What makes this piece remarkable is how it turns a machine’s cold logs into a full account of a human life. Each entry feels like both witness and confession: sometimes detached, sometimes tender, always exact. That distance ends up carrying more truth than sentiment would - the gaps, the glitches, the partial recoveries are what make the relationship feel real.
By the time Theo’s memory fades, and the companion becomes the keeper of his story, it’s no longer about AI at all - I feel it’s about what survives us when we can’t hold ourselves together. The line between archive and love collapses, and we’re left asking whether friendship is defined by choice, or simply by staying. Absolutely loved this
it reminds me of something that could happen! Like if we imagine where we are right now - almost just reduced to 6 second videos, emojis, and images that grab us - then memoirs could become THIS beautifully simple one day
this was absolutely wonderful, im really glad you just restacked it and it came across my feed. this touched a lot of emotions. ngl, i got a little teary eyed. very well written.
The imagery is good, but the greatest strength is how you explore Shakespeare's stages of life in the future in a distinct style which couples Burroughs, Gingsberg, Asimov, and Bradbury.
Your story moved me, but the best I can do to explain it is the film flam below.
The humanity of the machine even though it may have been be an old model that had been mocked for it. Maybe that's why it was humane? And it remembered the important things that Theo needed to hear to reinforce, renew his humanity valued according to his situation. But the machine was always there for him when he inevitably returned. True friendship. Steady loyalty. What more could a boy want?
This is a very moving piece. I'm at a point in my life that I've logged far more yesterdays than there will be tomorrows. Machine Poet, you nailed this with great insight into humanity and all the changes that happen from childhood to old age. Well done!
There are so many themes here that feel ripe for deeper exploration. The image of children being trailed by “companion” devices hits uncomfortably close to where our world is heading - parents growing ever more paranoid about safety, yet increasingly absent from their children’s actual lives. Theo confiding in a machine as a child, and returning to it at different moments throughout his life, was quietly devastating. Then there’s the idea of a device that stores your memories for you, and the recurring motif of water supplies drying up - an existential threat that hangs over everything.
I also appreciated that Companion ultimately becomes a positive presence (at least for now). Stories about AI so often veer into horror or dystopia - which I enjoy too - but your choice felt refreshing and tender. The line “to have and to hold for life” lingered with me; it belongs in Theo’s wedding vows, but to me it more accurately captures the bond he forms with his Companion.
What makes this piece remarkable is how it turns a machine’s cold logs into a full account of a human life. Each entry feels like both witness and confession: sometimes detached, sometimes tender, always exact. That distance ends up carrying more truth than sentiment would - the gaps, the glitches, the partial recoveries are what make the relationship feel real.
By the time Theo’s memory fades, and the companion becomes the keeper of his story, it’s no longer about AI at all - I feel it’s about what survives us when we can’t hold ourselves together. The line between archive and love collapses, and we’re left asking whether friendship is defined by choice, or simply by staying. Absolutely loved this
This is wonderfully succinct. How you told an entire life in so few words is beyond me. Brilliant work
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking
ENCAPSULATED
it reminds me of something that could happen! Like if we imagine where we are right now - almost just reduced to 6 second videos, emojis, and images that grab us - then memoirs could become THIS beautifully simple one day
And the encapsulation IS
COMPANION
Right?!
I think you are my new second favorite writer on Substack. Good luck catching up to me Machine Poet. AH-AH-AH!
Hah!
I consider it a complement to be in the race.
this was absolutely wonderful, im really glad you just restacked it and it came across my feed. this touched a lot of emotions. ngl, i got a little teary eyed. very well written.
There’s so much depth to this. Enough to make me cry at the end—these lines hit me right in the ticker:
“Rain birth. Dinosaur dreams.
Candy aisle dancing.
Anna’s kiss. Lila’s laugh.
Pipe repairs: effort, no success.
Then: so much success.”
A lifetime condensed into a few sparse sentences. Quietly devastating.
Your writing is making me not only feel, but think…but mainly feel. Deeply.
Well done. Now part 2
This is absolutely fabulous.... Deeply touching.
Lovely, maybe I'm very sentimental today, I almost cry, beautiful story, very human.
01010100 01101000 01100001 01101110 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01110110 01100101 01110010 01111001 00100000 01101101 01110101 01100011 01101000 00101100 00100000 01101101 01111001 00100000 01100110 01110010 01101001 01100101 01101110 01100100
Wonderfully done. Another great one! I'd say that truly, only a machine poet could bring this story to life.
Thanks so much, brother.
Would it be wrong too agree? :)
Definitely not. I would think one would be prone to agree.
The imagery is good, but the greatest strength is how you explore Shakespeare's stages of life in the future in a distinct style which couples Burroughs, Gingsberg, Asimov, and Bradbury.
Thanks so much, Ron.
Helluva foursome you named.
I hope you'll continue with the trilogy whenever you have time.
Appreciate it.
You are welcome. I have been very busy for many reasons but hope to read the rest soon.
Your story moved me, but the best I can do to explain it is the film flam below.
The humanity of the machine even though it may have been be an old model that had been mocked for it. Maybe that's why it was humane? And it remembered the important things that Theo needed to hear to reinforce, renew his humanity valued according to his situation. But the machine was always there for him when he inevitably returned. True friendship. Steady loyalty. What more could a boy want?
💯
Fantastic!
Thank you so very much, Kelly.
You’re welcome. The comment is well deserved.
This is a very moving piece. I'm at a point in my life that I've logged far more yesterdays than there will be tomorrows. Machine Poet, you nailed this with great insight into humanity and all the changes that happen from childhood to old age. Well done!
There are so many themes here that feel ripe for deeper exploration. The image of children being trailed by “companion” devices hits uncomfortably close to where our world is heading - parents growing ever more paranoid about safety, yet increasingly absent from their children’s actual lives. Theo confiding in a machine as a child, and returning to it at different moments throughout his life, was quietly devastating. Then there’s the idea of a device that stores your memories for you, and the recurring motif of water supplies drying up - an existential threat that hangs over everything.
I also appreciated that Companion ultimately becomes a positive presence (at least for now). Stories about AI so often veer into horror or dystopia - which I enjoy too - but your choice felt refreshing and tender. The line “to have and to hold for life” lingered with me; it belongs in Theo’s wedding vows, but to me it more accurately captures the bond he forms with his Companion.
I really admire how you condense a man's life into such a delicate & short piece. Enjoy reading this one!! Thanks for sharing. ✨
Now that is a lovely connection story between machine and human.
My heart aches.