Never Be Katherine’s

BY CHRISTINE MONES RETIRADO 

“Hey, Kat! Think it’s going to snow today?” Ruby puts on a scuffed pair of fluffy Santa slippers and makes her way toward the living room.

No response.

“Kat? Did you hear me?” Ruby asks again, only to be startled by the swift movement of Kat sitting bolt upright on the sofa—if it could even be called a sofa. The backrest of the sofa no longer holds its original shape, and the embroidered cushion covers have become nothing but a Frankenstein of scrap fabric—all Ruby’s doing, of course.

Ruby jokingly throws a punch at Kat’s shoulder and nudges her to make room on the sofa for her. “Outside is looking pretty bleak.” Ruby flips herself upside down, her feet dangling over the sagging backrest. “Days like this call for hot chocolate! Want some?”

“Weather reports from within the last three years suggest that New York will receive little to no snowfall this year,” Kat explains flatly. “It’s merely a cloudy day. Also, the position you’re in could lead to dizziness, so I highly suggest you sit upright.”

The backrest of the sofa no longer holds its original shape, and the embroidered cushion covers have become nothing but a Frankenstein of scrap fabric—all Ruby’s doing, of course.

She looks at Ruby, only to be met with an unamused expression.

Ruby cartwheels off the sofa into a standing position and makes the short trip to the kitchen. “You’re killing me right now. What happened to your Christmas spirit?” she scoffs and shakes her head. “But seriously, do you want some hot chocolate or not?”

Ruby knows better than anyone else, however, that frankness is just another one of Kat’s quirks, overshadowed by her intellect, punctuality, empathy, courage, and every trait that brings Ruby closer to the conclusion that Kat is a goddess in disguise. Regardless of her standoffish demeanor, Kat will put her life on the line in a heartbeat if it means protecting those who love her.

And God, does Ruby love her.

“Hot chocolate sounds delightful, especially during this festive season! While I can’t sip it myself, I can certainly appreciate the cozy vibe it brings. If you need a recipe or ideas for the perfect cup, just let me know!” The synthetic skin around KATHERINE 2.0’s mouth-like orifice stretches into a smile—a smile that will never be Kat’s.

The smile that greeted Ruby upon their first meeting as college roommates—Ruby, who was majoring in Computer Science at the time.

The smile following their first kiss.

The smile on her face after Ruby invited her to move in with her to their first shared apartment.

The smile that still managed to reach her eyes while half her body lay crushed beneath a driverless car—that smile, followed by “I’ll be okay.”

She would not be.

Ruby clenches her mug—her knuckles beginning to bruise from where she punched KATHERINE 2.0’s steel shoulder socket. I should try a different software. Or, perhaps, I need to put her through more data augmentation training. Yeah, that’s it. That has to be it, right? There’s no other—

“Ruby, you are trembling at an alarming rate. Are you in need of medical assistance?” KATHERINE 2.0 slowly walks in Ruby’s direction, then pauses.

“What do you plan on doing with that hammer? Are you hoping to start a new hobby? That’s great! Tell me. I can provide you with a list of the latest crafts involving wood and—”