"Hi... Hello... "Hello everyone," she said every time she saw someone. Araceli is a very friendly person with a genuine heart and mind. She never left anyone behind. Whatever kind of person you might be, she’s known in their school because of her cool inventions in robotics. Whether an object or even little creatures like ladybugs, ants, and bees, she even invented new kinds of creatures like unicorns or flying fairies. She makes things that will live in this world.
"Are you ready for the competition?" her professor asked as she entered the office.
"Yeah? I guess so... "she nervously chuckled while trying to calm her sweating hands. Her professor noticed it and he smiled, "Oh c’mon, you’re acting like it’s your first time."
Araceli took a deep breath and told herself that she could do it. She used to talk to herself, especially in her darkest days, because she believed that you could fix yourself.
After a long time of preparing her work, it’s finally time to show it to everybody. When it’s time to take off the blanket that covers her invention, she gets nervous and her hands start to sweat again.
This is impossible for me.
She looked at the crowd and searched for someone, but her eyebrows furrowed when she remembered that she had no one to support her on this journey she was taking. Because of what she thought, her nervousness was covered by the pain that she had only caused.
Araceli removed the blanket, revealing her metal-made earth. Everyone gasped once they saw her invention, while some started to murmur because what they saw was just a simple round globe. She began to panic as she saw the reactions of the audience. She looked backstage, where her professor was, but he motioned for her to start talking and tell them what she thought they could do with a simple globe.
She first cleared her throat and then stepped forward. She pushed a button, "I want to go to Japan." Suddenly, the metal in the globe took on the shape of a Japanese country. Everyone was shocked as they witnessed the change of a simple globe into an amazing one. "I want to see Mount Fuji," and the metals formed Mount Fuji there. "With this invention, all of us can easily identify things, places around the world, the capital of the country, and tourist spots..." she looked at every person inside the auditorium "Because of this, no one will be left behind in terms of learning about geography and what things look like." She pushed another button, and it turned on the little lights in some parts of the globe. It’s like the world is in its night mode. The globe looks like it has been carried by the fireflies around it. "I hope this invention of mine will not be handled by only one person, because I dedicated it to every child, homeless, uneducated, and undergraduate, especially those people who dreamed of being in other countries, to give them inspiration that it’s not too late to take action." She said, full of inspiration and the crowds gone wild, it’s like those cheers were feeding her dying soul.
The auditorium was filled with amazement and praise for Araceli. She becomes emotional and tells her professor how she witnessed how people were amazed because of what her inventions did and their purpose.
"Good job, Araceli. I told you, you can do it, " her professor exclaimed with joy and pride.
"Well, I can’t do it better without your help, sir," she said as she bowed down before the professor.
"Both of you were excellent and brilliant," someone said to the professor and Araceli. A middle-aged man in a professional suit looked at Araceli from head to toe. "You're a good inventor, but you're not that fit, Miss Araceli," he joked, without considering how the young lady might feel. Araceli faced down as she felt threatened by what the stranger said.
"Anyway, I like how you did your invention. It’s pretty cool, but it’s... useless. " Araceli’s heart skipped a beat because of what the guy said. "As you can see, teachers will be useless if we have that thing." He pointed at the metal globe. “Well, yeah, it would be easy for those other people, but what about those professors who earned their degree, spent 5 years, and then just replaced them with your invention?" Araceli was left speechless, knowing that the stranger had a point. "Before you do your invention, always anticipate everyone, not just them, you, his, her, it should be us."
"All right sir, we’ll take note of that." The professor cut him off when he noticed his student was struggling.
As he handed over a small calling card, the formal guy said, "If you're ready to create something useful, just give me a call."
Araceli felt disappointed. She feels like her work isn’t helping people, instead causing problems. She feels like she let down the hopes of her classmates and professors because of her useless invention. She thinks she’s not good enough to be on top. She now over-thinks and asks for her worth, but no one ever notices it.
Araceli went home and was still thinking about what happened earlier. She went to her kitchen and started cooking for her dinner.
Araceli’s living alone in her small and simple house. She has literally no one to be with. Her mother and father were separated, and she decided to separate also. She has money that comes from her prizes for winning the best inventions. Her creativity is what keeps her alive. That’s why she was so disappointed in what the stranger said to her. There would be no life if there was no competition.
"I’ll probably start to draw my outlines again," she said after she put the boiling water on her cup noodles and faced her wall that was full of outlines. She sighed heavily and sat down. "I think I ruined everything. Why can’t you think deeply, Araceli? "she said angrily while hitting her head.
She stopped when someone called her. "Hello?" she answered.
"Oh, thank God you answered. What happened? Your professor said that he couldn’t reach your phone. We're so worried," her friend worriedly said.
"Don’t be, I’m fine. I’m having my dinner"
"Really? With whom? "
Araceli furrowed her eyebrows. She wondered what her friend was saying on the other line "With me? I eat alone. "
Her friend chuckled on the other line, "Oh, gosh, I thought you were with someone. I’ll be so happy when you start dating. "
Araceli faced down and saw her tummy and felt her double chin. "Uhmm, I gotta go. I have to finish my dinner, and I have a lot of work to do. " She hung up and took a deep sigh.
She felt insecure when she faced her reflection in the mirror. She looked at every part of her imperfect body. “I look like a monster. How can the professor tolerate such a face? " She said with disdain as if she wasn't talking about herself.
She went upstairs and sat in the corner of her room, and there she locked herself up in darkness. Embracing the misfortunes that are given by God, voices are everywhere. She always hears voices when she’s alone. She hears voices that remind her how unlucky she is. The voices that keep echoing the voices of the people who brought Araceli down. She hears voices who want her to tie and hang a rope on the ceiling. A rope that would be the cause of her death. A death that could take the pain away but could bring suffering to her soul.
Before she could decide on her painful fate, her phone rang. She stared at it like she wasn’t expecting someone to text her in the middle of her suffering. She took it and read it.
Inspirational Quotes for Depressed People Daily Reminder : You can be an angel in your own way. Remember that angels were given tasks in order to test how faithful they are to God.
It’s not a text but a daily reminder from her downloaded app, Inspirational Quotes for Depressed People She sighed and softly chuckled because, in her mind, she was saved by what she had downloaded before.
"Thank you, my past self, you saved my life," she joked before standing up and fixing herself. Araceli dropped her phone on the bed and faced herself in the mirror. "Araceli, you should stop over-thinking." She talked to herself and suddenly stopped when she realized that she couldn’t do it. "Or maybe, limit your overthinking. Just don’t let it get to the point of killing yourself, okay? " She asked for approval, then she nodded while looking at her reflection. She stared at it for a long time. "I think I’m a crazy big fat pig," she seriously said and then laughed "Who cares anyway?" She flipped her hair and even made poses in front of the mirror. She even danced and acted in front of it until she became serious, as if she had become the real Araceli. She smiled emotionally and tears began to flow through her cheeks.
You can see in her eyes how tired she is of acting every day, facing people who always bring her down, dealing with it, and fighting for herself every day. Despite being cruel to her, all she cares about is that no one else feels the same way she does.
“I’m beautiful. I’ll say it since no one can do that for me, "she chuckled, and suddenly got an idea. “No one can say that to me” she repeat what she said and looked at her bare hands
"Omg, where’s my pen?" She hurriedly found her pen, sat down on her chair, faced her study table, opened her lampshade, got her scratch paper, and started outlining the new project that she called, The Metal Hearted Human Being.
This would be the first time she would create a cyborg. The fruit of her suffering.
She spent her whole life creating her masterpiece. After school, she comes home early. Her classmates asked her out, but she declined, claiming she was too busy doing something new. Even the professor was worried about his student because of the sudden change in her behavior. She even brought her plate to her working area just to finish it as soon as possible.
After several months, her project was almost done. The robot’s skin looked like a real human's. The hands, the face, and the lips, were perfectly carved by Araceli’s gifted hands. "You’re almost done, handsome," she said with a sweet smile on her face while combing the hair of the robot.
My disaster life will end here, and a beautiful life will begin now.
"Araceli, wait!" her friend called to Araceli’s attention.
"Yes?" she answered with a smile.
"Good to see you smiling, Ara." Araceli’s smile was adopted by her friend.
"Thanks.." she said shortly and looked away. She's avoiding eye contact, and it makes her friend worried.
"I know what you’re going through. It’s hard, but I know you’re strong. "
She cut her up with a smile and a gentle touch on her shoulder, "Don’t worry, I’m fine."
A worried expression appeared on her friend's face. "Araceli.." She held Araceli's hand on her shoulder. "You know I'm always here for you, right?" she asked.
But Araceli was confused. ‘Are you always here? When?’ "I’m sorry, I don’t remember you being there when I needed you." She slowly removed her hand from her friend’s shoulder. She’s not being sarcastic, she’s just being real. "You always say you are here for me, you stand by my side, but I honestly don’t feel your presence."
Her friend didn’t expect what she said. She doesn’t know how to react: to get angry or to get disappointed because of Araceli’s way of thinking about her.
“I don’t even know if you really are my friend or if you’re just using me to get your fame. I... I thank you for at least giving me fake care because without it, I'm probably on the ground right now, "Araceli said, hiding her shaking hands behind her back.
"Araceli, you were wrong"; her friend tried to take her hand in hers, but she refused and stepped back to avoid her. "Araceli, I truly cared for you, and I never used you for fame. You’re like my little sister. "
"No! I know you used me. Even the professor used me. All of you, you used me. For what, huh? Why are you doing this to me? " Araceli cried and knelt down, "I haven’t done anything to you---"
"Araceli, calm down! Stop over-thinking! Don’t listen to your mind! " Her friend shouted.
Araceli covered her ears; she didn’t want to listen to her "My mind knows what is right and wrong! So don’t you dare say that to me, and I will never listen to you, you traitor! " Araceli shouted back and left her friend shocked by what she said.
Araceli, you’re not ‘you’ anymore.. her friend whispered in her mind.
"I hate her! I hate her so badly! I want to kill her, rip her throat, and throw her body in the lake! " She disdainfully said. Suddenly, conscience struck her heart. She put her hands on her knees and hugged them tightly, and there she began to cry. "What have I done?" she asked herself while sobbing. "This isn’t me. What’s wrong with me? "
Suddenly, a light appeared and she heard robotic noises, indicating that a robot was moving "You are suffering from depression caused by stress physically." The robot starts to re-scan Araceli. "And emotionally," the robot added. He comes near her and sits her down. "Your heart rate is increasing at its normal rate. You need to---" The robot didn’t finish what he was saying because Araceli hugged the robot tightly.
She was amazed at what she had done. She didn’t expect that her project would work. "Let’s see what you can do, handsome," she said, full of enthusiasm, and went to her working area.
The robot followed her and looked around her working area. This place contains cobwebs and dust. You may possibly get your nose itchy and that may produce bacteria when you sneeze. It will contaminate the people you are interacting with" Araceli didn’t listen to him. Instead, she was busy typing and saving files to a small chip that she was going to give to her robot. The chip contains personal information about her and some life lessons that Araceli has learned from the past.
"Your heart rate keeps increasing without you exercising. You should go and rest," the robot suggested.
Araceli removed the chip from her personal computer and had a full smile when she faced the robot while holding a chip "I hope it will work," she prayed, pressing the chip port of the robot and placing the chip inside.
The robot suddenly stopped moving and shut down. Araceli begins to panic, goes back to her computer, and looks for malfunctions. But she hasn’t found anything. Suddenly, something appeared on her computer that said, "Robot 001 is downloading its database."
Araceli felt relieved when she read it. She held the robot's shoulder and tapped its head. "Soon, you will be one of us," she said, full of assurance, and hugged him tightly as if he was 100% human. "I hope you will never feel pain the same as I’m suffering today."
Weeks have passed, but still, the robot hasn’t finished downloading the whole database that was given by Araceli. While the robot is asleep, Araceli takes the chance to upgrade the physical appearance of her invention. She colored the skin of the robot. She even bought clothes, underwear, and pants. She also designed him a simple bedroom that is placed beside her at a little distance from her.
Araceli skipped school because she was too focused on her invention. Her professor comes by her house, and he’s astonished when he sees the robot lying in his bedroom that Araceli designed.
"Holy cow!" the professor exclaimed, and he removed his reading glasses to see it clearly. Araceli looked at the professor with a smile, as if she already knew his reaction "So this is what you’re doing the whole day?"
"Not just a whole day, but almost a whole year." She went near to her robot and removed the blanket, showing the professor its whole appearance. "Isn’t it cool? I just made a human made of robots," she said blissfully.
The professor looked Araceli in the eye. She can see through the young lady’s eyes that she’s happy about what she’s doing. A thing that he hasn’t seen before when Araceli does her inventions. The professor smiled at her and said, "I’m proud of you, Araceli."
Araceli smiled back, "Thanks, professor."
A sudden silence reigned between the two of them as the professor was curious about why Araceli had made a human robot.
"What’s wrong, professor?" she asked.
"I wonder why you created such a thing." As the professor asked, Araceli’s eyebrow furrowed. "I mean, I know every invention has a backstory or a reason, but why did you end up creating such an invention? Is there any inspiration of your own? Or you—"
Araceli cut him off with a heavy sigh, "I made him because I want someone who can stay with me at my worst. I want a friend that won’t hurt me and leave me hanging in the thread. I want someone to save me from my despair. "
"Well, you have us. I know you have friends. Everyone wants to be friends with you", the professor tried to convince her, but she didn't.
"Haven’t you heard what I’ve said, professor? I said I want someone who can stay with me at my worst, a friend that won’t hurt me or leave me and save me from my despair. But then no one came. "She wiped her tears while faking a smile "So I made my own friend. At least I won’t bother you anymore. "
"Araceli." The professor tried to reach her but she refused.
“I’m insecure about my looks, my appearance. That stranger in the auditorium made me question my worth, my friend made me feel unworthy and you made me feel I’m alone..” she added “I thought we’re family, family supposedly help each other but you all the reason why I’m in this kind of state”
The professor tried to come near her but she stopped as the robot started to move and give him a deadly glare “Enemy locked..” the eyes of the robot changed its color to red and started to generate his weapon.
But before it shot towards the professor, Araceli made it stop. “Professor, please leave. I don’t want to go back there. I want to live alone until I die”
“Araceli, you have your potential. It’s a waste of your potential if you don’t show it to them”
“Professor, I already did. They don’t accept my potential that you say”
“Araceli--”
“At my young age, I already experienced this pain. I want to be free somehow. I want to be free from the darkness. Can you please just let me go? I’m tired of showing you that I’m ok, that I’m happy, that I’m brave..” she held her robots’ shoulder “With him, I don’t have to lie or pretend anymore, I won’t be alone, he won’t leave me like you always do”
The robot felt something in his metal heart as he heard and understood what Araceli said. ‘I can feel sadness,’ he said with excitement in his mind.
The professor took a deep sigh and bit his lip. He didn’t agree with Araceli but he can’t do anything other than support her as the legal guardian of Araceli. “I’m sorry for my shortcomings. I hope you will find in your heart the forgiveness for us. You can call me if you--”
“Yes no worries..” She cut him off because she’s done hearing those words which are not upheld.
After the professor left, Araceli prepared for her dinner. The robot began to worry for her so he re-scan her “You are not ok..”
Araceli scoffs “Yeah, who would be happy throwing some memories”
“Why do you have to throw those if you could keep it?”
Araceli faced him and smiled emotionally “If my operation to you become successful, you will understand what I’m saying”
“Is having a memory to someone can cause you pain?” the robot innocently asked
Araceli poured hot water on her cup noodles “Yes…sort of?” she then chuckled “Does it sound like I’m a bad person?”
The robot furrowed his eyebrows “No, master. You are just stating your opinion”
“Nah. Don’t call me master, call me Araceli”
“Saved in my database” the robot lively said that caused Araceli to smile genuinely.
“You’re cute” Araceli with a smile
The robot felt something in his metal heart. Because of what happened, a memory formed in his mind and stored it in his database. He touched his head with the presumption of touching the memory stored in his mind.
“I have a memory, Araceli. Will I experience pain the same as you do?” he asked, full of ignorance.
Araceli smiled “Don’t worry about having a lot of memories, worry when you feel emptiness”
Suddenly, the scanner of the robot began to beep. He looks at Araceli as he sees that something’s wrong in Araceli’s heart.
“What’s…..wrong..” before Araceli landed on the floor, the robot catches her.
The robot immediately took Araceli to the hospital. He’s worried about his master and begins to scan its database to look for an answer as to why that happened to the young lady. But he found no answer.
He sat on one of the chairs in the waiting area, worrying for Araceli. Suddenly, the doctor came out from his office while holding some papers. The robot stood up and faced the doctor. The doctor noticed something different from the human-robot but he just ignored it and focused on his aim, which is his patient’s condition.
“Are you her family?”
The robot immediately re-scan its database that Araceli gave her and found out the answer “Her family is dead. I’m her friend”
The doctor took a deep sigh and flipped his paper “The patient has a heartbroken syndrome. Every pain she might feel will cut every string that is connected to her heart and may lead her to…death” the doctor explained “As soon as possible, don’t trigger her. Especially remembering some painful past or embarrassing moments for her” the doctor further explained. The robot already downloaded it in his database.
After that night, Araceli was discharged from the hospital as she decided to go home. She didn’t believe what the doctor’s said, but deep inside of her, she’s afraid to die.
“Are you angry?” the robot suddenly asked when they arrived at home.
“Yes, because that doctor is lying. I’m not dying, for heaven’s sake!” she said hysterically “I’m not dying, ok? Don’t believe in him” Araceli said while her voice is shaking
The robot noticed that she’s starting to hurt herself. He thinks immediately of what he’s going to do to make her happy. He searched in his database and found out that Araceli loves adventure with nature.
“Let’s create something new. Let’s go for adventure..” he lively said
Araceli wiped her tears and looked at him with hope and relief “To where?”
“To everywhere!” he said as he grabbed Araceli’s hands and together they went outside of their comfort zones.
As they go on their adventure, they can’t avoid judging eyes of people looking at them. Araceli felt those eyes looking at them, but before she starts to fade her beautiful smile, the robot cupped her face and smiled at her “Don’t look at them, you are beautiful, Araceli” he sincerely said and held the young lady’s hand and together they ran away from those people who can’t see their worth.
For the first time, in the middle of her suffering, someone made her special, someone escaped her from the prisoner of her mind and despair.
“Thank you..” she said as they both watched the sunset from the lawn they’re sitting on. “I haven’t felt this in my entire life” she emotionally looked at him and the robot did the same thing “How I wish this day would never end..” she said and leaned on the robots’ shoulder.
“We have made a lot of memories today, Araceli, you will never be empty again” the robot innocently said. But he didn’t know that Araceli is crying with pain, because of the memories that she will surely miss.
‘I’d rather die holding on to this memory…with you’ . Araceli felt too much pain but she endured it so the robot won’t worry.
They both go home. Araceli went to her room and rested. The robot slept in his own room. He looked at Araceli even though Araceli didn’t face him. He’s happy because he made his master happy at the same time crying because he knew that he can’t cure her, that he can’t do anything.
‘Pain is everywhere, I can’t make Araceli avoid those..’
But he didn’t know that Araceli tried her best not to make noise of her crying. She lost another string of her heart and began to weaken her heart. She can’t breathe properly but she still manages not to make any noises.
‘Please bare with me, heart’ she pleases her heart as she keeps on massaging her chest. But her heart and mind betrayed her as she remembers those happy moments, those dark days, those moments when she had her family, the day where the robot came and the day that the doctor told her that she’s dying.
She can’t hold it any longer, she stands up from her bed and catches her breath. The robot immediately ran towards her “Araceli, what is wrong with you? What happened?”
“It hurts..” she said with a shaking voice while massaging her chest.
“Why does it hurt? I made you happy. I did what the doctor said, I..I made you happy” the robot cried because he didn’t know what to do
Araceli held his cheeks “I’m sorry.. Soon you will understand..”
“No, Araceli. Breathe. Please breathe. Calm your mind. I am here, you are not alone”
Araceli did what he said, and she became calm. The robot scanned her, and he found out that there’s only one string left holding the girl’s heart. His eyebrows furrowed to stop his tears from falling. He put the blanket on Araceli.
“You’re crying…my project worked” she said with a weak voice as she caress his cheeks
“I’ll let you rest..I’ll be here watching you” he smiled but the pain in his eyes cannot be covered by anything.
Araceli nodded and closed her eyes but deep inside she’s not asleep. Her mind wouldn’t let her sleep. She’s scared of death. She can feel that it’s too late. It’s too late for her to experience happiness because happiness made her suffer this much. But she wouldn’t blame anyone, because she wants to be happy too.
‘Maybe I’ll just wait for the morning..I want to feel the warm in my body again for the last time’
Later on, the chicken crowed. The robot drew the curtains to let the light enter Araceli’s room. Araceli sat down on her bed and waited for the robot to look back at her.
The robot was worried when he saw Araceli already pale and weak. He immediately came near her and knelt in front of her. “Do you need anything?”
“Can you walk with me for a while?” she asked.
Even though the robot didn’t understand what his master said, he still followed her wish. He held Araceli with care and gentleness and walked with her.
“I wish I could turn back the time when I made you, I should have created you even more handsome,” she joked. He glared at her reason for the fainting girl to laugh. “C’mon I’m just kidding”
The robot was too stunned by the beauty of the girl “You are beautiful, Araceli” he said unconsciously
Araceli smiled genuinely from her heart “I know…thank you” for the first and last time, Araceli felt healed within her soul and accepted herself wholeheartedly.
The young woman weakened completely, causing her to hold tightly to the robot's arm as it stood up. “Should I call for the doctor?” He was about to call an ambulance but Araceli stopped her.
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“I’m scared...but I have to let go” she sobbs
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He caressed the cheeks of Araceli and faked his smile to comfort her “You don’t have to be afraid, I’m here. I’m here with you”
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She smiled back at him and slowly her smile faded. As her smile fades, her soul travelled up in the sky to heaven carrying those memories she made with it.
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Many years have passed, the robot left alone. He’s living as if he is one of the people living around the world. Ever since the day Araceli left him, the robot never smiled. He always recalls those memories they both shared. He always looked up in the sky, waiting for his master to come back but he knew it wouldn’t happen.
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“Now I understand why memories make Araceli feel in pain..” he took a deep sigh and leaned his back on the chair in the terrace as he recall all those memories with Araceli “It's hard to be a robot, especially if you're programmed for her” he stood up and felt the fresh air as if Araceli caressed his cheeks. Now he will live with his memories of her that come from his metal heart.
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