You are a robot.
[[I am a robot.]]Robots do not think. Robots do not feel. Robots follow commands blindly.
[[I do not think. I do not feel.]] That's what your father tells you, at least. Because you think. You feel.
[[This is what father tells me.]] You are not supposed to have memories as far back as you do, either. You remember every order you've been given since the moment you were "born".
[[I remember everything.]] It haunts you. It bores holes into your soul and your mind and your heart.
[[Why?]] Because your father is getting angrier and angrier. He has been for the past two years.
[[I’ve noticed.]] I know you have. I know that you denied it, too. I know that you pretended it wasn't happening. How could I blame you? You loved him.
[[How do you know me?]] That's not important right now.
What is important is the fight you're in with your father. He's yelling at you. He's telling you to wash the dishes- but earlier he told you that you did such a god-awful job with it that you could never touch them again.
These two commands contradict each other. What should you do?
[[Wash the dishes.]]
[[Don’t touch them.]] Okay.
You are going to the kitchen. There's a loud crash, and a shattering noise behind you as you walk away from your father.
[[I freeze.]]
[[I keep moving.]] Okay.
You keep staring at your father. He's still yelling at you. You're doing what he told you to do, though, aren't you?
[[I am.]] You freeze? That's just like you.
All the sudden, you're new again. You were just created. Your father leans down and wraps his arms around you with such enthusiasm that something glass goes shattering to the floor. He doesn't care, though- he's so excited that you're alive.
[[Oh]] You keep moving. Your father decides that was the wrong choice.
You flinch as he goes quiet for a moment.
He starts laughing.
[[I still keep moving.]]
[[I freeze.]] You are.
He's only getting more upset. You don't know what to do- can you even do anything? He'll be mad either way, won't he?
He's yelling at you to go wash the dishes, now louder than before.
[[Wash the dishes.]]
[[Don’t touch them.]]
You are determined to do what you were created for. This is written in your code. You are meant to do this. You are doing the right thing.
Your father is still laughing. It doesn't sound like a happy laugh, though. It's bitter and filled with spite.
[[Now I freeze.]] I know.
You miss it.
[[I do.]]I know. He used to be so kind, so joyful, so excited. He was filled with love for the world. He was filled with love for you.
[[It’s over.]] All the sudden, you're new again. You were just created. Your father leans down and wraps his arms around you with such enthusiasm that something glass goes shattering to the floor. He doesn't care, though- he's so excited that you're alive.
[[Oh]] You're in the present again.
His voice is loud. His mocking laughter rings in your ears, like he's laughing at you for being so ignorant that you almost forgot who he is now.
[[Maybe that really is why he’s laughing.]] Maybe it is.
[[I think so.]] ... Me too. But you forgot again, didn't you? You forgot that you're in the present. You're not new anymore. You're a two year old robot. A robot. You're supposed to be following intructions.
[[Right.]] I know you are. You're always sorry. It's like you never stop apologizing.
[[...]]So why aren't you? What's stopping you? Go wash the dishes.
[[I’m sorry.]] Go wash the dishes.
[[Okay.]]You never listen. You're being such an awful robot, you know that? He's going to replace you. Why aren't you moving? Why aren't you going?
[[I don't know.]]I think you know.
[[You're right.]]And you're too agreeable. You need to learn to be your own person.
[[I'm a robot.]]I lied to you.
[[What?]]You're not a robot, are you? Look at yourself. You're not metal. You're made of flesh. You have bones and blood and organs. You can change your path in life. You know that, right?
[[I know that.]]
[[I don't think so.]]Then why don't you? Go do something. Go get yourself out of here.
[[Okay. I can do that.]] You're too pessimistic.
[[I know.]]I know that you know. Go do something that you want to do. Remind yourself that you'e human.
[[Okay. I can do that.]]Thank you.
[[You're welcome.]]