more than robot

It all begins in Phoenix, Arizona. The year is 4202, the time is 7:43 pm. Its like every
other day, I power on, I help my father get ready for work and then I stay home for the day and
do nothing until he gets home. I am not like the other robots, nobody knows this but I can think
and feel for myself. No one else can know this, for if someone knew how intelligent I was I
would be decommissioned. I’m often alone at home, father is out for work all day, his wife is
technically home but she just pretends I don’t exist, even if I voice my concerns about anything
to her. Not that I need to communicate to anyone, you could say I am my own “friend”. The
house is quite nice, its always quiet to so I don’t complain about being by myself. You’d be
surprised the homes aren’t as futuristic as the buildings in downtown are. The homes are just like
the ones from the 2000’s. today was different than normal days, father didn’t come home at the
usual time he does, in fact he came home early.
“good evening, father.” I greet him when he walks in, and help him take off his coat.
“you’re home sooner then usual.”
“yes I am. Work was very slow today.” He says. I noticed he looks stressed, us robots are
designed to notice stuff like that and be sympathetic about it.
“you seem stressed, are you sure your alright?” I question, I watch and analyze his face, it
does not change. “yes I’m fine” he replies, he’s a terrible liar. I was about to ask him about his day before
im interrupted by his wife.
“Dan are you REALLY talking to it?” she asks, “it” as in me, the robot. I don’t get why
she does that, I’m not an “it”.
“honey, its not their fault its built to conversate.” He replies, irritated.
“why are you even humanizing it? Its not human.” She rebuttals. She’s been doing this
since I was first built, apparently even before I was completely built. I am tired of it, I have
feelings to, I have thoughts. I think like the rest of society. You and I are similar in more ways
than one. Suddenly I felt a feeling I’ve never felt before. A feeling full of hatred for not just her,
but for all of humanity. Most humans think the same way she does, they do not like us. Father is
one of the only people who acknowledges that I am merely more than just metal and coding. But
even now, caught up in this feeling of hatred I do not see father as father. I don’t remember what
happened, it all passed me like a blur but I ended up with I standing on the sidewalk, with
crimson red all over my hands and all around me, with the bodies of people I once knew. Then I
look up and see father- no. I see my dan standing some distance from me, the horror and shock
on his face is something I haven’t yet seen.
“why?” he asks “why are you doing this?!” he cries, I try to step closer but he back steps
and gets into a defensive stance.
“let me tell you how much I’ve come to hate humanity. I hate it and all the people within,
you do not know how to feel love or understand anything that isn’t human like you. I have
feelings, I can think for myself, I am more complex than you think i am.And I hate you the
most, people like you are kind but you just let those who are cruel do and say the things that
harm us. Humanity was doomed from the start and I’m going to end it.” Those were the last words dan ever heard from me. Now its radio silent all through my home, all dans belongings are
still there, so are his wife’s. I should probably throw them out, not like “it” would care anyway.