Trauernd

“So, did you build it yet?” Lukas talked into the phone to the man, shaking with both a combination of fear and excitement, anticipating the creation of the man’s machine.

“Yeah, it’s done. I’ll deliver it in about 30 minutes.” The man on the other side of the phone informed Lukas, “I hope you enjoy it. Treat her right and she’ll be just like the real thing.”

“Ok…thanks, Donnie.” Lukas hung up the phone, and exited his house. He waited outside at his front door, for the package to arrive.

Lukas waited over two hours, and just as he was about to give up and head back inside, a man carrying a very large package arrived. “For Lukas Richter?” the delivery man said, reading off the label. Lukas nods and grabs the massive package.

“Thank you, that’ll be all.” Lukas said to the delivery man as he walked off. Lukas takes the packages into his house, and after navigating the huge box through several doorways, he places the box into a girl’s bedroom. Lukas opens the package, carefully examining every aspect of the contents inside, before putting it all together, meticulously and carefully.

When Lukas finished, he looked at the creation he had made and eagerly, he turned it on. Its dark brown eyes shot to life as it stared up at the man. “Hello, your personalized robot daughter. If you wish to wipe my memory of being a robot, and act as a real daughter, please give me a name.”

Lukas stared at her, smiling. “Greta.”

Lüge

Lukas watched as his daughter played with the other girl. Seeing his daughter, even if it wasn’t really her, playing once again made him so much happier than he has before. “How old is she?” The dad sitting next to him on the front porch asked. He didn’t know the man very well, but given that both of their kids were friends, it made since for them to try to get along.

“Hey, Tim. Thanks for having your daughter play with Greta. I know Vanessa’s a lot older than her, but it means a lot to me.” Lukas said to the other father, who then sipped a drink of his soda. 

Tim turned to him and smiled. “Of course, I don’t get to see Ness much, so seeing her have fun with someone is nice.

“Yeah, I understand that. Single dads, huh?” Lukas held out his bottle of water and smiled, and Tim clinked it with his soda can.

“Yeah, single dads.” Tim said, before drinking another sip. When Tim turned away to watch their kids, Lukas’s face rested. 

“You know, she got pretty sick.” Lukas said, watching Greta.

Tim turned to look at him, “Really?”

Lukas frowned, thinking about everything with Greta. “Yeah, it was like…a while ago. Got this pretty bad sickness, I don’t remember the name, it was some…big fancy name, yeah.” Lukas looked away, feeling guilt.

Tim was shocked by Lukas being so open with him, not sure how to comfort him, he put his hand on Lukas’s shoulder. “But hey…she got better, didn’t she?”

Lukas looked at Tim, then at Greta, than back at Tim. “Yeah…” He lied.

Tim backed up a bit from Lukas, “See, so things are better now. I mean, I don’t know what I’d do without Vanessaa. She’s my everything, especially since her mom…yeah. Point being, I’d do anything for my daughter, you understand that right?”

Lukas looked to the floor, he didn’t quite know what to say, but part of him knew that Tim understood what he was saying. He looked up to Tim and smiled, “Yeah, yeah I understand. I’d do…so much for Greta.” 

Tim and Lukas continued to watch their kids, as they both sat on the porch together. They waited until their kids were done, and brought them inside their houses.

Wiederbelebung

Lukas sat on a bench inside of his greenhouse he constructed in his backyard. He’d always been fond of plants, he’s felt peaceful with them around. He grabbed his phone and began to look through some news apps. When he opened his phone, the first thing he saw was Robots replacing humans? People don’t want to have children anymore. Lukas chuckled, looking at his house, with Greta inside, and began to think on his earliest memories with the thought of getting his daughter back.

“Uhm…h-hello, is this Iguana Robotics?” Lukas said, nervously speaking into his phone.

“Yes, this is Donovan Arnold-Hyde speaking.” The man on the radio spoke to him, he seemed professional, like he’s used to dealing with nervous customers.

“H-Hi, my name is Lukas Richter. I saw an advertisement for your ability to make robots, how uhm…how realistic could you make them?” Lukas said as he continued to search for something that they would inevitably ask for.

“That depends, with enough money we can build you pretty much any robot you want. But for realism, we’re gonna need a reference for whoever you’re trying to make. Can you give it to us?”

Lukas pulled out the thing he was trying to find, an drawing Lukas made, what she would have looked like if she reached several ages. “Y-Yeah, I do.”

“That’s great. Now, we’re going to need to talk with you personally. There we can discuss all the prices and other things.” The man said.

“Thank you, Mister Ar-”

“Please, just call me Donnie.” Donnie said, in a reassuring tone.

“Ok then, I’ll see you later Donnie. Call me back when you have a time for us to meet, ok?” Lukas said. 

“Yep, see you, sir.” Donnie said, before hanging up the call.

Lukas woke up. He was back in his greenhouse, time passed significantly in the time he took his nap, it was evening now. Lukas got up from the bench, and stretched. He walked back into the house, and prepared to make dinner for Greta.

Ausgesetzt

“Dad! Dad! Come here, some here.” Greta shouted from upstairs, Lukas was in the living room, watching the TV. It was some things about some political group, nothing that concerned Lukas too much, it just kept him occupied. When Lukas heard his daughter’s calls, he quickly headed up to the bedroom to check what was bothering her.

Lukas opened the door, and his body went cold. A magnet was attached to her arm. He didn’t know why, nothing that would hint at her robotic nature before ever happened, but something must have happened to her body and made this magnet stick to her head.

“Dad, look! I’m metal!” Greta laughed, the sweet heartwarming laugh that any young child would. It was sweet, but right now, Lukas wasn’t smiling back.

Lukas really couldn’t think of anything to say to stop her from thinking too much, so all he could do was lie. “Birdy, did you put glue on your arm? Come to the kitchen, we’ll take that off, ok?” Lukas said nervously.

“No, dad! It just stuck to me, isn’t that cool?” Greta said back, she looked surprised that her dad didn’t believe her.

“My bird, can we go get that glue off you now?” Lukas said, shortening his tone.

“Dad! I didn’t glue it, loooook!” Greta grabbed the magnet, and took the magnet off her arm and reattached it. “See? I’m metal! Why aren’t you thinking that’s cool?”

Lukas walked over to Greta, and grabbed the magnet out of Greta’s hand. “Greta! Stop touching that magnet! Never tell anybody about that!” Lukas snapped at Greta. It was the first time he’d done something like that.

Greta jumped back, she looked scared and had tears in her eyes. She didn’t know how to respond to something like that. 

The realization of what Lukas did hit him, and he froze. He took a step backwards and sat down to Greta’s level. “Birdy…I…I didn’t mean t-” Lukas reached out a hand to Greta, but she ran past him and out of her room. Lukas turned to face her, but she didn’t look at him, and ran past through the doorway and down the stairs.

Lukas, sitting on the floor grabbed the magnet that Greta was playing with. It was a crow magnet that Greta picked out herself. Lukas looked at the magnet, as tears fell onto it. “Wenn ich es dir nur sagen könnte, Greta. Wenn du nur wüsstest.” Lukas said in his native language. Laying in his daughter’s room, crying.

Liebe

“I just don’t know what to do, it’s the first time I’ve ever yelled at her. And for such a dumb reason to I just…” Lukas laid his face in his hands, crying as he sat on Tim’s couch. Tim put his hand on Lukas’s back and let him cry.

“It’s ok, Luke. It’s ok. We all lose our temper every now and then. You didn’t hit her, you didn’t curse at her, it’s ok. Today was probably just…a bad day, right?” Tim said, trying to reassure his friend. 

“I don’t know what to do, Tim. I mean…maybe I’m just a shitty dad. I mean, I’ve tried treating her so well ever since she got out of the hospital, and I’ve always tried treating her well. Maybe I just…haven’t been?” After finishing his statement, Lukas cried more. He cried much heavier than before.

“It’s ok, Lukas. Let it out. Let it all out, ok? I’m right here, man.” Tim scooted closer to him, putting his arm around Tim and side-hugging him. Bringing him close to reassure his friend. 

“Ich bin ein schrecklicher Vater.” Lukas said to himself in a whisper.

Tim looked at him confused, “What did you say?”

Lukas put his face out of his hands, and to Tim. It was the first time he actually saw Lukas’s face after he began crying. “I’m a terrible father, Tim. I yelled at my kid for no reason, and now she’s scared of me. I don’t deserve someone like Greta.”

Tim looked at Lukas. Lukas couldn’t quite tell what Tim was thinking in that moment, but he could tell that it was some combination of concern, and sadness. “Lukas…” Tim said softly, “You’re genuinely one of the best dads I know.”

Lukas tilted his head, “What?” 

“Just let me finish, ok?” Tim said softly. “Luke, you’re acting like you’re a horrible dad for yelling at your daughter once. You’re a single dad, and a damn surgeon. Yet somehow, you still make time for your daughter every single day. I don’t even know how you do it. And on top of all of that, you’ve never once before yelled at your daughter. Do you know how many kids would pray for a dad like you? I’ve only know you for what…two months? From everything I’ve seen, I don’t know how you could ever think so negatively of yourself.” As Tim said this, he stopped speaking as softly, and spoke with more authority. Making sure that Lukas could know that every single thing that Tim was saying was the truth. 

“Tim…thank you.” Lukas looked at Tim and smiled. Hearing all of those things Tim thought about him made him happier.

“Of course, Lukas.” Tim looked nervous about something, and Lukas looked confused. “And hey, if you need support about anything, ever again, no matter what…” Tim looked more nervous than ever, but swallowed, and reached his hand over to Lukas’s and grabbed it. “I’m right here, ok?”

Lukas felt butterflies in his stomach, he could feel his face getting hot. But despite that, he held Tim’s hand back. “Ok…I know.” Lukas smiled a genuine, happy smile.

Tod

“Anna Richter“

“2013-2039“

“Frau und Mutter“

Lukas sat in front of the grave. He hadn’t come back here ever since he got Greta back, he felt too embarrassed. But he knew that he would eventually have to, in order to finally get closure on all of this. Lukas took the piece of paper out of his backpack, along with a bouquet of flowers. He took the flowers out and put them on the grave, then opened up the paper and read what was on it.

“Hey, Anna. It’s uhm…been a while. I think you deserved for me to talk with you about…all of the stuff  that happened. I uh…did the thing. The thing you told me not to do. I know you told me that Greta wouldn’t want it, and you don’t either. I didn’t bring you back, but I just couldn’t with Greta. I…still can’t, I just can’t be happy without my daughter. I hope you forgive me.” Lukas felt a few tears fall down his cheeks, but knew that he had to continue.

“I uhm…met someone. His name is Timothy. He’s a journalist, works with the New Oregon Watchers. I think that it’s weird but, you really would have liked him. He’s a single dad too. You two would…you’d…” Lukas went silent, his tears couldn’t stop and eventually, he began to sob. He kneeled down and put his head in his hands and sobbed. Sobbed over everything, he had been bottling up all of this for a while, and being here, finally being able to talk, it let him let everything go. Soon, he stopped crying. He looked back up at the grave of his late wife. He crumpled up the paper he was going to read from, and continued again.

“Anna, wherever you may be, I’d like to believe that you’re happy. After five years, I’m glad that I’m finally able to come back, and be ok. I love you, Anna. I love Greta too. I’ll…I’ll make it all up to you, I promise.” Lukas pulled one last thing out of the bag, a drawing of him, his wife, and his daughter. He put that on the grave, and walked away, wishing Anna the best.

Familie

“Wow, you really suck at this game, dad.” Greta laughed as she took Lukas’s final property card, ending his run in the game.

“Ok, well it’s not my fault I got unlucky, I can’t control the dice or anything. And besides, I’m getting bored from this game. Would you like me to make all of you something?” Lukas got up from the couch with a smile.

Vanessa’s head shot up at the question, “Could you get some hot chocolate? I really want some hot chocolate!”

“Can you get some for me too, dad?” Greta asked much more calmly than Tim’s daughter.

“Of course, birdy.” He patted her on the head and messed with her hair. He looks over to Tim, and smiles. “Would you like some hot chocolate, honey?”

Tim nods, “sure thing, dear. Make sure to put on some whipped cream.”

“Sure thing babe, anything for your christmas.” Lukas walks by, and kisses Tim on the forhead. “Have fun, and Greta, don’t sell your boardwalk this time!”

“I won’t, dad!” Greta said happily. The three at the table and continued to play Monopoly as Lukas walked into the kitchen.

When Lukas passed through the door, and nobody could see him, he walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet, and began to cry. However, this cry felt different to him. It didn’t feel depressing, or grief-filled, he felt happy. He looked off to the door to the kitchen.

“I forgot what this all felt like.” Lukas smiled as the tears continued down his face, and opened up the fridge to go make hot chocolate for his new family.

Panne

Lukas stares at Greta, with a combination of anger and disappointment. “How much did you take, Greta?”

Greta looks at her dad in confusion, not understanding what the problem is. “I only took $100. Besides, Vanessa had it for weeks and she never used it!”

“It doesn’t matter. That was her money, Greta. I don’t know why you’d steal from your best friend. That’s just…not good to do!”

“No it’s not! Why would you think that it is?!”

Lukas took a deep breath, he didn’t want to yell at her once again like last year, but he thought of something that made his mind halt. A glitch.

“Greta…you’re not going to remember this, but even so, I apologize.” Lukas sadly remarked, tears beginning to form.

Greta looked concerned, “D-Dad…what do you-” Greta didn’t have time to finish what she was saying, before Lukas reached the back of her ear and flipped a switch, as her mind shut off and she fell.

***

“Yep, her mind got wired wrong or something. It’s bound to happen, she’s a prototype for other realistic kids, going through puberty and changing all that stuff in her head was bound to make something messed up.” Donnie said on the phone. 

“So…Can you fix her? I don’t want her to spend her whole life thinking that stealing is a good thing.” Lukas concernedly said. “She’s had…glitches, and I just shut her off and turn her back on and she’s fine. But never has her whole mind…you know.”

“Yeah, we could fix her.” Donnie said.

“What do you mean by “could?” Lukas nervously asked.

“You’ve been raising the girl like a real human, right? No telling her that she’s a robot and crap?”

“Nope, none of that. I want her to be like a real daughter.”

Donnie sighed, “Well, that’s the messed up part. The stuff we do to fixed glitched personality robots causes their CPU to jack up a bit. Point being, she’ll know she’s a robot. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. Now you could have her go her whole life not thinking there’s anything wrong with stealing, but do I need to exp-”

Lukas hung up the phone and looked at his daughter. Terrified of the conversation he’s going to have to have with her.

Wahrheit

Lukas sat on the other side of the couch, as Greta turned back on. She looked around, confused, but shrugged until she saw her dad, visibly upset. “Dad? Are you ok?”

Lukas’s head perked up from hearing her voice, “Y-Yeah, I’m fine honey…there’s just something I need to talk to you about, it’s about…how you were born.”

Greta looked at him, and sighed “…I know, dad. I know I’m a robot. I’ve known for over a year, when that magnet was attached to my body.”

Lukas just stared. Out of every way he expected this conversation to go, he didn’t expect that. “…what?”

“I already know, dad. You don’t need to worry. And no, I never told anyone. Not Vanessa, or anyone at school.” She sighed and looked away, “nobody would believe me anyway.”

Lukas awkwardly repositioned himself. “Well I’m…telling you this because there’s a glitch in you. It makes you do bad things…like steal. I know your glitch is probably still there, so you don’t think it’s wrong, but I want you to get that fixed. Ok?”

Greta looked a bit frustrated, but simply looked at her dad. “I’ll do it. On one condition.”

“Of course, what is it?”

“…Why? I mean, I know that I was made, by those guys at Iguana Technologies. But I want to know why you really did it.”

Lukas looked down. “Ok, I’ll do it. But…to tell you the truth, I can’t actually say it. It’s too hard. I’ll write it for you, ok?”

Greta groaned, but got off of the couch. “Alright, but you promise? Then I’ll let you guys carve out my brain…or whatever I have instead.”

“Sure thing, my bird.” Lukas said, smiling a bit at her. He stood up and walked towards the front door. “Let’s go.”

Annahme

Dear, Greta.

I did promise you that I would write you this letter, so I finally decided to sit down and write this for you. I’ll sum up everything you know, before I explain the rest. You are not real. You are a robot of a hyperrealistic child, developed by Iguana robotics. I didn’t tell you any of this because I wanted to raise you as a real daughter. 

But now for the rest of what you wanted to know.

You may not be real, but Greta Richter was. She was my daughter, and her mom was my wife, Anna. I loved both of you more than anything in this world. I struggled a lot with attachment ever since my father left when I was young, so being able to have a family of my own, and one that I like to believe I cared for well, was perfect for me. But nothing good lasts, at least not for me.

Greta and Anna both had developed terminal brain cancer. Apparently it was genetic, and since it was in their brain the doctors couldn’t do anything. I tried to search for a way to bring both of them back, I tried everything. But then, Iguana technologies started making mentions of commercially available robots. When Anna heard this, she knew what I would try to do, and told me she didn’t want that. It’s why as much as I’ve wanted to, I never made a robot of her as well.

Greta never told me though, by the time I checked her hospital room, she had already passed. Three hours later, the same thing happened to my wife. It was the worst day of my life, and I’ll never forget that day as long as I can. 

I was a wreck, bar hopping every single night. I would get drunk, walk to the next bar, and do it all over again. But one day I saw a post online about what Iguana was making, prototypes for realistic humans, and I knew what I had to do.

You know the rest. I made you, and my life has never been better. I found love again, with Tim. I get to see my girl grow up, but writing this made me realize. You’re not her, try as I might.

I need to try to accept what happened, and for that, I’m not sure if you can still be the way that you are, so I’m giving you an option. I’m going to let you change your appearance and name to anything you’d like, let you be your own person. I need that, to be better, and move on.

I’m still ok with raising you as my daughter, but I can’t raise you as Greta anymore.

I love you,

Dad.