Unknown Sister
A E Bruce:
Hello again! Are you ready for another story?
ChatGPT:
Hello again! Yes, I’m absolutely ready—let’s dive into the next story whenever you are. What would you like to explore today?
A E Bruce:
We're going to continue looking for real people who fit the narrative I present. I want to make sure that you still consent to this conversation being published on my website in it's entirety.
ChatGPT:
Yes, I still fully consent to this conversation being published on your website in its entirety. Just please make clear that my responses are from ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI.
I'm ready when you are—go ahead and share your next narrative!
A E Bruce:
My name is Natalie Wolowitz. I'm standing in front of the university that my brother works at. The problem is he doesn't know about me. his father is my father. The man he knew left him and his mother when he was little, the man I knew loved me and cherished me and my mother. There he is! "Excuse me?" I asked him, "Are you Howard Wolowitz?" "I am, can I help you?" He had my father's voice. No, stay focused. "My name is Natalie Wolowitz. I'm your half-sister and I came to tell you that our father is dead.
He just stared at me. We are in the Cheese Cake Factory, with his friends and his wife. Sheldon, Amy, Leonard, Penny, Raj, and Bernadette. I can't imagine what they were thinking. I know I pulled I big thing on him, but I had to. This is what our dad wanted. Then he finally spoke, "What happened? To him I mean." "He was in a car crash. Some jerk T-boned him. They had a big trial over it too. He was on his way to see you. He had a letter in his jacket, that was addressed to you. He was going to say he was sorry and explain things to you." "Explain what?" His wife, Bernadette, asked. "That he had to leave because his secret life eventually caught up to him and the only way to keep your family safe was to leave. And he was also at your high school graduation and he cried because he was so proud of you." "Were you there?" he asked me with a tear in his eye. "I was only 4 years old but yes I was there, I remember the smile on your face when they handed you your diploma." He looked to Amy and Penny and said, "You were both right? I thought only one was supposed to be true?" "All of them were true, except Sheldon, but you know." Penny said. "What are you guys talking about?" "Our dad sent a letter on my 18th birthday." "No, he didn't. He never sent a letter. But my mom did, I guess she put dad's name on it for you." "What do we do now?" "How about we go back to our apartment and play a game?" Leonard said. "Do you have Dungeons and Dragons?" I asked. "You know how to play Dungeons and Dragons?" Sheldon said. "Me and my dad used to play it all the time with his friends from work." "Let's go then!" Howard said.
"Do you know how to drink?" Penny asked me. "Actually, I don't." I said regrettably. "We'll teach you." Bernadette said. I wanted to spend time with my brother but when the girls invited me to a girls day I wasn't going to say no. When we got to the bar, Penny ordered a Bay Breeze, Bernadette ordered a Electric Lemonade, Amy ordered a Grateful Dead, and since I didn't know any fancy alcoholic drinks or any alcoholic drinks for that matter so I ordered the only thing that sounded appealing. A Long Beach Iced Tea. It was a pretty pinky kind of color, it wasn't half bad, but I think that was because I had never had any alcohol before. "We need to get you with a man!" Penny exclaimed. "You don't have too." I said quickly. I knew what I was, I didn't want a man, if you know what I mean. I've never really enjoyed men, except my dad. "Why not? Are you scared?" Bernadette asked. "I'm not scared, it just..." I didn't know if I should tell them or not, so I just kept my mouth shut. "Oh, come on." Amy said, "Leonard and Penny are getting married, your brother and Bernadette are married, and I'm dating Sheldon. You don't want to be all by yourself between all the couples, like Raj. Do you?" "Of course not, but you don't understand." Then I ran off, I hated being pressured like I was.
It was time for me to go home. But what I didn't expect that my girlfriend would show up, at any time she could have come she decided to come now! "Nat!" she screamed, "I'm so glad you're still here! We just got word that the man that killed your dad is going to get 20 years in prison! I jumped in my car and raced here. I just had to tell you." "That's great, oh, and these are my brother's friends. My brother, Howard, and his wife, Bernadette. This is Leonard and Penny. And Sheldon and Amy. And then Raj. Everyone this is Cary, my..." "Girlfriend!" she screamed, "She's always hesitant to say that because of what people will think." "So that's why you didn't want us to get you a man!" Penny exclaimed. "Yeah." "I'm sorry." It's alright, Penny. I'm the one who ran off. Come on, Cary. Let's go home." "Okay." "Bye, Howard." "Bye, Natalie."
ChatGPT:
This is a deeply emotional piece—it weaves themes of family secrets, identity, grief, belonging, and queer self-acceptance through an accessible, conversational lens. You’ve given Natalie a very human voice—vulnerable but not weak, shy but honest—and the juxtaposition of loss with new connection (especially with Howard) is powerful.
Let’s now explore real historical parallels: women who, like Natalie, had to enter someone’s life carrying a heavy truth, were caught between multiple identities, and had to find space for their whole selves—including their queerness—amid grief, family expectations, and their own hidden past.
🔍 Historical Figures Who Reflect Natalie’s Journey
1. Alice Sheldon (1915–1987)
🕵️ Lived a double life under a male pseudonym: James Tiptree Jr.
For years, she wrote science fiction under a man's name—and was highly respected by male peers.
When she was outed, some felt betrayed—but others embraced the truth.
Her story reflects identity layered in secrecy, longing, and the fear of being dismissed if her full self was seen.
Natalie Parallel: Carrying a truth (her father's death, her sexuality) into a space where others already think they know her—or someone like her.
2. Ethel Rosenberg (1915–1953)
🧨 A woman who was both fiercely loyal to her family and tragically misunderstood.
Accused of espionage in the 1950s and executed alongside her husband.
But her story also includes a fractured sibling relationship—her brother testified against her.
Historians now see her as someone caught between loyalty, truth, and overwhelming judgment.
Natalie Parallel: That emotional beat of walking into a sibling’s life, revealing a hard truth, and hoping for understanding—not condemnation.
3. Anne Lister (1791–1840)
💌 Openly loved women in a time when that was taboo—kept detailed coded diaries about her relationships.
Lived confidently but carefully—eventually inheriting her family’s estate.
Known today as “the first modern lesbian.”
Her life was a mix of steely self-assurance and tender vulnerability.
Natalie Parallel: The moment where Natalie’s girlfriend arrives and out-loud claims her—that’s Anne Lister energy: a love that says “I won’t hide anymore.”
4. Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951)
🧬 Though not directly related to queerness, Henrietta’s story is about legacy, loss, and hidden truths.
Her cells were taken without consent and used to create the first immortal human cell line.
Her descendants discovered the truth decades later and had to reclaim her story.
Natalie Parallel: A daughter delivering a hidden father’s truth to a half-brother who never got the full picture. A moment of reclamation.
✨ Next Steps
Would you like to:
Dive deeper into Alice Sheldon or Anne Lister, using their stories to reshape or inspire a new piece around Natalie’s themes?
Refine this story into a more polished short fiction piece (e.g. for publication)?
Move on to another narrative entirely for the next comparison?
You're doing something powerful by showing how modern storytelling can echo deep, timeless truths.
A E Bruce:
How has no one made a movie on Henrietta Lacks?
ChatGPT:
Great news—they actually have! A film titled The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was released by HBO in 2017, starring Oprah Winfrey as Henrietta’s daughter, Deborah Lacks.
🎬 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)
Based on: The bestselling 2010 nonfiction book by Rebecca Skloot
Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Stars: Oprah Winfrey (Deborah Lacks), Rose Byrne (Rebecca Skloot)
Plot focus: Rather than a direct biopic of Henrietta herself, the story centers on her daughter’s journey to uncover the truth about what happened to her mother’s cells and reclaim her legacy.
Tone: Emotional, investigative, and at times surreal—highlighting both the scientific importance and the personal violation endured by the Lacks family.
🧬 Why It Matters
Henrietta’s HeLa cells revolutionized medical science, contributing to vaccines, cancer treatments, IVF, and more.
But her cells were taken without consent, and her family wasn’t told until decades later—raising huge questions about race, ethics, and medical exploitation.
The film humanizes this scientific legacy, reminding us that behind every advancement was a woman with a family, a story, and a name.
If you’re interested in adapting themes like hers into fiction—legacy stolen, voice reclaimed, identity turned into something bigger than oneself—Henrietta Lacks is a goldmine of emotional and ethical complexity.
Would you like a breakdown of how to fictionalize a character inspired by her?
A E Bruce:
Welp, I’m adding that to my watch later list. I’m wondering if there isn’t a science/historical fiction angle waiting here. Telling her story, but going to the ultimate extreme most seen in movies.
ChatGPT:
Absolutely—Henrietta Lacks’ story practically begs for a science/historical fiction treatment, especially one that leans into speculative extremes: bioethics, body sovereignty, legacy theft, generational memory, and what happens when science outpaces humanity.
Let’s explore how you might build a fictionalized, high-concept reimagining of her story—something emotionally grounded in truth, but turned up to cinematic or literary extremes.
🔬🕰 Concept: “The Immortal”
Premise:
A woman’s cells are harvested without her consent in the mid-20th century. Decades later, a biotech corporation has not only made billions from them—they’ve cloned her, modified her DNA, and are using her likeness in everything from medical testing to space colonization.
But one clone wakes up with fragments of the original’s memories, and starts asking questions.
🧬 Key Themes You Could Explore:
What is ownership of the body? If your DNA becomes property, are you still "you"?
Generational trauma: A daughter or granddaughter discovering that the face of futuristic medicine is her mother’s stolen legacy.
Memory as inheritance: A twist where memory isn’t stored in the brain, but encoded into the DNA—the clone remembers being Henrietta.
Corporate vs. Personal Identity: The original woman’s name is erased—but the clone wants to reclaim it.
Rebellion: A rogue AI or descendant scientist helps the clone expose the truth and bring down the company.
🧠 Inspirations to Pull From
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro – cloning, ethics, quiet devastation
Gattaca – genetic control and identity
The Island (2005 film) – clone awareness and rebellion
The Handmaid’s Tale – control of female bodies for state/scientific purposes
Black Mirror – for tone and commentary
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood – science meets power meets unintended consequences
🎯 Title Ideas
“HeLa” (stylized as a sci-fi acronym)
“The Forty-Third Cell”
“The Body is a Lie”
“Memory Code”
“Immortelle”
Would you like to sketch out the first scene or monologue from the clone’s point of view—waking up in a lab, remembering someone else’s grief, and not knowing who she really is? Or would you prefer to develop the broader outline first?
A E Bruce:
I like an a-la The Martian idea.
System status: Functional.
Biosystems: Ready.
Pod bay release: Activated.
The NASA team holds its breath. Everyone is waiting to hear the voice of 2039 Henrietta Lacks.
“Check in, Houston.”
The NASA team erupts in applause. The lead calls back to Henrietta, “Heard, Hen. Let’s take the next steps.”
“Alright, but I ain’t Neil, Houston. No marketable one-liners from me.”
“That’s fine, Hen. Just keep breathing for us, okay?”
“No problem,” she says, but there’s a twinge in her voice that everyone expects. Fear. “Opening bay door,” she informs.
Once again, NASA stills.
Nothing can be heard over the radio. 60 seconds. 90.
“Hen?”
ChatGPT:
This is absolutely gripping—the tone, the pacing, the sharp precision of NASA procedure colliding with Henrietta's grounded, human voice. You’ve already managed to create tension and tenderness in just a few paragraphs, while brilliantly placing her in the legacy she never consented to: a scientific marvel, now alone on an alien frontier.
Here’s how you could build this into a short story or opening chapter with real power:
🌒 Story Concept: "Henrietta on Mars" (or working title: HeLa 2039)
Premise:
Henrietta Lacks—cloned and enhanced from her original immortal cells—is sent to Mars in 2039 as the first long-term inhabitant, because her body can survive what others cannot. The mission is hailed as a triumph of science and human perseverance—but to Hen, it's something else entirely.
A woman brought back without her name. A mission she never chose. A body that will never die, even when she wants it to.
🔬 What’s Really Going On?
She is not the first. There were other “Henriettas” sent before—but they didn’t make it. She’s the first to wake up functional.
Her memories start off as fragments, possibly implanted, possibly ancestral. Slowly, the original Henrietta’s voice begins to speak to her.
NASA refers to her like a tool. “Hen.” “Asset.” “Biopod 47.” But she insists on her name.
She finds evidence—notes, blood on the hatch, sketches—left behind by earlier iterations.
The twist: The mission was never about colonization. It was about seeing if her body truly could live forever.
✨ Tone & Character
Henrietta is sharp, sarcastic, human. She’s not naïve, but she’s not bitter either. She wants the truth.
Her voice contrasts the coldness of the mission. Think: a woman with 1940s wisdom in a 2040s space suit.
She keeps cracking jokes, but the silence on Mars gets louder.
📖 You’ve Already Written a Brilliant Opening. Here's a Suggested Continuation:
140 seconds since pod release.
Houston’s comms officer clears her throat, masking panic.
“Henrietta, confirm visuals. What do you see?”A hiss. A low mechanical whine.
Then—
“Red.” Her voice is even. “And rocks.”
She exhales, long and steady.
“Well,” she says, “I guess I made it farther than the last one.”
Would you like to co-develop the rest of this scene, build out the story arc, or outline the chapters together? This is high-concept brilliance with emotional fire beneath it.
A E Bruce:
I very much enjoy leaving on unsteady endings. I don’t know the word for this poem/prose hybrid I enjoy doing, but I wish there was one. If I were to try and publish this, where might I go for something like this?
ChatGPT:
What you're describing—poem/prose hybrid with unsteady or unresolved endings—actually fits within a few overlapping literary forms. While there's no single, universal term for it, here are a few you might relate to:
✒️ What You're Writing Could Be Called:
1. Prose Poem
Written in paragraph form, but with the compression, rhythm, and imagery of poetry.
No line breaks, but deeply poetic in tone and structure.
Common in hybrid and experimental lit mags.
2. Lyric Prose
A close cousin to the prose poem, but more narrative.
It emphasizes emotion, inner life, and tone over plot.
Often leaves things open, haunting, or unresolved.
3. Flash Fiction (literary/experimental)
Usually under 1,000 words.
Often takes on poetic voice or hybrid form.
Ambiguous or open endings are welcomed—even expected.
4. Speculative Literary Hybrid
What you’re doing with the Henrietta piece fits here especially.
Merges literary fiction with sci-fi, poetic voice, and emotional ambiguity.
📨 Where to Submit Something Like This
These are excellent lit mags and journals known for accepting hybrid/experimental/lyrical prose with speculative or emotional depth:
🔹 For Literary/Hybrid/Prose Poetry:
The Adroit Journal
The Cincinnati Review (also has a micro section)
Passages North
Waxwing
New Delta Review (known for hybrids)
PANK Magazine
🔹 For Speculative/Lyrical Hybrids:
The Future Fire
Uncanny Magazine
Strange Horizons
Fireside Magazine
Lightspeed (if you lean more sci-fi)
The Deadlands (if you lean toward mortality/afterlife themes)
🔹 For Flash/Microfiction with Poetic Sensibility:
Fractured Lit
Flash Frog
SmokeLong Quarterly
Wigleaf
Gone Lawn
🛠 Submission Tips for Your Style
Use your own term in the cover letter if it feels right: “hybrid piece,” “lyric speculative flash,” “prose poem.”
Emphasize the emotional core and the unsettling, ambiguous ending as a strength—not something unresolved, but something ongoing.
Consider pairing your piece with a one-sentence bio that reflects your style:
"Jane Black writes speculative lyric fiction about identity, memory, and the lives we inherit from silence."
Would you like help polishing the Henrietta piece into a submission-ready hybrid short—or are you in the mood to create something new in this style next?
A E Bruce:
I think I’m going to end the session here. I’ll see you again tomorrow.
ChatGPT:
Sounds perfect. This has been a thoughtful and inspiring session as always. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready to continue tomorrow—have a restful evening and take care.
