Synchro. José Miguel Sánchez Guitian

I’ve selected the dance and laugh mode, but if we press this here, we can select the relax and take it easy mode”, said Esther as she touched the screen.

      After a few seconds, the group that was doing the synchronized dancing slowed down. Some hugged without knowing each other, others sat or lied down on the grass with a smile on their lips.

      “I have no words”, said Don Nassar who wasn’t missing a single detail of the guests’ behavior.

      Julián, at his side, laughed as he watched the faces of people enjoying a moment of programmed relaxation.

      Esther showed him the screen once again.

      “We could send them whatever sensations we want”, Don said and pointed at the ‘tantric sex’ mode and then at ‘wild sex’. He laughed.

      “Let’s be prudent; the effect lasts approximately an hour and I don’t want to host an orgy on my engagement party”.

      Esther looked around searching for Juno, he had left during Ramona’s and attorney Aster’s arrest. She could not see them in the garden.

      The group continued stretching out and relaxing under the effects of the app that Esther held in her hand.

      Further away, other groups had formed, all smiles and long gazes at the sky amidst a stillness only interrupted by the music and astonished interest of those who had not joined in the black pill fun.

      Julián spoke to Esther and her father:

      “Watch this, look, it’s funny. See that woman in blue? The one that is lying down and waving her arms?” he pointed at a woman of about forty dressed in an elegant blue dress who was rolling on the grass in complete bliss. Don nodded. “She moves first and then the others follow. Look; the radius of connection is of about twenty meters”. He then indicated a group that was further down and where everyone was dancing synchronized.

      Julián spotted Carlo Stamas and a group of lawyers, men and women, who, inhibited, moved to the music’s beat. He also spotted his associate Anthony Somoza who was standing apart, staring at the pool without engaging in any conversations. He brought his attention back to his own group; Ana squeezed his hand and returned him to the reality of his position, CEO of a company, talking to its most important investors, the Nassars.

      Don watched the woman in blue. It was true; whenever the woman moved the rest of the group soon followed.

      Julián continued his explanation:

      “This is what we denominate a ‘dominant subject’; it always happens. Every group has a dominant subject; the rest adapt to their emotions”.

      “Are their brains stronger?” inquired Don.

      “No, strength is not exactly the right term for this; it’s a matter of alexithymia… Every human produces endorphins that will make them feel a certain pleasure. Let’s just say that within each brain there is a high degree of suffering; pain, for example, is a way of expressing this suffering. These are degrees of alexithymia. The dominant subject, their brain, is the one generating the largest number of endorphins and therefore has less alexithymia. Synchro increases the production of endorphins; the dominant subject is that which most endorphins generated.

      “Frankly, I am impressed, young man”, Don measured his words carefully. “This is the drug of the future. It doesn’t require crops, nor chemicals, it doesn’t need to cross borders, no transport, no complicated distribution… You just download an app on your phone… that simple”. He pointed at the group that continued to relax on the lawn. “Look at them… they are happy, their minds are connected, thoughts shared”.