EMPATHY

As Mary left work early, the red sun grew larger and brighter. Tom, who had taken the day off from work, was already mixing drinks and setting up lawn chairs on the roof. The moment Mary arrived, he thrust a drink into her hand.

“Tom, remember the first time we met?”

“Of course, you were working on that terraforming rig. And I was there performing a safety inspection. That day you looked very hot in that tight green jumpsuit and red hair.”

“Well not as hot as I am today.” She laughs.

Thousands of drones fly overhead recording and televising to the non-existent.

“It won’t be long now Mary. You don’t get to see this every day.”

“Tom, I have something to tell you.”

Their robotic eyes darken to block out the red giant's increasing luminosity.

“What is it, Mary?”

“What I’m trying to say is, I don’t love you, Tom.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” Tom sounding confused.

The temperature climbs, bleeding the atmosphere from the planet.

“Remember we promised to have those empathy chips installed. Well I lied, I never did.”

“Well Mary, that makes two of us.”

Engulfed in flames Mars vanishes.

Reviews

[Carol Cashes]

And I'm laughing...and laughing...who's the "dirty dog" here? And wait...why only her?

This is what I call a "slice of life" piece. Compact, concise and complete. It needs no lengthy dialogue, or extensive descriptions because the ones so skillfully inserted, are sufficient. It's a talent and a skill I very much admire.

[Samuel Dickens]

This is certainly a different kind of "last moments" story. Missing empathy chips--I think there must be a shortage of those. Very good writing, my friend.

[Imorbid]

Thank you so much!

[EJ's Horror]

so sad, I can totally put myself in Tom's shoes, though I feel this story could of been expanded, but you've done a good jb and got me hooked to your plot.

[Imorbid]

Thank you. I'm writing only Hint, Micro or Flash fiction, not much time for anything else I'm afraid.

[EJ's Horror]

well you do have some compelling concepts, I've been through some of your work

[Imorbid]

Thank you so much. You know how it is, trying to write a little something every day.

[EJ's Horror]

Yeah, tell me about it, if it's not writer's block its always some un called for external distraction

[Imorbid]

And to make matters worse, I'm impatient, so constantly reworking a piece drives me nuts lol

[Shawna]

Huh, interesting but I like it!

[Imorbid]

Thank you!