Hammond Johns

First published on Substack 4 December 2025 Like many of my stories, this one began with a glimpse into the future and a plausible “what if?” It follows a distinctly modern relationship as it grows, twists and distorts. A happy ending might be too much to ask for these two, but you can at least expect a logical one. Content note: bereavement; unhealthy relationship dynamics; strong language. Churn Rate Sarah’s mouth hung slightly open, oxygen tube taped to her cheek. The fluorescent hum was...

About connecting in an hyperconnected world I am fascinated by the idea of authenticity, and I find myself coming back to it again and again, from various angles. We prize it: it's what we want in our lives and relationships. But when something's valuable, people will be willing to pay for it, and other people will be willing to supply it, or a close substitute. This story asks: in a world that's commercialized, optimized, hyperconnected, a world where everyone's hustling and trying to get...