Bleeding Hearts by Kate Twitchin, oak-aged Chardonnay

Being the eldest, Ben’s suffered the longest, so he usually comes up with the best lines.

Ellie, our little sister, struggles a bit. Ben and I have always tried to shield her; she hasn’t been quite so deeply wounded.

“Who’s turn is it?” I ask, as I refill our glasses.

“I don’t know, I mean, shouldn’t we be coming up with more, you know, appropriate, conventional stuff?” Ellie asks.

“Boring,” Ben groans.

“I mean, she might not survive the surgery, so then we’ll need to…” Ellie continues.

“She’ll survive, just like she did the heart attacks, out of spite. Besides, Dr Choudhury is a brilliant cardiologist,” I remind her.

“He is, but 3D-printed hearts are relatively new and Mother is 87; who can say how her miserable old body will react to a change of heart.” Ben snorts at his unintended pun.

We’re playing our game, the one that we kid ourselves keeps us sane. We’re writing brutally honest eulogies for our brutal mother’s funeral.

“I went to see him today…”

Silence. Two pairs of eyes searching mine.

“He’s developed an upgrade. The basic model…”

“Hardly basic,” Ellie mutters.

“Agreed. The technology is mind-blowing. Anyway, the basic model beats and pumps just like the real thing…”

“And?” Ben prompts.

“The new model is programmed to be compassionate, empathetic and loving, and…drum-roll…is devoid of narcissism!”

“Way to go, Doc!” Ben raises his glass.

“Will it work?” Ellie asks.

“Dr. Choudhury is confident. Imagine it, a lovely new mum, a real mum, and, when the time does finally come, writing a beautiful eulogy for her will be a bitter-sweet privilege.”

“Will she remember being a narcissist?” Ellie asks.

“I hope not, think how guilty she’d feel,” I say.

“My heart bleeds,” Ben says, and pushes his empty glass towards me.

About the author

Retired Administrator Kate is enjoying sitting around and making things up. She’s had short stories, Flash Fictions and poems published in print and online, and has been placed in a variety of competitions. She thinks she’d like to write a novel but can’t seem to stop writing shorts. 

 

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