A phone number

This afternoon I began setting up a blank SIM card by following an online tutorial. It was harder than I expected. Even when the instructions are clear, the actual steps can be full of surprises: the network connection, how smoothly the phone runs, different settings screens, or a different operating system can all change the path. No tutorial can be identical for everyone.

The author said it would take 15 minutes. It took me seven or eight times that long. Partway through, I would discover that I lacked something the author had, and I had to find another way. By the time I finished, my eyes were red from staring at the screen. I let out a long breath, feeling both accomplished and thoroughly tired. It was not the first time I had had an experience like that…

Once it was done, I realized I had magnified some of the difficulties in my mind. I felt relieved, and pleased to have crossed another barrier. There may be more opportunities on the other side, along with new temptations…