In the not too distant future, sixteen year old Zaphira is suffering the pangs of first love. The object of her affections is Aiden, the twenty-eight year old assistant to her father, who's a scientist. When Zaphira can't hold back any longer, she plants a kiss on Aiden, and tells him that she loves him. Aiden breaks away, then runs away, with a look of horror on his face. Zaphira is crushed, assuming that he finds her totally unattractive, when the opposite is true. Aiden is fighting his attraction for this girl who is way too young for him, and his best friend's daughter to boot. To make things worse, Zaphira learns that Aiden was killed that same day.

Now we fast forward eight years to find twenty-four year old Zaphira all alone in the world, with only her dogs for companions. Biological warfare has wiped out the human race, except for a few who have a natural immunity. Zaphira's father is now gone too, but he promised her that there were others who survived and that they would find her. Up to now, there has been no sign of anyone else, until one day, an android shows up in very bad shape. The android insists he is Aiden, that he never died, but was altered and sent through time by Zaphira's father to her. At first, Zaphira can't believe that this mangled piece of metal, who has no control over his own body, is Aiden. Eventually, though, she is convinced, and reluctantly agrees to help him.

In Aiden's frame of reference, it was only yesterday that Zaphira was sixteen years old and kissed him, and at first it's hard for him to accept that eight years have really passed, and she's now twenty four. Then he's intrigued, because now there are no obstacles keeping them apart. That is, if they're able to repair him and get his human body back, which is questionable. Zaphira is confused and conflicted. She has already adjusted to the fact that Aiden was dead, and moved on. Before the poison killed off the population, she did have other relationships. Now, however, her feelings for Aiden start to resurface, but she's not going to give in to them so easily.

While the subject of biological warfare is indeed a serious one, there was much humor as Zaphira and Aiden try to put Humpty Dumpty back together. When he is put together and turns out to be bigger and better, things really get interesting. The wiry, nerdy body is now a hunk, but her beloved Aiden is still inside there. What's a girl to do? If you like a quick romantic read, with a little sci-fi thrown in, SHORT CIRCUIT fits the bill. This quirky and enjoyable novella will leave you with a smile.