How I Saved Online Caroline

I didn't like Online Caroline when I met her. The first time that I visited the Online Caroline webpage, I took one look at the faux-webcam -- showing her running around her house acting like a doofus -- and decided that I didn't really want to be "friends" with this person. But it was an assignment, so I registered my email address and waited for my first e-mail.

And the first e-mail was annoying, too.

So, I'll confess: I didn't bother with Online Caroline again.

The following Monday, we discussed Online Caroline -- and the Jill Walker essay that gave away the ending -- at length. Not being at all invested in Online Caroline, I had no reason to worry about her impending death, so I kept on ignoring the e-mails that were imploring me to visit the site. I wondered if maybe I'd get an email from XPT, anyway, to inform me of Caroline's disappearance or whatever, but no... I received nothing of the sort. Then, yesterday, I finally got this:

Darling Bluebird,

You've flown away.

At least you're managing to get out and about. Think of me, sometimes, won't you? Sitting in here.

I won't mail you any more. I'll assume you're away, or busy... or maybe you're just fed up with me.

Pity.

I will keep the Webcam on... just in case.

I'll always be here for you.

Bye bye

Caroline xxx

That's right. I saved Online Caroline. She will "always" be there for me. Weeks after so many of you killed her.

Yeah, yeah... maybe it wasn't totally fair. I didn't actually play the game. But isn't the aim of Online Caroline to open up the field of narrative -- to integrate aspects of the external world into the story? I was "friends" with Online Caroline, but she and I also had a number of mutual "friends" who made it very clear that she was doomed if I continued to be friendly.

So I stopped.

And, come on -- "Darling Bluebird"? -- can you blame me?