The man you married is dead

This story was written OpenAI’s GPT-3. The word in bold, ‘why’ without any punctuation, was my only prompt. The AI did the rest. Including the loop it gets itself caught in at the end. Which, for me, adds to the insanity of it.

“Why?”

“Because he’s been miserable for a long time, and he has you to thank for it,” Jenna answered.

“Me? I’ve done nothing. I’ve — “ I stopped. I had changed. I had grown and matured, while he had not.

“The man you married is dead,” Jenna said.

“You need to get over that, and get on with your life.”

I stared at her. “I’m married to a dead man? What is that supposed to mean?”

Jenna shrugged. “It means that he’s moved on with his life, and so should you. He’s not the same man he was when you married him, and you can’t expect him to be.”

“He’s not?” I said.

“No,” she said. “He’s not. He’s — ”

“I know what he is,” I said. “I don’t need you to tell me.”

“Good,” Jenna said. “Then you won’t mind if I leave you to it.”

I started to say something, but the look in Jenna’s eyes stopped me. She turned and walked out.

I heard the front door slam. I sat down at the table and picked up my wine.

I took a long slow swig and felt the alcohol burn my throat. I had taken the first step to maturity. I was sitting in my kitchen drinking wine. I took another sip and realised that I was feeling good. I had done something that I had to do, and I had survived. I had felt the pain and survived it. I had done the right thing.

I suddenly realised that I was grinning. I was not grinning for myself. I was grinning for the man I had left behind in the backyard. I had done what he had been wanting to do for a long time. I had stood up to him. I had been strong, and I had gone inside and done what I had to do.

I had been the one who had been strong. I had been the one who had stood up to him. I had been the one who had taken the first step to maturity.

I picked up the wine bottle and took another long swig. I didn’t care if I woke up tomorrow with a hangover. I didn’t care if I made a fool of myself. I didn’t care if I did something stupid. I had taken the first step to maturity. I had been the one who had been strong.

I was going to enjoy the rest of the wine, and then I was going to get into bed. I was going to sleep for a long time. I was going to sleep for a long time, and then I would wake up, and I would feel good.

I took another swig of wine. I had been the one who had been strong. I had been the one who had stood up to him. I had been the one who had taken the first step to maturity.

I closed my eyes and grinned.

I took another swig of wine.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.

I was the one who had been strong.