–Good morning. What can I do for you?
–Doctor, it’s my husband here. He’s not himself.
–When did he die?
–Last year.
–My condolences.
–We were getting along so well at first. I felt it was really him.
–I see by his chart he tested satisfactory. Let’s activate him and have a look-see.
<click>
–Sir? How do you feel?
–I am complete neither male nor female nor young nor old nor…
<click>
–I see the problem. We’ll do an erase and restore from back-up.
— <sigh of relief> Thank you.
Lettie Prell’s science fiction stories have appeared in WIRED, Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Analog, and Apex Magazine, reprinted in a number of anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, and translated into several languages. She is a life-long Midwesterner, and currently lives in Des Moines.
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