i’m busy opening a new incognito window
to google a fact i wanted to tell you, but
i just wanted to be extra sure,
just in case i was wrong
(even though i know i’m right)

sorry, i can’t reply to your message right now:
i’m busy replying to a group chat, and
i swear they all have a WPM of 150
while i can only hit a measly 65 on a good day
and they keep sending new messages
and all i can do is react

sorry, i can’t reply to your message right now:
i’m busy editing my message to someone
i just started talking to, and i’m having a bit of trouble
nailing the perfect combination of
apathy while looking interesting while being dead
inside (but the cool way) while hoping
i could just, y’know, make a real friend

sorry, i can’t reply to your message right now:
i’m busy watching my computer set itself on fire. i guess
50 open incognito windows
and 74 new group chat messages
and edits over edits over re-edits
and the neverending sense of doom
was a bit too much to handle

sorry, i can’t reply to your message right now:
i’m busy staring at my ceiling, wishing
i could just talk to you in person again.

sorry, i can’t reply to your message right now –
but if you leave a message,
i promise i’ll get back to you soon.



Joyce Kung is an experience that is difficult to encompass in a flesh prison, let alone 50 words. Their words can be found in perhappened mag, Sine Theta Magazine, and Burning Jade Literary. You can find them on Twitter as @commitsbyjoyce.