gliTch in tHe mAtRix

It started with the commas, so we did not notice at first.

After getting out of bed I showered and dressed and made my way to the kitchen. I switched on the radio turning it down so as not to wake Tony and smiled to the sound of The Wonderstuff’s “Don’t Let Me Down Gently.”

Quietly singing along I began making breakfast. Grilled bacon toast tomatoes poached eggs and of course a large pot of tea. The aroma of bacon filled the flat and I knew Tony would soon come swanning in his mouth watering.

I was not wrong. He wrapped his big arms around me and nuzzled my neck.

“Good morning sexy” he said.

There was something wrong with the way he spoke. I couldn’t say what it was but I could see in Tony’s face he’d heard it too. It wasn’t that his voice was croaky nor that his words were harsh – there was just something off about his speech.

He cleared his throat and tried again.

“Good morning sexy.”

“That’s better” I said but my smile faded as soon as I realised the words I’d spoken were not quite right.

On the radio the DJ introduced the next track: “Everything I Do I Do It For You.”

I knew the song well – didn’t we all know the song? – but there was something odd about the way the DJ had announced it.

“What’s happening Tony?” I asked my voice normal again.

“I don’t know” he answered wincing at the strangeness of his reply.

Hoping that food would put things right I pulled the tray from under the grill and placed three bacon rashers on Tonys plate. That felt weird. Scooping some tomatoes on the plate was fine as was adding two eggs. But when I poured tea into Tonys favourite mug I again felt odd.

“I dont like this Tony” I said. “What is wrong?”

Tony shrugged. “I dont know. Its like er like somethings disappearing but I dont know what.”

That was the best way to describe it. Something or some things were vanishing from our lives. The troubling thing was we could not identify what was gone we could only feel their absence.

What should we do? I asked. At least I tried to. My lips moved and I felt the air exhale from my mouth but I made no sound.

Tony mouthed something to me. I saw fear in Tonys eyes as his voice refused to come out.

Make it stop Tony I demanded silently.

The pain was clear on Tonys face He pulled me to him and held me close Whatever was happening to us was beyond words

Why? I cried Why is this happening

My heart froze as I realised I could no longer ask a question And I realised what was disappearing

It started with the commas But where would it end I thought Would we soon lose letters

as well as punctuation

THE ND