[Date: CORRUPTED]
A camera starts to shakingly record the environment.
The video takes place inside a lab adorned with many birthday decorations.
"This is Nova, recording for the birthday of my dearest friend." The voice sounds like that of a cheerful young woman.
"Esther, this is for you! You're an amazing and brilliant person and this is my way of showing you my appreciation."
Shakingly the whole room is being shown off.
"We're having a surprise party for you! Everyone will be there and you can tell everyone about our newest project!!"
"Oh hey Nova"
A voice behind the camera woman sounds.
The voice of another young woman.
Quickly the camera spins around, to show Esther.
"Esther?! Oh my god, you weren't supposed to be here yet!" Nova yells in a panic.
Esther looks around and giggles: "Aww, you did all of this for me?"
"Yeah, and it was supposed to be a surprise, but there you go ruining things like that again." Nova speaks the words teasingly.
"Sorry." Esther laughs: "You know what I'm like with these kinds of things.
"Yeah..." Nova pouts slightly annoyed at some distant memory.
Then Nova takes her friend by her hand: "Come, let me show you what I did to the other room."
The other room they enter is even more heavily decorated.
In the middle of the room a humanoid robot lies on an operation table, wearing a party hat.
"Don't you think that it's kinda creepy to let it have your face?"
Esther shrugs: "It's like having a twin."
"But then your twin is made of plastic."
Esther laughs quietly: "Yeah, I know."
The girls sit down on a couple of chairs on the side.
"Be nice to her, okay?" Esther asks Nova looking her deep into her eyes.
"Her?"
"Yeah, it's not nice to call her an 'it', right?"
Nova gives in and shrugs: "Yeah okay."
"Be nice to her even if I'm not here anymore, okay?"
Nova stands up: "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Now you're speaking as if you will be dead tomorrow, on your birthday!"
Esther laughs awkwardly: "Sorry I guess I asked that question wrong."
"You better!"
"Yeah..."
"Don't die on us, got that?"
[End of footage]
YOU ARE READING
Artificial Tears
Science FictionIn the year 2037, Edith, a recent university graduate, starts working at the place of her dreams. She makes new friends and learns more about the world. Unfortunately also about what a dark place it can be, as she gets the feeling of someone followi...
