"Time Management" by P.A. Cornell + "Empathetic Psychosis" by Justin C. Key

This episode of Lightspeed Magazine features two speculative fiction short stories that explore profound psychological and existential themes through the lens of altered perception and identity. 'Time Management' by P.A. Cornell follows Gwen, who gains the ability to manipulate time after a painful breakup, using it to slow down precious moments with her younger brother Kyle—particularly their nostalgic road trip to a beach house. The story poignantly examines how time feels subjective: the worst moments stretch endlessly, while the best vanish too quickly. Gwen’s power becomes a bittersweet tool for emotional repair, allowing her to reclaim joy in the face of loss. In 'Empathetic Psychosis' by Justin C. Key, Dr. Jason Holloway, a psychiatrist with a self-diagnosed 'empathetic schizophrenia,' begins to lose touch with reality as he absorbs the symptoms of his patients. His condition allows him to deeply connect with their suffering, but as he takes on their delusions—such as believing he is rotting from the inside or that a patient named Annabelle Brown is real—he risks becoming indistinguishable from his patients. The narrative builds to a devastating climax when a patient he believed to be real dies by suicide, and Holloway’s hallucinations are revealed to be a symptom of his deteriorating mental state. The story critiques the blurred lines between healing and self-destruction, and questions whether true empathy can exist without losing oneself. Both stories interrogate the fragility of identity, the burden of emotional connection, and the illusion of control over time and perception.