The game console hums softly. The screen flickers with red rings, each one spinning slowly like a tiny whirlpool. I press the start button harder, but the glitch persists. The world seems to slow down around it, as if reality itself is breaking in two. I try again, pressing buttons rapidly, hoping to clear it. Nothing works. The console makes a soft beeping sound, almost like an apology. A game saves right before the screen goes blank for a moment, then returns with the glitch still there. It’s like trying to fix a leaky faucet by turning the handle faster—sometimes it just won’t stop. I take a deep breath and start over, hoping this time might be different.