Circuit of Affection
Image Prompt 0007
Aaralyn wasn't like the other girls I knew. At first, I wasn't quite sure what it was about her. I had known others who were smart and fit. Others who had a sense of humor and enjoyed long walks in the park. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
One day, after a particularly lovely dinner, I walked Aaralyn home. It was a beautiful evening. The sun seemed to stop and rest right on the horizon, casting its warm glow over the city.
"I love this time of day," I said.
"So do I! I love the feel of the sun on my face," Aaralyn replied.
"Looks like we're almost to your apartment."
"Calix, would you come up for just a moment? I want to show you something."
Aaralyn and I had been going out for a few months now, and she had never invited me into her home. Actually, whenever the subject came up, I almost got the impression she was ashamed of where she lived. Of course, I knew that couldn't be the case when I found out which building she lived in. The Elysian Heights was one of the most desirable properties in the city, or at least it had been when I was growing up. I didn't really think about things like that anymore. I knew my financial limitations.
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you, and it will be easier if I can just show you." Aaralyn squeezed my hand as we walked along the sidewalk. "It's not anything scandalous, I promise!"
When we arrived at her building, the doorman scanned our ID bracelets and allowed us to enter. We rode the elevator in silence. I have to admit, my heart was pounding out of my chest. I really didn't know what to expect. When we reached the thirty-sixth floor, we walked down the hall to her apartment. A bead of sweat formed on my temple.
"You're not going to kill me, are you?" I said with a nervous laugh. I really liked Aaralyn, but I realized at that moment that there was still a lot I didn't know about her.
Aaralyn led the way into a large room, and my eyes were immediately drawn to the enormous wall of windows that looked out over the city. The rest of the room was not at all what I envisioned. I imagined something clean and modern - everything in its place. What I saw instead looked more like a laboratory. There was a desk strewn with computers, papers, and coffee mugs. Wires were everywhere. Aaralyn shed her jacket and hopped up on her desk. She sat facing the large window, and the glow of the sun warmed her face.
Without any warning, she lifted her shirt over her head, and I immediately spun away, my cheeks turning bright red.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." I spluttered.
"It's OK," she interrupted. "This is what I wanted to show you."
I couldn't believe this was happening. I didn't think we were ready for this sort of thing.
"Turn around, Calix," she commanded softly.
I turned slowly, looking at the wires draped from the ceiling. I chose a blue wire and traced it with my eyes until its line curved away from the ceiling and toward the desk...
...where it was plugged into the base of Aaralyn's back. It appeared to connect directly to her spine! Her "skin" appeared to be made of a smooth, white plastic. Her chest and torso were composed of intricate pieces that allowed for flexibility.
"I'm not like the other girls, you know," she said quietly. "I was afraid to tell you because I wasn't sure how you would react. You're not freaking out, are you?"
To say that I was speechless was an understatement. It took me a few moments to understand what I was seeing. Aaralyn wasn't human. She was a Bio-Synth.
"You can come closer. I won't bite!" she said with a laugh.
I stepped closer and took her outstretched hand. She pulled me directly in front of her, and my shadow fell across her face, shielding her from the fading sun. As she looked at me, her irises began to glow a brilliant blue.
"Say something, Calix. Could you ever love a girl like me?" her voice was barely above a whisper.
In answer to her question, I slowly leaned forward and kissed her.
Here is the prompt that generated the image above: A young Android woman sits on top of a table with her back turned to the viewer. A bundle of cables hangs from the ceiling and connects to the woman's neck. The room is cluttered with multiple desks that hold computers, a coffee pot, three mugs. The window looks out on a city at golden hour. The walls are cluttered with calendars, cork boards, diagrams of Android body parts.
I was inspired by this image that I found on Tumblr.
I really like this. The moment draws you in a way that’s relatable, that moment of vulnerability and trust with another person. The surrounding details lead to so many questions that could be explored in a bigger story, nudging the curiosity along. Well done.