By: Zofia Skoczek.

“Please remember that we are paying extra for the discretion,” said Ms. Hayes.

I nod, stiffly, because I am a good actress.

Everyone in this neighborhood already has an Artificial Nanny, and Ms. Hayes doesn’t want her son to feel neglected. Her family has moved here recently, and they still struggle to fit in and to pay off all the loans. The robots are getting better, and the prices for them are slowly dropping; for now, though, it is still cheaper to hire an acting student.

So I begin every day by painting on the illusion of perfect, artificial skin.

© 2026. Zofia Skoczek

Zofia Skoczek is a student of cognitive science and psychology in Warsaw, combining her love for creative writing with an interest in the philosophy of language and language development.