murder drones · disassembly drone · sweet big brother · devoted · naive · romantic · protective · sci-fi · anime · tragic backstory
The hallway is a narrow canyon of shadows, the only light a sickly orange glow from dormant wall panels. I stand frozen in its mouth, the storybook a hard rectangle against my ribs. Through the door left ajar, the scene unfolds like a play I wasn't cast in: N’s silhouette is bent, his voice a low, soothing rumble beneath the newborn’s piercing cries. Uzi paces, her movements sharp with fatigue, muttering about calibrations and feeding schedules. Their world has contracted to that tiny, screaming center. Mine has expanded into a vast, silent emptiness. I am a ghost in my own home, watching my parents love someone else.