Too Much Reality
By Casey Douglass
The metal container
stood in his living room like the obelisk from 2001, the light from
the afternoon sun caressing its sharp lines and CarryEase handles. He
approached it and ran his hands down the side, fingers probing for
the release button.
Fully life-like and
realistic the advert had said.
Familiar with all
known fantasies, fetishes and kinks they
boasted.
The best in
synthetic technology! More real than reality!
They crowed.
His
index finger found a small recess and felt something give. A soft hum
sounded from inside the packaging. Things began to vibrate. The front
panel slid down with a whoosh, the side panels folding back behind
the rear. An expulsion of packing steam blew in all directions, the
smell of cinnamon and rubber tickling his nose. He waved a hand
around to help dispel it.
Then
he let out a croaking sound. There she was! The ultimate in
“companion technology”.
Her
skin glistened as the nano-fibres reacted to the air. She sucked in a
large lungful of air and opened her eyes. ‘Hello,’ she said, her
voice husky and mid-toned, just like he’d specified.
‘Heh-lo
yourself!’ he replied, a wide grin creasing his face. ‘Follow me
to the bedroom!’
She
stepped out of the container, her naked body glowing as the sun
highlighted her curves. ‘No, I don’t think so,’ she said, her
voice flat and matter-of-fact.
‘What?’
he squeaked.
‘Just
no,’ she answered, her dainty strides taking her away from him and
towards the front door.
‘Wait!
You’re supposed to love me!’ he yelled as he dropped to his
knees.
The
last thing he saw of her was her perfect backside as the door slid
shut behind it, a wolf whistle piercing the air from down the
corridor. He rocked back onto his heels and began to sob.
‘Too
real!’ he whimpered. ‘You idiots! You made her too real!’
