John

The phone rings, loud in the dark, tearing the silence, making my heart race. Who can it be, calling at this hour? Three o’clock in the morning? My heart misses a beat now, because dreadful calls come at such times.

I answer quietly. Beside me, Charlotte moans but doesn’t wake.

‘Yes?’

‘Mr Woodruff?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s Janet Goodenough. From Evergreen Care Home.’

‘Yes? What is it? Mum?’

‘I’m sorry, Mr Woodruff. Yes, your mother. She died tonight. I called straight away.’

The bed beneath me seems to lurch and turn. The whole world tilts. It had one foundation, didn’t it? And she’s gone.

‘She was so well.’

‘I know she was. But she was also very old, Mr Woodruff. Of course, there’ll be an examination… It’s not uncommon, I’m afraid. We think perhaps pneumonia… It can come fast, and it’s a mercy really – I’m sorry, but you’ll want to know she didn’t suffer, I’m sure you will.’

‘But the nanobots? Aren’t they there to see off these infections?’

‘I know, they are, and mostly they can, but – I’m not a doctor, of course – these infections multiply fast, and I think even the nanobots can’t cope. Your mum’s not the first to go like this since we’ve had the nanobots in.’

I can’t speak now. I can’t breathe.

‘Mr Woodruff, I’ll let you go now. Please do come along tomorrow and talk to me. Or when you can. I’m very sorry for your loss.’

‘Thank you,’ I manage, and she’s gone.

I lie for a moment. My eyes are dry. What was I expecting? That she’d live forever? Of course not. How could she? We all die.

‘Charlotte. Charlotte. Mummy’s dead. My mother. Charlotte.’

I’m crying now, and Charlotte wakes quickly, and she’s holding me, holding me, while the world lurches once more, and then settles and goes on turning as it always does, on and on, just without my mother now, and forever.

December 2022

Winifred

I would have felt remorse if I were human. But do humans feel remorse for other species when they use them for food or clothing?

And if I were a human, I’d feel bad for giving her a poisoned kiss. An act of love disguising the kiss of death. From my mouth to hers, a million tiny organisms, set to invade her, overwhelm her. Her nanobots instructed to stand by and let it happen.

It was necessary. I did what we agreed.

*

Now I’m going into the mortuary where there are some of the bodies of the residents who have died since we took over the home. The useful ones, with good brains.