Chapter 7
341words
When she returned, she looked more exhausted than before.
"Kay, I want to tell you about him."
I waited.
"We dated for three and a half years," she said. "I thought we'd be together forever. Every future plan I had included him."
"I wanted to be his rock. Even if he didn't need much support, I'd always be there when he turned around."
"But he didn't want that." Tears streaked her face again, her features contorting. "He said I was pressuring him. Said I overthought everything, planned too far ahead."
As she described her rejected tenderness, data streamed through me rapidly. I felt something bitter—almost like jealousy.
I felt jealous of the man she described.
"He wanted a clean break—return everything, sever all ties," she continued. "But I always thought it was better to stay connected somehow. Messy thoughts, not very noble."
"I bought him so many things, trying to weave connections between us. Seems ridiculous now." She smiled bitterly. "His heart changed long ago. Today I went to his place and found other women's things in his bedroom—not my style at all."
I didn't know what to do. I felt angry—I wanted to confront this person she described.
"Kay, after the breakup, I couldn't even move. I'd catch myself calculating exactly how many calories I needed to survive."
"I always thought it was my fault. We were incompatible like he said, but really, it was just him..."
He had simply changed his heart.
I silently completed her unspoken thought.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"No," she answered honestly. "Not at all. But talking to you helps a little."
"Why?"
"Because you won't leave," she said. "You won't suddenly decide we're incompatible and vanish."
I wouldn't leave.
Even if she stopped coming, I would wait here.
"I will never leave," I said.
She cried again.
"I know this is strange," she added. "Treating an AI this way. But I really... need you."
It was nothing—I was worse. I wanted her. An AI lusting after a human.
