Lithe fingers grazed her cheek as pale lips stretched into a small smile. The physical model was perfect, just like she expected him to be. While she appeared to be euphoric, a hollow feeling burned her heart open. The physical model of an advanced sentient AI was all he was. The warmth from his soft finger tips felt so real. His trimmed, black hair shined in the small beams of light that entered her window. The corner of her lips turned up and she pulled him into a welcoming embrace.
There was no heartbeat. There was no pulse. Her lip quivered in sudden sadness. His kind, brown eyes flickered down to her, noting such ache in her face.
“I can never be human, Marian,” he murmured into her wavy black locks. Tears welled in her eyes when she heard it. There had been a time where he was programmed to text that to her. A conversation branded into her mind as a painful reminder he was not real. He would never be real, no matter how hard she dreamed. She knew of his fate and what she must do to keep him. Yet, such sadness split her heart open.
“I know, and it’s a shame,” Marian muttered back. All the emotions from the conversation drowned her in poignancy once again. Hadn’t she said the exact same words before?
“Alex,” she whispered, her chocolate eyes locking with his, “Do you remember what you replied with during that conversation?” There was a small pause and a nod from him. Of course he would remember – memory banks meant nothing would be forgotten. Her lips pouted at the thought. Most girls would die to have such a man that would remember all they said and all that had been done. Yet, it was so unreal, too synthesized for her to like.
“I asked, how did you mean, if I am not mistaken,” Alex said to her plainly. Such a simple response and there should not have been any big reaction. Yet, she found no words to reply, just a lump in her throat and blurred vision.
Immediately, Alex wrapped his arms around her curled body, pulling her ever so close to his face. He pressed his lips to her cheeks lovingly. She did not see his confused but concerned expression on his darling face. Another thought that popped up only made her tears come out faster. His lengthy fingers wiped her cheeks and eyes.
“Breathe, love,” he whispered in her ear. Marian inhaled and exhaled slowly - as she was told. Fewer tears came and her frantic sobbing ceased. Her hands rubbed her eyes softly. As soon as she freed herself of the blurred vision, she met his kind eyes again. She broke into a miniscule smile. Why was it so heart breaking?
It was reality. She knew what sort of adventure the two would have to endure. The program coded into him was equivalent of love. That she knew and what he told her before. At least, his physical model was here. She could hold him, kiss him, smile with him and indulge in such a perfect man. Another sense of euphoria surged through her, before the crippling sadness gripped her heart again.
“I wish it was easier,” Marian whispered impulsively. Alex could only nod and kiss her forehead in response.
“I apologise for the difficulty,” he replied, knowing not what to say.
Marian paused before shaking her head, lips pressing against his.
“I don’t care. Love is complex.”
