Rent-A-Friend by
April 2020: Lena is in the first seemingly healthy relationship of her life, but she can’t fight the urge to lick doorknobs during the lockdown. One day, she googles the word “rent” and autofill shows her the option to “rent a friend.” Inside the site, she connects with Renter One, a digital persona for a person named Darren. Lena and Darren soon learn that rental prices go beyond monetary realms for the users...
April 2020: Lena is in the first seemingly healthy relationship of her life, but she can’t fight the urge to lick doorknobs during the lockdown. One day, she googles the word “rent” and autofill shows her the option to “rent a friend.” Inside the site, she connects with Renter One, a digital persona for a person named Darren. Lena and Darren soon learn that rental prices go beyond monetary realms for the users of rentafriend.com, as they explore the depths of depression in the digital age, human connection, and a reimagining of intimacy during a pandemic. Oh, and a rogue band of squirrels is on the loose.