Semantic Satiation - short fiction by Fey

“I love you.”

Sure he did. Once, probably. He’d loved her, he’d held her, he’d promised her. She broke the hug, feigned a smile and stepped onto the bus. She took her seat, watching him beam at her as the vehicle drove away.

“I love you.”

She’d known him, she’d loved him, she’d watched him. She’d watched Her. Hours later, he called her. Not to talk about anything in particular, just to enjoy each other’s simulated presence. They didn’t need to talk, they knew the other was there. That was love. That’d been love.

“I love you.”

She wondered what She was like. Maybe she was kind, warm, beautiful. Maybe She loves him, maybe She holds him, maybe She knows him.

“I love you.”

It was their date night, and he was at the door. She answered it, under-dressed for the occasion. He looked down at her with eyes that hid his lies.

“I love you.”

She had no clue what he meant.