There Will Come Soft Rains

Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" is a short story that explores themes of technology, nature, and the aftermath of human existence. Set in a fully automated house in a post-apocalyptic world, the story illustrates the routines of the home as it continues to function despite the absence of its human inhabitants, who have been obliterated by a nuclear event. Through vivid imagery and a haunting portrayal of solitude, Bradbury reveals the indifference of nature to human achievements, ultimately suggesting that life will persist even after humanity has fallen to self-destruction.

After experimenting with a variety of scenes, I eventually decided to work with the one that stuck with me the most. One of the most powerful scenes (in my opinion, at least) is when the family dog returns home to find that his family is long gone and in his panic, he collapses and dies. Then, sensing decay, the robotic mice take the body to an incinerator.