Forever together

It took him nearly four years of hard work in the mines of Titan. He lived underground, surviving on heavily concentrated energy boosters and recycled urine juice.

He has sweated blood and shed tears. Sometimes even fought for his life.

And now, Jason placed all of that effort in front of him on the counter of the small pawn shop for this tiny, silver ring. A small, overpriced piece of junk, which will hopefully guarantee the never-ending loyalty of his chosen one.

“Do you know, what are you doing, boy?” asked the old crane, the owner of the shop. Jason felt like he was under a microscope, being studied like some new species of space bug.

Jason looked straight back at him with a feverish gaze. His heart raced at the speed of light. It was really a hell-a-lot of money. But he was so sure that she is THE one. And if he fails to get her, life will lose its meaning. He imagined the prospects of being run over by a train, his entrails sprung across the entire district of the New Terra.

“She is the one. I know it. I want it.”

“Sure then. Just keep in mind, we don’t do refunds around here.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

The pawnbroker swept the money off the table and hastily tucked it into a small safe that was hidden below the counter.

“You know, you could have gotten a small ubiflat for this. Nothing special, just one multifunctional room, but it would be your own and -”

“I want that ring!”

“Alright, alright. Here it is. I hope it serves you well. I will just repeat, it’s only a beta version. It has some bugs.”

Jason quickly snatched the small brown box and without looking back, he disappeared into the rainy night.

Lightheaded with an erratically pulsing heart, he navigated the dirty streets of the city, oblivious to the world around him. Just like a delirious ghost. He passed the Asian grocery markets, sex shops and fast foods without even battering an eye to them. Neither the cold rain on his cheeks, nor the grandiose glow of the city’s towering skyscrapers partially sunken inside the thick, dark clouds, could draw his attention away from his thoughts.

***

Linda worked on night shifts for a small fast-food chain in the slums. Jason was nearby, having waited late into the night so that he would have a chance to talk to her alone.

He peaked through the dirty front window, and he saw her. She was still there after all those years! He took it as a sign that she was still in love with him.

She didn’t move because she wanted him to find her there.

Just by looking at her, his heart began to race. Her fiery red hair, tied into a ponytail. She was slender, although, her butt seemed to grow a little bit, but he wouldn’t mind. He liked it. He even loved the freckles on her nose and those striking green eyes.

Linda was serving two youngsters in the back corner. Suddenly, one of them gently patted her on her ass. Jason’s eyes went wide, he had forgotten his plan and he jumped in front of the shop window.

The sudden movement had caught the attention of Linda. Their eyes met. Jason looked down and then quickly walked in.

“Jason! What the hell are you doing here?”

That didn’t go according to the plan. Why is she giving me the cold shoulder like that?

He felt the blood rushing up to his face. He suddenly had nothing to say. That’s the one thing that she was always good at – to completely throw him off.

“Uh, Linda? I need to talk!”

“Why would I want to talk with you?”

“What?”

“Oh my god, you are still the same idiot. Get in the back! I will meet you there in a second.”

Jason went into the backroom, which was chirping with slot machines and consoles with virtual reality games. He slumped into comfortable couch, where they had made love in the past, and waited.

Linda was finally done with the customers, and she followed Jason into the room.

“Who was it?”

“Who was whom?”

“That guy in the corner.”

“That’s a customer.”

“Ah.”

“What are you doing here?”

Yeah, of course, why would he come back? What the hell is he doing here? He was gone for four long years, yet he still loves her, and so he returned. Simple as that. She still loves him too, right?

“I didn’t expect such a welcome.”

“Are you kidding me? You show up after all those years and you expect me to do what, exactly?”

“Why not ask me how am I? What did I do? Where -”

“And why don’t you ask me first then?”

“Uhm. How have you been?”

“How have I been? How the hell have I been? I have been shit! That’s right. You ran away and left me all alone in this shithole. For four long years! You didn’t even leave a message. You left me with a child on my neck!”

“I couldn’t have done otherwise.”

“How so?”

“I had to! Don’t you get it? After what you’ve done?”

“You told me that you would let it go.”

“I’ve said that, but I couldn’t let it go.”

“So you left.”

“So I did.”

“So what is there to misunderstand?”

Silence.

“What’s with the child?”

“The moment I realised that you left, it was impossible to give birth and take care of it.”

“So?”

“So I was forced to get an abortion.”

“Abortion?!”

“Yes! Since you’re so selfish, running away and leaving me alone. Why is it so strange?”

“But to kill …”

“And what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t afford the fee.”

“You can take finance!”

“I couldn’t afford finance.”

Another silence.

Doubts began to creep into Jason’s mind. Shouldn’t he back off? Or should he try it anyway? Even after all those unhealed wounds, could he still love her? Does he want to be with her for the rest of his life?

“Linda, I got something for you.”

“Keep it. I don’t want anything from you.”

He didn’t expect that. She always wanted something, and she never had enough. Why doesn’t she even want to see it? Only one answer came to mind.

“You already have someone, right?”

“What has that to do with anything?”

Typical woman. She answered the question with another question.

“Answer me! Is it that guy?”

“What guy?”

Jason cocked his head to the back corner. Linda rolls her eyes.

“Maybe? And what if it is?”

“Linda!”

“So what? You were gone for years. Were you seriously thinking that I would be patiently waiting somewhere in a dark corner and waiting for your sorry ass to show up?”

“I … well, maybe you were entitled to?”

“Entitled? What the fuck? Of course I am!”

Jason suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“Aren’t you at least curious?”

“Curious about what?”

“What I have for you.”

“Not really.”

“But I want to show it to you anyways.”

She starred him down with cold indifference.

Jason sighed and pulled out the small brown box.

“Jason, you can’t be serious.”

Should he just open it? Show her the ring, and casually say something like I bought you this, I wanted to surprise you and ask you to marry me, but if you can’t give a shit, I will throw it away.

No.

He had planned everything through based on the flawed assumption that the moment he entered the shop, she would have jumped into his arms and kissed him passionately.

He fought with himself. Should he bet everything just on this one card? Should he drop down on his knee and asks her to marry him despite all that had happened in the last few minutes? Despite what had happened four years ago?

Yes.

He had to at least try.

Jason dropped down on his knee.

“Linda, will you marry me?”

Linda was finally left with no words. She couldn’t believe what was happening.

At least just for a few seconds.

Then she burst out into a loud, mocking laugh.

Jason almost cried.

“Jason, you are such an imbecile. Jesus, how could I ever date such an idiot? You are so pathetic. Pathetic! Do you have no spine left at all? No pride? Despite everything, that I’ve just said and done to you, you would still drop down on your knee in front of me, and you … you … fuck off!”

But Jason wouldn’t fuck off.

“I will forgive you for everything, if you forgive me.”

“That child wasn’t even yours!”

A terrifying silence ensued.

“What!? But you … you said that … you even lied about that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why is that important?”

“Stop answering me with questions!”

Linda held her head in her hand, and turned around.

“You left even before I had the chance to leave you myself, if you really want to know. Did you have enough? Is that enough for you to stick that fucking ring into your ass and piss off?”

“So you slept with him behind my back. Then you got pregnant. You told me, that you were breaking up with me and left for him.”

“Yes.”

“But he kicked you out.”

Linda was silent. A little tear came out of the corner of her eye.

“Then you returned to me and told me, that you were pregnant. And it was my child.”

Linda burst into tears.

“And when I left … “

“Shut up. Just shut up. I just had enough of you. Piss off!”

“Don’t you at least think, that I have the right to know?”

“Get out!”

“Why are you like that? Do I look like I am blaming you for anything?”

“Just get out and let me rot in here.”

“Jesus, then at least try the ring! You have no idea how much work it took to get it!”

He had hoped that it wouldn’t be necessary. But the only alternative was to lay on the train tracks.

“I have been saving up for it for four years while thinking of you. Your image in my head was the only thing, that kept me alive. Can you at least try it?”

“And why should I try it?”

“Have you ever had any engagement ring?”

“No. So what?”

“Don’t you at least want to see if it fits?”

“Not really. What will I get from it?”

“Just for my own satisfaction. I deserve that. You have no idea of the things I’ve been through in the mines.”

Linda stopped sobbing and simply stared at Jason with utter disbelief. She shook her head and then sighed.

“Please.”

“Alright.”

Linda took the box. She opened it and her brows furrowed.

“You have worked four years for THAT? In the mines?”

“Do you like it?”

“Are you kidding me? Where did you put your brain? I can’t even see the diamond. You could get thousands of those in any pawn shop on the planet.”

“I even got a little inscription done in there. J&L, forever. Can you see it?”

“Jesus, Jason. You got tricked! This is junk.”

“Just try it, please.”

“Won’t I get a rash? You never know what kind of chemicals those Chinese guys put in there.”

“Just put it on, for god’s sake!”

She sighed again.

She took the ring out of the box and slowly put it on her finger.

“Satisfied?”

Jason looked at her with excitement. After all those years, he can finally make her his own.

“Can I finally put it down?”

Jason said nothing. He just smiled, then he took out a small black box. There was a tiny, red button on it. He pushed that button.

From the inner side of the ring, a bunch of small nano-sized needles came out and penetrated Linda’s finger on numerous spots. Linda screamed in pain, she grabbed the ring and tried to remove it from her finger.

But before she managed to get the ring off fully, a swarm of pre-programmed nano-particles had been released into her bloodstream. They quickly found their way into the neural network of her brain, deleted faulty connections and created brand new neural synapses.

Linda stood fully erected, her face expressionless. Her eyes blinked fanatically.

Then she looked at Jason with brand new interest.

“Jason, my sweetheart! I love you!”

“Oh, Linda. I love you too. Forever together?”

“Forever together!”

***

Two years later.

Jason walked the dirty pavement as thick rain bombarded his head and shoulders. He ignored thousands of people around, shining neon signs and animated ads illuminating the surrounding darkness. He only perceived the road in front of him and blunt, vague pain in his head.

He turned around and quickly scanned the crowd behind him.

She was there, trying to hide, but her shiny, fiery mane couldn’t be overlooked. She wouldn’t let him off her sight. She knew he was upset, but she couldn’t control the urge, which had been implanted into her by the ring and altered her perception, desires, hormones and priorities.

Jason ground his teeth. He haven’t foreseen this version of Forever together.

First few months of their engagement and marriage was fairytale like. They made love, they confessed their love to each other, everything as imagined by Jason in his dreams while he was labouring in deep mines of Titan.

But Jason had another needs aswell. Needs like shopping, eat, drink, sleep, socialise, play games, work.

Those were activities of any other human being. Or at lest any other human being which was not affected by the nanoring.

Linda loved him purely and admired him selflessly. She was praising him without any criticism for anything, that he has done. Anything, being it burnt dinner, raised toilet seat, dirty socks on the ground. She would never complain. He never ever even noticed, that she was about to complain.

Perfect woman. Or not?

She would accompany him constantly, anytime, anywhere. Into shops, into pubs. Her sight would never leave his face. She got fired from her job. She couldn’t find new one. When he commanded her to stay at home, she disguised and followed him in the shadows. But she would always pop out soon, because she couldn’t leave him off his sight for a second. Her only desire was to be with him, at his side, under all the circumstances. His own desire to be sometimes on his own was incomprehensible for her.

He got angry at her. He yelled. But whatever he said, she would automatically take as a compliment. They couldn’t have any conversation about anything else then his deeds, successes or his positive traits.

It took six months since he became annoyed. It took one year, and he wanted to break up.

After one year and half, he ran away again, but she hacked his bank account, his social profiles and he even found out that she put tracking bugs into his clothes, so she could monitor his whereabouts. Once he even woke up in the middle of the night, when she was trying to insert one under his skin in his thigh, but her lack of dexterity resulted in painful sting that alarmed him of whats happening. She said it was for his own good, so he will never get lost by a mistake. He knew there was no ill intention in that. He was just so perfect, that even if he would cheat on her, she would acknowledged it as a learning lesson he took to improve their sexlife.

On top of that, a crushing feel of guilt start creeping to his mind for what he did to her. He selfishly enslaved her mind for his own greed. He deleted her personality. As a matter of fact, he killed her. He was a murderer. He deserved punishment.

He was left only with three options. Either he kills her, he kills both of them, or he will just kill himself.

So, on one rainy night, he walked up the stairs of deserted train terminal. Wind was chasing the trash and rats were squeaking in the dark corners.

He stood at the edge of the terminal and paid the last look to the shiny city.

He heard the steps. He didn’t even need to turn around. He knew she was coming.

He just waited. He was curious for how long she can patiently wai-

“Sweetheart? Where are you going this late?”

“Why did you come? I have told you to wait at home.”

“I know sweetheart, but I was afraid.”

“Nothing will happen to me.”

“I know, you are so strong, you can take care of yourself.”

“So why did you go?”

She stood erected, mild shakes ran through her entire body, almost like she got electrocuted. Neurons in her head clashed together in vain attempt to solve unsolvable question. Then she blinked.

Sometimes, he thought, he could notice that somewhere deep within her mind, there is still an old residue of her former temperament. A little island of freedom that tries to send a little ironic note to the surface, but concrete wall of artificial nano-bridges absorbs the information and transfers it into its new shape, which will eventually come out reversed, altered.

“Sweetheart, are you cold? I thought you might be cold, I brought you your jacket, you left it at home.”

“Are you trying to say, that I am forgetful? That I have some imperfection?”

“No, not at all, but you know, this weather changes so quickly, you couldn’t even possibly know, what will happen when you leave for such a long walk.”

“The rain never stops, weather never changes in this city. Or are you telling me that I don’t know how to read weather forecast?”

“You can read anything, honey!”

“Or are you trying to suggest, that I am not strong enough to carry a jacket on my own?”

“You are so strong and I love you so much!” she said and then she gave him the shiniest smile. She was hanging on his lips. She was waiting for any reason to praise, encourage, a love confession.

There was nothing, what he could have do or say, that would have shaken her inner world filled up with Jason.

Ground has shaken. A cold wind blew from the north side of the tracks.

He finally turned around and faced her. “I am so sorry,” he said.

“What are you apologising for, dear?”

“For what I did. Whatever you have done, you have never deserved this.”

“I have no idea what are you talking about, dear. Are we going home soon?”

“Yes, we are.” He turned slowly back and took one last look onto the glowing city. Even with all that dirt, pollution and overpopulation, it appeared beautiful to him.

At first, he didn’t want to live for what she did to him. Death in the mines was a welcomed alternative. Then he had learnt about the miraculous ring and his life gained new meaning.

Now he didn’t want to live with what he did to her and there was no way out. They were not accepting refunds.

Linda stood behind him, shining smile on her lips, dedicated wholeheartedly only to him. She had no idea what is coming.

The train was approaching the station. Jason closed his eyes and leaned forward.

***

Breaks squealed and train slowly stopped. But it was too late. Linda stood rigidly next to the ad stand, her eyes were fixed to the spot, where Jason stood just few seconds ago.

Information regarding Jason’s death were colliding with the layer of artificial neurons inside her brain and refused to accept the fact, that such a perfect being like Jason could’ve died. Jason was immortal, a god!

Her brain calculated invalid command and restarted. Every muscle in her body twitched, her eyes turned white. Bladder let go and wet warmth surrendered her crotch. She dropped down in a second.

***

Linda woke up in a hospital. She was laying on the bed, attached to numerous devices which have momentarily took over critical functions of her body, as she was incapable to control them herself. The cheap looking ring was still attached on her finger.

As she had opened her eyes, she saw a young male nurse bent over her and changing her urine bag.

“Eh?”” escaped from her dried off lips, then she blinked her eyes and looked at the nurse again with a fixed stare.

“Ou shit, doctor won’t believe it! Hold on for a moment, I am gonna bring him over!” said the man and he left.

Even those few seconds were enough for Linda’s brain to collect useful amount of information and inactive nanoparticles have awoken again. After another picosecond passed, brand new structures has been created and Linda felt renewed warmth throughout her whole body.

Linda hopelessly fell in desperate love again.