A Sorrow Named Joy by Sarah Chorn

Author:Sarah Chorn [Chorn, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-10T05:00:00+00:00

“Am I alive?” she asked as they sped across town. She’d washed the dishes while he’d gotten ready, and then he’d waited patiently, scrolling through his phone as she showered and dressed. Now they were tucked into his comfortable car, making the long drive across the valley to meet with the man who could program her.

She studied her hand in the sunlight, traced the veins under her skin with her eyes. Wondered what was in them. It wasn’t blood.

Memories of sterile darkness, machines humming, warm, thick liquid assaulted her. It was as though saying the word construct had unlocked a vault, let free images of the time before she was his.

“Are you alive?” he asked, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

It was past the morning rush, and the freeway was nearly empty. Overhead, a smattering of clouds was rolling in from the west, their thick, gray bellies laden with rain.

Good. Her garden would love the water.

“Of course you’re alive.” He said the words like they settled the matter. Like that was the truth and there was no reason to question it. Joy could feel something inside, though. A certain, unpredictable pressure barely held in check. A clawing, nameless need to know, to understand, but mostly, to be.

He wanted this for her, and so she wanted it for herself. She wanted to be as alive as he wanted her to be. He needed her to be alive, and so she needed that for herself.

They took an exit ramp. It curled around a pond full of muddy water and a few very brave ducks, then dumped them onto an industrial road surrounded by warehouses and semi-trucks. Mike tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, a nervous gesture, and she reached over and clasped his nearest hand in hers.

“It’ll be okay,” she said.

“You’re trying to comfort me?” He tried to smile at her, but it didn’t take. It sort of curled on his lips and then died there.

“Comforting you would make you happy, Mike. Of course I want that.”

Silence then, uncomfortable and full of pressure, like a bubble just waiting to burst.

Finally, they turned into a parking lot before a small white, windowless warehouse. Everything about this place was designed to be overlooked. The only unique part of it was the small Specialty Designs sign above a black door.

“Ready?” Mike asked.

Was she ready? She didn’t know. But he was filled with a steely resolve, and that made her ready. He needed her to do this, so she took the lead: weaving her fingers through his, she opened the door and pulled him into the dark, cavernous building that smelled like hot machines and stale coffee. Before them was a desk with a woman behind it, too flawless to be real. She smiled her perfect smile and showed her perfect teeth.

“Welcome,” the receptionist said, her voice low and soothing. “You have an appointment?”

“Programming,” Mike nodded, squeezed Joy’s fingers. “For Joy.”

“Yes, right this way.” She stood, each movement a dance to

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.