It was a typical Monday morning. The sun was shining through the curtains, and I had just settled down at my favorite spot by the window with a fresh cup of coffee. My work laptop, an essential companion of my daily grind, was humming quietly as I logged into my first meeting of the day.

As the meeting progressed, I reached for my coffee mug, ready to take a sip. That's when it happened. My hand, moving in slow motion, collided with the mug, sending it flying across the table. Coffee splashed everywhere, and to my horror, a significant amount of it landed directly on my laptop.

Panic set in instantly. I grabbed the laptop, shaking it gently to get the coffee out. I rushed to the kitchen, the laptop still dripping, and started frantically patting it down with paper towels. I knew I had to act quickly, so I powered it off and placed it upside down to drain any remaining liquid.

Remembering an old trick, I submerged the laptop in a large container filled with rice, hoping it would absorb the moisture. I then sat back, my heart pounding, realizing the magnitude of what had just happened.

The next few days were a blur. I borrowed an old laptop from a friend to keep up with work, but it was slow and cumbersome. Every day, I checked my submerged laptop, praying it would miraculously power on again.

When the moment of truth arrived, I took the laptop out of the rice, cleaned it up, and pressed the power button. Nothing. My stomach dropped. I tried again, but it was unresponsive. I had to face the reality that my trusty laptop was gone.

I contacted IT support, and after explaining the situation, they arranged for a replacement. The new laptop arrived a few days later, and I cautiously set it up, keeping all beverages at a safe distance this time.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson: always be mindful of your surroundings, especially when it comes to liquids and electronics. My new rule? Coffee and laptops should never share the same space.