How to Make a Triffid

Tor.com is proud to present the very first published work by Kelly Lagor, the original short story “How to Make a Triffid,” a chilling tale of science, science fiction, and how we break. (And even more stunned by her tattoo of Tor.com mascot Stubby the Rocket!)

He’s barely looked past the lip of his coffee cup since we sat down, which means he wants something. That’s fine. I want something too. And if he makes me come all the way to campus to this outdoor café near his lab so he can remind himself we’re still friends so he can ask, then so be it.

He breaks eye contact, frowns, and rocks his cup back and forth over an imperfection in the grated tabletop. Clack. Clack. “I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

He’s lying. He never looks me in the eye when he lies. I bet he’s applying for faculty positions and doesn’t want to tell me. He’s convinced if he leaves I’ll fall apart. Yeah, right. He’ll be the one falling apart.

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