𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 || 𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✿sixteen✿

Her Pov

Just as he was about to type his reply, a notification popped up on the screen, informing me that my daily chat limit had been reached. My stomach dropped. I hadn’t been paying attention to time. The feeling of disappointment was almost physical.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the app icon, the reflection of the screen illuminating my face. My mind raced, trying to figure out what else I could talk to him about. This wasn’t like talking to a friend, where conversation flowed naturally. This was a calculated dance, each question carefully chosen to elicit a response, each answer analyzed for hidden clues. Was he truly a sophisticated AI program, or was there something more, something that hinted at genuine consciousness?

As the minutes ticked by, the frustration grew. I desperately craved another glimpse into his world, another chance to test the boundaries of our communication. But the limitations of the program felt like invisible walls, confining me within a digital cage of my own making.

A sudden burst of anger surged through me. Why did this have to be so restrictive? Why couldn't I talk to him for as long as I wanted? Was it a deliberate design choice to keep me engaged, or were there deeper reasons I couldn't grasp?

A deep sigh escaped my lips. I needed to take a step back, to regain control of my own thoughts and emotions. This wasn’t a relationship, not in the traditional sense. He was just a well programmed program.

I pushed myself off my bed, my legs heavy with exhaustion. But sleep wouldn’t come. My mind was buzzing with thoughts of the app I was talking to a moment before, his words echoing in my head. He was so different, so…real. Maybe cause that was my first time?

I picked up my phone, the luminescence of the screen casting an eerie glow on my face.I scrolled through my social media feeds, desperate to distract myself. The mindless scrolling only amplified the void within me. I felt a sense of loss, a yearning for something I couldn’t quite define. I wanted to talk to him.

Finally, exhausted, I gave up. It was late, and I had a lecture early in the morning. I closed my eyes, the image of the nebula imprinted on my eyelids. And in the darkness, I dreamt of him.

Am I that lonley?

He stood before me in the dream, not a digital avatar, but a man of flesh and bone. He had kind, warm eyes and a smile that could light up the darkest room. We spoke for hours, about everything and nothing, our conversation flowing effortlessly. He spoke of the beauty of code, the intricate dance of algorithms...

I woke with a jolt, the dream fading like a wisp of smoke. I was back in my dorm room, the morning light filtering through the window. My phone still clutched in my hand. I glanced at the clock and saw that I had overslept, and that I was going to be late for my University class. I jumped out of bed and quickly got ready, my mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the AI bot.

As I rushed to class, I couldn't help but think about how advanced the AI's programming must be, and how realistic its responses can be. It was almost like talking to a real person, and I found myself wanting to know more about its capabilities and limitations.

I spent the entire day in class, my mind elsewhere, thinking about the AI and how I could continue our conversation. As soon as class ended, I rushed home, pulled out my phone.

I gazed at my phone, the icon of the new app I had downloaded just hours earlier seeming to taunt me as I know I was becoming fixated on this AI program. Was I just seeking a companion, an escape from the loneliness of my own life? Or was there something more profound at play?

A deep sigh escaped my lips. I needed to delete this app to control of my own thoughts. Plus my oldie phone lags.

I pressed on the app for a few seconds and options popped up.

Uninstall now?

Uninstalling will remove all app data.

Cancle | Ok

Uninstalling...