“No!” My son cries, beginning to weep. “It- it can’t,” he gasp between sobs, “be right. Must have been a mistake.”

The nurse, with her tight-lipped smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, says, “I am very sorry for your loss.”

That statement wrenches me out of my shock. “I’m not dead yet,” I mutter.

“The treatment is very expensive. I’m afraid that there is only one cure, and it’s a relatively new...

"Unfortunately, the transplant will cost you the most important of your memories."

Rylee glanced at her little sister lying on the bed. The monitor beeped as she blinked her eyes.

"Don't do it, Rylee, please, I'll be okay, I promise." She whispered.

Rylee looked to the floor and shifted her shoes.

"I'm going to need an answer soon. I'll leave you to think about it for now though." the doctor s...

Ryder entered the shop near the center of town. It felt foreign despite the fact that he had walked past it countless times in pursuit of the afternoon bus or running late for the office. But what use had he had to notice a diamond exchange before meeting Celia?

Ryder walked up to the case where the luminous stones were displayed and waited for the dealer to acknowledge him. Fifty years ago, the...

In 2075 the invention of the neural link was seen as the most revolutionary communications device since the written word. It was seen as so vital to society the world’s governments decreed that every citizen was to be fitted with one upon reaching adulthood. Oh there were demonstrations and protests against this level of coercion, so compromises and various grandfathering clauses were made. Nev...

I stand in line with a few dozen other people desperately awaiting my turn. Some people are young and some people are old but we all came here for a reason. We need to buy something. Some people might be buying small things and give up memories of a vacation or book they read but some are here for…bigger purchases, like me. Whatever memory they take away it’s worth it. My wife fell gravely Ill aft...

The fork cut through the quiche unleashing a bubble of mayonnaise and sending four dry pastry crumble across the plate. A long flute glass of champion sat close to the paper plate. It was then that the clown was shot. I had heard the first shot rather than saw it, looking up to see blood bulging from the forehead of the clown. I was close enough to see chunks of make up break away from his brow to...

My plans were sweating, my knees where shaking, I was so nervous. I started tapping my foot when Austin said, “Your making me nervous. Stop tapping.” Then he pushed my leg to the ground I told him, “I’m sorry that I’m making you nervous, but I’m nervous. We will already have to give up 5 memories just to pay for this visit, and if…” he interrupted me by saying, “No ifs. I’m going to be fine. We wo...

When Jill was little, her grandmother used to tell her that money wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. She would tell her about what’s really important and that money would fade but making memories that last, love, and laughter are the currency of the truly wealthy; unfortunately, Jill never quite grasped the truth that had been laid before her. For when the opportunity to sacrifice all of those th...

Thomas walked down the narrow streets of the eastern side of the Artemis Station. Trash littered the steel paths and shady merchants lined each side with haphazard market stands. This area was well known for its lack of human visitors and black market dealings, and it smelled like rancid meat.

“Untraceable photon laser rifles!” a vendor that looked like a humanoid fly shouted. “Cheapest guns in t...

“A down payment for 2 please. 100 yendii.”

"400 minimum love. It's 400 per 'ed." Bartered the short, pot-bellied weasel, from behind the paint-chipped counter. Brushing the last of his lunch from his chest, his bean-stained name badge revealed his name. 'D**el'.

Bella winced. "Del, my friend. I only have 100 yendii. The whole thing is 400!"

His crooked smile slipped down his heavy jaw. Del di...