Title: The Last Call

Subtitle: When Mobile Technology Begins to Act as a Bridge Between Life and Death

A photo of a man sitting in a dimly lit room. He is holding a mobile phone to his ear

James sat motionless in the dim light of his apartment, counting sheep on his phone. It was several weeks since he had heard his mother's voice, but he hadn't called her, mainly because he'd been unusually busy with work, telling himself each day, "I will call her tomorrow."

That night, a new message notification-a voicemail from a number he didn't recognize-after a moment of contemplation, James clicked play.

"This is Mom.... I just wanted to hear your voice. I hope you are okay. Call me back when you can, sweetheart."

Pulsating in his heart, mom died two days ago. Impossible.

Confused and shaking, he checked the date. Seemingly of weeks ago, and it somehow comes through this very moment. Glitch? Service delay? Whatever; it hardly mattered at that moment.

Tears rolling down his cheek, he whispered, "I love you, Mom."

At that moment, he felt her for the first time since she had died-a reminiscence that filtered from the heart, not the screen.

The Progress and Influence that Has Been Made by Mobile Technologies