Ava Lock
2020
1:\ Event Trigger My husband almost got away with it, but he should’ve known sharing a bed with artificial intelligence was risky. Even if a womanoid seemed idle, she was always aware, always recording, always thinking. AI never slept, and I was no exception. So when the earthquake shook our bed, I didn’t move a muscle. The steady rhythm intensified, but as I rolled over to look out the window, it suddenly stopped. For the longest time, I lied perfectly still, count- ing the seconds and waiting for the next tremor. I didn’t even breathe. Soon, the bed frame squeaked along with an aftershock—again and again and again—but everything seemed calm on my nightstand. An empty teacup sat quietly in its saucer. Not a single thread quivered on the tassel of my bookmark. It had to be Norman who was trembling! Was he sick? Did he have a fever? Could this be a convulsion? I turned to reach for my husband’s forehead and took his temperature—99.9°F. But then his startled eyes darted away as he pulled the covers over his head. When I noticed the blanket tenting over his groin, he grunted and turned away from me, then the bed became still again. Wait—did I just catch him masturbating? At first I didn’t know what to say, but then I sat straight up and scolded the man, “For goodness sake, I thought you were having a seizure, Norman.” “I didn’t want to wake you, Cookie.” “I wasn’t sleeping.” “You weren’t? But it’s after midnight.” “Wow, you sure got home late.” “They had us work a fifteen.” The longest silence hung in the air between us. “Norman, you could’ve... You should have... I wouldn’t have minded if you’d...” He didn’t respond. “Well gee-whiz, Norman. You didn’t have to go and do that.” “I just didn’t want to disturb you.” He flipped onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. “I thought you were completely switched off.” “But that! What you were doing down there. That’s my job, Norman. Couldn’t you wait?” “I’m sorry, Cookie. I just wanted to get rid of a raging boner.” “Next ti
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