* * *
Building child sized coffins is one of the hardest parts of my job.

Less difficult is selecting the children to fill them.

* * *
Every night, I see a terrifying figure standing at the bottom of my staircase, and I race to my bed before she can get me.

I know someday I’ll be too old and slow to beat her.

* * *
I was on the cusp of greatness, as the first person ever to be fitted with a telepathic communication chip.

The words “we’ve been waiting” breached the walls of my mind, as soon as the chip was in place.

* * *
I was so exhilarated after my first lesson ended, that as soon as we were parked, I opened the door and literally jumped with joy.

“No, you fool!” screamed the instructor, but I couldn’t hear him over the sound of the rotors.

* * *
A hard callous began to cover my feet, then it spread to my legs and my body.

I wasn’t afraid, for my organs would melt inside, and I would be born anew, better.