Sparks fly.

The memory machine hums. He watches the code finish compiling. Breath shallow. Ready…Set…

One button. One push. That’s it. 

He’s built it. 

She’ll be gone. The grief. The deception. The lonely nights. The wondering.

He presses.

A pause. Nothing. Quiet.

Then…

“Why did I build this?” he whispers.

No answer comes.

He stands, blinking, vaguely proud. Clearly confused.

Another project completed, he guessed.

He walks past the picture on the wall.

A couple. Smiling. Her eyes. His arms around her.

Doesn’t see it.

Doesn’t feel the ache.

Just wonders why he suddenly hates the sound of rain.