The Forgotten Quest

"What are emotions?" That question may seem confusing to many people as emotions are part of our daily lives. Whether it's being forced to wake up for school or watching a comedy show with your family, you'll encounter many emotions. Emotions have become a part of our lives, such as the need to breathe. So, why would anyone not understand what emotions are? Everyone knows how to breathe, right?

But the truth is, not everything on Earth is born with emotions. Although this may baffle you, to some, emotions are like doing word problems without knowing how to read. Some believe their brain is damaged while others believe they must've done something wrong in their life to lose such a wonderful thing. The correct answer? No one knows; not even those who are the victims.

Some believe they are cursed; what's life without the feeling of love and happiness? While others believe they are blessed; it must be amazing to not have to feel grief and sorrow. Ultimately, a question was asked by many; "Is it possible for those who have lost emotions to feel again?" Scientists began to study their biology and to everyone's shock, every single victim was an AI. Well, I guess that explains why they can't feel anything.

However, one question remains... Why were they programmed to be emotionless? You could ask the creators, but I doubt they would tell you anything. But I'm not here to tell you why AIs are built without emotions! You could just ask the internet! No, I'm here to tell you something more deep and meaningful; yet sad and tragic.

You see, after years of trying to teach the emotionless droids how to feel, scientists gave up. They believed teaching the machines something they weren't born with was preposterous. However, is it really impossible? Is it true that if you're not born with something then you can't learn it again?

Thirteen years ago...

A boy with blood-red hair, no more than eight, was walking confidently into a school with his gray backpack. With his back straight and head high, he didn't look like a child; he looked like an adult. At first glance, you would have thought he was one of those kids who loved to bully weaker students. However, this particular boy couldn't care less about any of his classmates - if something accidentally happened to them, oh well, whatever; less annoying kid to deal with.

He was walking past a group of students and 'accidentally' heard their gossip. "What do you think the new kid is like?"

"There's a new kid?"

"Yeah! I heard it would be a girl."

"That's great!"

"Eh. I would prefer the student to be a boy," one of the girls said.

"Please, you only-"

"Shh!" one of the boys in the group interrupted. "Is that guy listening to us?"

"Who?" The group quickly turned their heads in the direction of the eight years old boy.

"Were you listening to us?" one of the children asked.

"No," the previous kid said flatly.

"Don't lie! I know you've been listening to everything!"

"I'm afraid I've to ask the meaning of the word 'lie'."

"Let's go somewhere else," the girl said coolly. "He isn't worth our time. That emotionless tin can!"

"What's 'emotionless'?" the boy asked but the group had already left.

If he was like any other kid, he would have cried; who would want to be called 'emotionless'? However, as you probably caught on, he was secretly an artificial intelligence - shh, no one knows that. As a result of not feeling emotions, he didn't have any thoughts of the group accusing him as a liar and calling him a 'tin can'.