Summary

“Offloading for Mrs. Schwartz” is a story features some science-fiction elements and is set at an unnamed point in the future. The unnamed narrator/protagonist is a middle-aged man. He used to be married to w woman named Elizabeth, whom he loved dearly. Elizabeth is deceased, but the cause of her death is not stated in the story. The story takes place three years after Elizabeth’s death. The protagonist operates a business that allows people to experience a wide array of highly realistic virtual reality simulations. This technology is common in this era. The protagonist’s business is not generating enough revenue. While not at work, the protagonist visits an elderly widow named Mrs. Schwartz to keep her company and entertain her with virtual reality. The protagonist views these visits in part as penance regarding Elizabeth’s death. The narrative reveals that...