Happy New Year! Wishing you all the very best in your writing journey (and everything else) in 2025. This short story the first thing I’ve written since I adopted my 2025 goal of writing at least 30 minutes a day … though technically I wrote this at the end of 2024, so does it count!? Anyway, hope you enjoy it – and of course, any comments / feedback very welcome …

Thank you for shopping at Harrisons. Do you require any Other Services today?

The cheerfully generic voice from the self-checkout usually washed over her. But: Other Services? Her eyes were drawn to the nearest window. Late afternoon, one of those dank ash-grey winter days when it never got properly light. Already, blackness pressed on the cold glass. Did she really want to go out again into the dark drizzle? Dark drizzle, every day. Every day the same.

Often Simon would be waiting, hunched over tepid coffee in the supermarket cafe, ready to take her home. But today he had a hospital appointment. I won’t be too long Mum, he’d said, I can pick you up after if you wait a bit. No, I’ll get the bus, she’d said. She knew how long you could be stuck at that hospital. Even for a routine appointment like today’s, when they’d probably just give him more pills. More pills. Anyway (and she didn’t tell him this, of course), she wasn’t a burden, she was still independent. Up to a point anyway. She wasn’t daft. Not quite yet. He could think what he liked.

Other Services. She pressed the touch screen. Often the touch screen didn’t like being touched and she had to stab wearily at it two or three times, but today it seemed almost eager. This time a new display flashed up right away. Thank you for choosing Other Services today. Why not check out our Life Choices Special Offer?

What on earth did that mean? She hated gobbledegook. Just tell it how it is. But she’d heard that phrase somewhere before – Life Choices. It’s what Jo would probably call a euphemism. Jo. Little Luke, and another on the way. She’d been genuinely happy for her daughter when she’d met someone, and tried not to be too unhappy that he was Australian. Well, that was the Internet for you. That was technology for you. And now – so far away. So far away. 

She shook her head. Don’t dwell on it. It can’t be helped, that’s life. Isn’t it? How could she blame Jo for wanting a fresh start? Especially after her dad died. She’d always been so close to her dad. 

Andy. Seven years. How can it have been that long? He’d have been right behind her now, tutting. Come on, Em, he’d say, we haven’t got all day. Stop faffing about. She smiled to herself. What an old git he was. But no-one held her hand anymore.

She glanced behind her. No queue at the self-checkouts today, fortunately. No-one shuffling their feet, pretending to be engrossed with their phone, waiting for her to move on; not Andy, not anyone.

Oh, her brain was so foggy these days. Kept wandering. You’ve still got Simon, even if he does have problems of his own. Be fair, he’s a good lad, deep down, but it’s been a hard few years. Losing his job like that. The depression. Always something wrong with the car. You might have to go into a home soon, Mum. Funny how in that context, home really means anything but. He never mentioned the cost, bless him, but they both knew. If only Andy hadn’t remortgaged the house that time. If only his business hadn’t failed. If only … but this was stupid. What’s done is done, no sense moping about it.

Life Choices Special Offer. FREE when you spend over £50! In a single transaction, not including fuel. Well. That was a good offer, really, she had to admit. Today she’d spent £51.07. That was lucky. Was that a sign?

She blinked. Had she meant to press the button? But she must have, because the screen now displayed a gaudy orange sunset, and the equally orange light above was flashing. You didn’t see the flashing light at self-checkouts much anymore, not since the technology improved (Unexpected Item in Bagging Area – how long had it been since she’d heard that?); and AI facial recognition could normally now tell whether you were old enough to buy alcohol (certainly in her case!). But it was flashing now. Please Wait, Assistance Is On Its Way.

Can I help you, madam? A young woman. Natalie, Pharmacy Assistant. Did you want our Life Choices Special Offer? Good choice, madam. It’s very popular these days.

She let herself be guided towards the in-store pharmacy. Natalie was younger than Jo, she thought. Jo. What would she think? Jo and her church in Australia. Last Christmas, sunny Sydney, laughing Jo, little Luke. No dark drizzle there. It was glorious, but it had almost cleared out her savings. She knew she wouldn’t be able to afford it again. We’ll pay, Mum, Jo said. But their rent had gone up, Harry was working overtime to make ends meet. 

What would Jo think of this? All life is precious, Mum, it all has value. Yes of course, but Jo wasn’t around. Simon was, and Simon had his own problems. And she wasn’t daft, she could make her own decisions.

She walked slowly, but Natalie didn’t seem to mind. Sometimes she forgot for a while about the incontinence pad, but she could feel it now, heavy, sagging, dragging. Was there an odour? Could Natalie smell her? But Natalie kept smiling. Very professional. Nice girl. The self-checkout screen had mentioned dignity – oh, if only. Not much prospect of that any more.

In Consulting Room 2 the light inside was dimmer than the supermarket’s blazing neon. Off-white, mellow. Soft muzak. Nice comfy chair. Oh, that’s better. She didn’t want to get up again. 

A clipboard materialized on her lap. Just the paperwork, Mrs Palmer. Can I call you Emma? That’s great, Emma, just read this … and can you sign here please? And here?

Sorry about this, Emma. Safeguards – they’re important, aren’t they?. But we’ve improved the process a lot, you know, over time. Made it a lot more painless – if you know what I mean. People expect better service these days. They demand convenience. We have to innovate. Now, do you understand there has to be a doctor in attendance? 

Yes … yes, I do.

Another screen. Flickered, then a young man’s face. Younger than Simon. Can you confirm your name? Do you understand what this procedure involves? Stifled a yawn. Maybe a junior doctor; she’d heard they were doing extra gigs, make ends meet. 

Didn’t there need to be two doctors? Oh don’t worry, Emma, we’ve texted your GP and already got the thumbs-up. It’s a lot more efficient these days. 

Sorry, Mrs … Palmer … can I call you Emma? Can you repeat that please? I think I dropped out for a second there. The wifi here, it’s … OK, that’s great. Now – do you want anyone else with you? A family member perhaps?

Just Natalie here, smiling encouragingly. Natalie had only glanced once at her phone, when she’d thought no-one was looking – good girl. 

Jo couldn’t be there. She had her own life now. Would she ever see her again anyway? Simon … oh, Simon, love. Jo, my love. Precious Luke. Would they cry? Yes, she was sure they would. Except Luke – he was probably too young. Wouldn’t understand. Would he even remember his Grandma, when he grew up? And as for the little one on the way …

But she was so tired.

And she wasn’t daft. She could still make her own decisions. And Simon … he’d cope. Better off, really. He wouldn’t have to worry about the home now. Natalie had already explained how it would all be taken care of. Simon would hardly have to lift a finger, just sign a few things. So simple. Wasn’t it better this way? Who could say otherwise? And really, it was so impressively convenient. She’d have liked to say goodbye really but … well there were pros and cons, weren’t there? She really didn’t want a scene. 

So tired. 

Anyway, you had to hand it to Harrisons. All very professional. And such a good deal. Of course the government must be paying for it, really. She glanced at Natalie, ticking boxes on her clipboard. 

Then looked quickly away as the needle flashed in the light. Closed her eyes.

Sharp scratch.

She shivered. No more dark drizzle now. Felt Natalie take her hand. Andy. Love.

Thank you for shopping at Harrisons.

Your next of kin have been notified. Have a nice day.

Have a