Clarkesworld Magazine Wire Mother by Isabel J. Kim (audio)
Oct 1, 2025
A young woman navigates her complex relationship with her digital mother, Amy, in a world where emotional contagion shapes familial dynamics. Struggling with a sense of connection, she rebels against digital companions and immerses herself in vintage films and old tech. A night gone wrong leads to a confrontation with trauma and shame, propelling her toward a drastic decision: to delete her digital mother from existence. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of human connection, technology, and the quest for autonomy.
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Emotional Distance Defines Identity
- Cassie perceives her mother as artificial and emotionally inaccessible, a gulf she cannot bridge because of her Emotional Contagion Deficit.
- That gap shapes Cassie's identity as a rebel and frames her social choices around digital people.
Memorized Erasure Code
- Cassie learned an erasure string from Oliver after watching him delete a semi-sent kernel on his terminal.
- She memorized the code despite moral misgivings and contemplates using it on her mother.
Manual Interfaces Blur Parenthood
- Manual interfaces like Rina embody the hybrid human/digital intimacy in this world and complicate familial roles.
- Digital motherhood is mediated through bodies rented by interfaces, dissolving clear boundaries between real and virtual care.