One original sci-fi story per day for all of 2023 | Created by screenwriter Timothy Michael Cooper, illustrated using A.I.

Soul Counter

Soul Counter

There are only so many souls to go around, so anyone could grab the soul you're currently using at any time. (You can take it back again after 24 hours.) Some souls are in such high demand—the especially talented, self-indulgent, charismatic, or cutthroat ones—there’s little point in even queuing up for them. But if you don’t want your body mostly sitting around like a deflated wetsuit, aim for one of the more gentle, imperfect, flawed souls that the world is hardly clamoring for—one that’s at least trying. It won't provide major thrills, but it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of.