VISITING HOURS By: Laura Eno
Sunday, July 5th, 2009“Visiting hours are now over. Please exit through the door to your right. Thank you for your patronage. Please visit us again soon.”
The impersonal message played through the overhead speaker in a monotonous loop, herding the loved ones out into the parking lot. Sandra tried to remain behind for one last look at her husband but the guard trundled forward, eyes fixed on her. She sighed and walked out, determined to come back again tomorrow.
That is, if she could scrape up the entrance fee. Her credits were running low and she’d borrowed from everyone she knew already. It was worth it though, to come up here each night and spend a few moments with Mike.
The company took advantage of people like her. How many times had she heard that already? But they were the only ones capable of making that connection; the only ones she could apply to in order to see Mike again. Sandra guessed that also gave them the right to charge whatever they wanted for their service.
Her family implored her to move on with her life and forget about Mike, but she loved him too much. Tonight when he spoke of his love for her, Sandra could feel his caress, pretend for a moment that he held her in his arms. It was worth every credit and more.
She decided to go downtown, desperate for the chance to earn enough for tomorrow’s entrance fee. A few minutes of standing on a street corner brought the promise of credits, but yielded unintended results.
As Sandra lay dying in the alleyway, she watched the robot trundle across the display on the Ghost Summons, Inc building; its advertising wall shining like a beacon across the sky. ‘Let us put you in touch with your departed loved ones’ the wall blazed in giant letters.
Sandra smiled. She wouldn’t need those credits after all. “No more visits. I’m coming to join you, Mike…permanently.”
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©2009 Laura Eno
Laura Eno (http://www.lauraeno.com) lives in Florida, writing novels and short stories while guided by her strange and wonderous muse.
