanent 'smiley' in my neck and then the doctor gives it a like'. I also remember thinking how sad that lively interactions today are replaced by dull online chats, which are in turn being replaced by lifeless emojis." (1/2) (Neer Lama, Boudha, Kathmandu)

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