Love For The Future

My Name Is Avisha

It was the first day of winter today. I woke up and gazed out of my window to see a stark white sheet of snow covering the front gardens. I knew that our house keeper Martin would take care of it later. I slowly backed away from the window again. Normally I would start my day off by thinking about what I'm actually going to do that day. That's how everyday started. Or I would make plans the night before and forget by the morning. Calendars didn't work, I tried.

I knew what I was doing today though because mom had reminded me all week. Apparently she was taking me with her to get us a present. I have no idea what it could be. My mom hasn't been excited over anything since dad died. Actually, I don't think she's even smiled. But that changed last week when she said she was getting us something. I wasn't allowed to know what it was yet. Apparently I would find out when I got there. The only thing I can imagine that would make mom that happy would be a holiday.

"Avisha hun! I said we would be there by 9am sharp! Please get yourself organised and come down stairs! I'll be waiting in the car ok!"

"Yes mom!" I shouted back down the stairs. Now I really needed to hurry. I didn't know where we were going so I didn't know what to wear. I felt like being more comfortable today so I grabbed some grey sweatpants and an old sweater my dad had bought me at a football match ages ago. The Dallas Cowboys will forever be my favorite team thanks to dad.

I quickly snatched my phone off of my bedside table and ran down the long flight of stairs. Then I just threw on some converse and ran out the door. Mom was in the car waiting as she had said. I saw her disappointment as I approached her.

"What on earth are you wearing Avisha?"

"What? I want to be comfortable. What's the big deal?" I stated.

"I just didn't want you to look poor at this place but it doesn't matter now, we're already running late." She sighed as she pulled out of the driveway.

The drive was long, agonisingly long. My spotify playlist and my phone were the only things keeping me alive at this point. I could tell my mom wanted to talk to me but she couldn't see any point. I would just give her a dry answer like always and that's where the conversation would end. I was starving too. I didn't have time to eat before I had to sprint out of the house.

Eventually we drove into a mall parking lot which I definitely didn't expect.

"Mom I thought you were taking us somewhere where rich people would be." I said confused.

"No, I just didn't want you dressing like a homeless person that's all. What we are buying is expensive and it's going to look like we don't have the money."

"Mom doesn't everyone already know we have money?" I asked.

"They should dear, they should." She replied as she started walking elegantly towards the entrance to the mall.

I sighed as I followed her in. Not many of the stores were open because it was so early. Only a few like the supermarkets and a few cafés. We turned many corners and went up at least three floors. Mom used to tell me about the times where malls only had two floors and were way less advanced. What a dinosaur. We turned even more corners and walked through the longest of hallways.

"Ah! This should be it here." Mom said as she walked slightly faster than before. I almost had to jog to keep up. We turned one last corner to be face to face with a bright blue and white shop.

"Come on Avisha quick!" Mom called as she walked into the shop.

From a distance I could see human-like robots staring into nothingness. I know what the present is now. One of those dingy ass robots that take care of your house for you. Great. Just what we needed. I walked over to mom who was at the counter.

"Hello, Alison?" The shopkeeper asked.

"Yes that would be me." My mom said excitedly.

"Oh please follow me to our latest android model..." The shopkeeper said as she lead us over past all of the other androids. I took time to look at all of their stupid faces. Why did they have to be so human-like. It was, creepy.

The shopkeeper stopped and presented one of the androids.

"Here he is, model 1001, our latest model may I add."

I looked up to see an android. He looked quite young though. His hair was a golden brown and his eyes a crystal blue. He was perfect. Too perfect. Just like every other android on this planet. Plus, he wasn't human. Androids can't feel human emotions. They are robots.

"So, any suggested name for model 1001?" The lady asked.

"Hmm. Not sure I have one off the top of my head, what about you Avisha? Any names come to mind?"

I thought for a moment. Dad was born in San Andreas. Dad was so important to me I felt like I needed to name this android something after him.

"What about, Andreas." I said confidently.

"Well if you want to set the name I'll turn his servers on for you. Just say, 'set name to Andreas' when he activates ok."

"Ok." I replied.

The shopkeeper went around to the back of his head and did something I couldn't quite see. All of a sudden it was like he came to life. You could almost see him breathing, his hands were moving, his face had almost like life in it.

"Ok umm... Set name to Andreas." I said loudly.

"My name is Andreas." The android replied back in a smooth, masculine, English accented voice. His eyes then changed to yellow and then back to blue.

My life was going to get even weirder.