Some of the shortest stories pack the biggest punches. Case in point: "In the Marrow" by Malon Edwards, published over at Lakeside Circus. It's under 1,000 words, and it tells the story of a gynoid and her girlfriend, who've been driven apart by their parents — and by the "sexually deviant" gynoid's memory loss.
Here's how it begins:
Welcome to Obvix, Zakiya. What would you like me to do for you today?
Check my holo messages.
Checking your holo messages now. Retrieved one holo message for you.
Play.
Before I play this message, Zakiya, I should warn you: it is from Gynoid Number 98963221. She has been registered with the Institute for Sexually Deviant Robots. She has also been placed on the do-not-answer list by your mother.
Was my mother home when she called?
Yes, but as you – *static* – persuaded me to do, I squelched the ring tone before it hit the house circuits and then sent the call straight to your holo mail.
Hacked, Zee Dub. I hacked you. It's a real word. You can say it.
…
Fine. Play message, please.
Saturday, June 28, 20-7
12:47:06 p.m.
Transmission downloaded.
Transmission placed in queue.
Transmission will begin in 3, 2, 1—I know I'm the last person you want to see right now. So I'll make this quick. I'm not your Jae Lyn de la Rosa. But you probably already know that. (Looks down)
I'm sorry I didn't kiss you back. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls. I'm sorry my Jean Grey impression sucked.
Or maybe it didn't. Depends on which resurrection we're talking about.
Check out the rest over at Lakeside Circus. It's well worth your time.
onlinecollegedegreee.blogspot.com This story only takes a couple minutes to read -- and it's superb.