Page 42 of Everdoll

As I showed her some accessories, she finally let out a tiny laugh.

“I was putting water in them! Maybe I really should make some tea. So they’ll forgive me.”

We played there for a while longer, then Mina actually added whatever she had at home to the hot tea and went back up to the attic. She made me taste it over and over, trying to get taste just right.

As the toy house filled with the scent of fresh tea, she smiled softly.

“We should drink too, Remi! I’ll be the first person to have a tea party with a doll!”

I recoiled at her words. “What?”

My voice must’ve come out more unsettled than I’d intended, it caused her smile drop.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“You really see me as a doll?”

“Oh, that…” Her smile returned, but this time I didn’t melt away beneath that expression. I was scared. Scared to death of hearing the poisonous words that might spill from her sweet little mouth.

“You’re kind of similar…” She closed the distance between us. “You’re beautiful and a great playmate.”

“But I’m different from them, I…”

She leaned in and pressed her lips to my throat, a gentle, little kiss…

What’s happening right now?

“Of course you’re different, Remi. I can hug you, and you can talk back. You’re better than all of them. Prettier. Stronger. Bigger.”

I wet my lips with effort. It felt like every function in me had stopped working. For a moment, I wished I were an actual robot. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to fight so hard to keep myself from visibly shaking.

“But I also… want to be your favorite one.”

An amused expression lit her face, and I could only watch her, feeling dizzy.

“Just want to?”

“No. I’ll be.”

Her smile grew bigger. Unconsciously, I reached to caress her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, kept smiling. Then she broke free from my grasp and lay on the cold floor. Before following her, I gazed absently around the room.

My hand, lingering in the air, moved to my lips. I kissed my palm, no, her warmth. Closing my eyes, I drifted into reveries of the days I could hold her closer. Closer than today.

My half-lidded eyes fell on the dollhouse in the corner.

I prayed that it would be burned down.

☾

Mina

I always loved to brag about my robot.

Whenever I talked to others, I would somehow bring him into the conversation. However, since the new robot law was passed—the production of caretaker robots had stopped and the existing ones had been destroyed—somethings changed.

When the news came out, Remi told me not to worry, that his design was perfect and no one would suspect anything. Even though we still lived together, I could no longer speak freely about him. I always introduced him as the son of a friend of my dad’s.

“He’s so handsome! I need to come over to your place sometime, Mina!”