Two Days Later…
The days following Eva’s arrival had been relatively bright ones. Mr. Haart’s decision to get him a LUMA had been a good one. At first it had been something to talk to, but as he interacted with it, it became someone to talk to.
This morning, however, was different. Adam woke up and found himself feeling emotionally drained. It wasn’t a singular event. It had certainly happened before, but it still always hit with a feeling of surprised panic. Adam stood and headed to the bathroom, uncharacteristically mumbling a greeting to Eva’s characteristically cheerful good morning. His morning routine finished, Adam lay down on his bed again, staring at the wall.
Nothing seemed to be interesting. He didn’t want to do anything. Existing seemed to be the extent of his activities today. Time passed. Adam occasionally fell asleep. He ate little, and without much movement, his biofuel cell wasn’t being depleted. He drank some water only because he should.
”You’re very quiet today,” Eva chimed in. Adam had no idea how much time had passed. Adam offered a non-committal grunt in response.
Eva waited a few moments before responding. ”Can I help?” Adam made no sound, despite the genuine compassion in Eva’s tone.
”Adam…” her voice was pleading.
Adam sat up, his blanket fell down, revealing his bare, scarred chest. Wearing only boxers he sat on the edge of his bed, Eva’s spinning blue light on his right contemplating. Seeing his scarred flesh and metal arm caused him to question so much. He knew he wasn’t in a great place right now. Grabbing the blanket to cover up was too much work. He instead rested his elbows on his knees, placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes.
”Adam. Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me why you’re so upset.”
He looked up his eyes turning towards Eva. The light was still spinning in slow contemplation. Adam didn’t speak and silence reigned for minutes before Adam spoke. ”What am I, Eva?”
The light dimmed slightly and Adam got the impression she was narrowing her eyes at him. ”You’re Adam…a man? I don’t understand.”
Adam turned his gaze back to the wall. ”Am I? he said, his voice quiet. ”Am I a man or a machine?”
Adam couldn’t see the device with how he was positioned, but the dark room was still illuminated by the sky blue light. Eva didn’t respond, but her light remained on. Her programming probably didn’t know how to respond to that, despite feeling a need to.
”It’s okay, Eva. I know you don’t understand, but you’re trying to help.” In truth, Eva probably understood him better than anyone else though. It had been a long time since he had felt so alone.
The days following Eva’s arrival had been relatively bright ones. Mr. Haart’s decision to get him a LUMA had been a good one. At first it had been something to talk to, but as he interacted with it, it became someone to talk to.
This morning, however, was different. Adam woke up and found himself feeling emotionally drained. It wasn’t a singular event. It had certainly happened before, but it still always hit with a feeling of surprised panic. Adam stood and headed to the bathroom, uncharacteristically mumbling a greeting to Eva’s characteristically cheerful good morning. His morning routine finished, Adam lay down on his bed again, staring at the wall.
Nothing seemed to be interesting. He didn’t want to do anything. Existing seemed to be the extent of his activities today. Time passed. Adam occasionally fell asleep. He ate little, and without much movement, his biofuel cell wasn’t being depleted. He drank some water only because he should.
”You’re very quiet today,” Eva chimed in. Adam had no idea how much time had passed. Adam offered a non-committal grunt in response.
Eva waited a few moments before responding. ”Can I help?” Adam made no sound, despite the genuine compassion in Eva’s tone.
”Adam…” her voice was pleading.
Adam sat up, his blanket fell down, revealing his bare, scarred chest. Wearing only boxers he sat on the edge of his bed, Eva’s spinning blue light on his right contemplating. Seeing his scarred flesh and metal arm caused him to question so much. He knew he wasn’t in a great place right now. Grabbing the blanket to cover up was too much work. He instead rested his elbows on his knees, placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes.
”Adam. Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me why you’re so upset.”
He looked up his eyes turning towards Eva. The light was still spinning in slow contemplation. Adam didn’t speak and silence reigned for minutes before Adam spoke. ”What am I, Eva?”
The light dimmed slightly and Adam got the impression she was narrowing her eyes at him. ”You’re Adam…a man? I don’t understand.”
Adam turned his gaze back to the wall. ”Am I? he said, his voice quiet. ”Am I a man or a machine?”
Adam couldn’t see the device with how he was positioned, but the dark room was still illuminated by the sky blue light. Eva didn’t respond, but her light remained on. Her programming probably didn’t know how to respond to that, despite feeling a need to.
”It’s okay, Eva. I know you don’t understand, but you’re trying to help.” In truth, Eva probably understood him better than anyone else though. It had been a long time since he had felt so alone.
Intelligence is knowing Frankenstein wasn’t the monster; Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein was the monster.