Artificial

Artificial means man-made.
Constructed.
Designed to imitate what is real.

Sometimes artificial is practical —
artificial light,
artificial limbs,
artificial intelligence.

Created not to deceive,
but to assist.

But artificial can also mean something else.

Artificial smiles.
Artificial kindness.
Artificial connection.

The kind that looks right
but feels hollow.

In a world increasingly filtered,
edited,
curated,
authenticity becomes rare.

Artificial things often shine brighter.
They are polished.
Perfect.

But real things breathe.
They change.
They carry flaws.

And flaws
are proof of life.

Artificial may impress.
But the real thing —
however imperfect —
endures.

— Maggie
The Afterlove Voice 💫