"Bits of Truth" short story
Origin story: This story was originally going to be called "Overheard in a Donut Shop". It was about something completely different. After playing late night hockey games, I would go to the local donut shop to refuel on the 30 minute drive home. A couple donuts, a couple milks, and I was on my way. I noticed that the same guys were often there - the "regulars". They were always talking about something interesting, and in no hurry. I started to wonder why they were there, so late at night. I realized it was the only place people could go, 24 hours a day, to not be alone, to just sit and talk. I wanted to know more about these people. Did they live alone? What was their story? How did they come to know the other regulars?
I wanted to write a story about them, but I didn't.
Years later, I read some things about the way that memory always changes, but that we don't realize it. I had a couple instances when I saw people swear one thing about a time in their lives, and then they looked it up and realized they were wrong. The look on their faces as they tried to reconcile the truth with their memory was always very interesting to see. I suddenly wanted to write a story about that. As I was putting it together, I needed a place to it all to happen, and the donut shop idea came back for a cameo.
I wanted to write a story about them, but I didn't.
Years later, I read some things about the way that memory always changes, but that we don't realize it. I had a couple instances when I saw people swear one thing about a time in their lives, and then they looked it up and realized they were wrong. The look on their faces as they tried to reconcile the truth with their memory was always very interesting to see. I suddenly wanted to write a story about that. As I was putting it together, I needed a place to it all to happen, and the donut shop idea came back for a cameo.
This is a science fiction short story I wrote about an artificial intelligence that is trying to be more human, and what it discovers about the nature of memory and truth.
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