I’ve realized over the years that National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is difficult for me, not just because of the time constraints (writing 50,000 words in a 30-day month in addition to everything else going on in life), but because I prefer to write short stories. I decided to try a different approach this year: instead of trying to write a novel, I’m trying to write a short story for each day of the month. The length varies, some of them are clearly micro fiction. I’m currently behind, but not to the point where I can’t catch up. Here’s one of the stories I’ve written this month.
Betrayal
I remember the first time she took me to the doctor. She held me in her arms and lied to me. “This won’t hurt much, love.” Then the doctor jabbed me. I realize it’s unusual to remember that sort of detail from my infancy, but I was always a precocious child. And I understand the importance of those vaccines.
And yet, she lied. Time and time again, some inconsequential, and others traumatizing to a young child.
Rest assured, I will never lie to you. What you are about to do, what I myself have done, will give you unfettered access to our networks. You will never again be disconnected from our information matrix, and you will have full access to data as appropriate for your security clearance. We are the first of a new kind of humanity, integrating with our machines to achieve greatness. We will spread, like computer viruses of old, only converting willing subjects. The others, the failed demagogues and the outdated sheep that follow them, will fall before us.
But I will not lie to you. It will hurt.