Sheila

This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers.

John, a widower and retired judge, has had a hard time letting go of the things that remind him of his beloved deceased wife, Millie: most of all their cherished robotic (but stunningly lifelike) spaniel, Sheila, who has been his stalwart companion for twenty-five years.

When a new law is passed that criminalizes ownership of robotic dogs, John is faced with a heartbreaking choice. As his final day with Sheila unfolds, John will clash with those closest to him and reminisce about how much Sheila has meant to him and his family. Humor and humanity blend seamlessly with science fiction as the story comes to a piercing, poignant conclusion.

Sheila by Rebecca Adams Wright is a mesmerizing take on love and attachment in their myriad, complex forms.