I defy my mother and race over to Ben's house, fighting my tears. I can only make sense of this with him. This is between him and me, and no one has the right to come between whatever we are to each other now.
Ben's father answers the door, and he pulls me inside. His mother appears a moment later. They're upset. They've both been crying.
Ben is gone, they confide. At first, I don't understand why they're sharing this with me.
They told Ben the truth. They finally told him he was a stand-in. In light of what's happening, they thought it'd be reassuring. They thought he would take comfort in knowing he won't die. Because he doesn't really sleep.
I don't believe them when they say this, not for a second. They're still deceiving him. They're deceiving me. Telling Ben now has nothing to do with Ben. It's about them. They're reassured by it. Their "son" won't die because he's an android. He won't die because he already did.
Ben is gone, and he told them he was never coming back, and I don't blame him.
They want to know if I know where he is. It's the reason they've been telling me all of this. They're desperate to see him again, and they want my help. But I don't know anything, and even if I did, I wouldn't share it with them. They don't deserve to know.
YOU ARE READING
WAKE ME UP
Short StoryIt's 2040, and 18-year-old Tiana admits to sleeping through most of her life. But Ben woke her up. How could he not? All those scars intrigued her. They may be an odd couple, but being cast as some sort of Romeo and Juliet never made much sense...
