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Renewable Life by Lelia Thomas

When Darrius had been in the coma, he had heard the words of those around him. When his girlfriend told him she couldn’t wait another year for his return. When his mother, who had been at his side for those seven years, had received news of Father’s death.

And words of pity, the pathetic, half-hearted sentences that are said most often at funerals. “I’m so sorry about your son.” “I’m sure he’ll pull through, but it’ll never be the same. He won’t be able to walk. Might not be able to speak properly. ” “We can only hope,” they would say quietly.

There was no pity now, though. Only the disquieting envy that few ever admitted.

Smiling grimly, he let his head sink further beneath the pond surface. Air rushed up and down his nose tendons. He could smell everything with the little hairs, even the koi that swam between his mechanical legs. One was female.

“Darrius.” The voice echoed gently.

He extended his legs at the knee and came up from the pond until he stood before the short, chubby scientist he simply knew as Dr. Krimble. It wasn’t long before the doctor had lifted the loose layer of skin that fit across his chest. Darrius felt a deep tingling as he adjusted the jelly-like fittings. It felt good, though. There was no shame in this.

Details

From fiction writing class, a 100 to 300 word science fiction piece.