"To hell with ya, fakey!"

The belligerent surfer shredded past us, and I dove underwater to fetch Daniel. The synth-hater must have struck him in just the right spot because Daniel was stiff and really hard to move. This wasn't the first time I had to be fast and take care of him. Pulling Daniel towards the shore was easy enough since I knew getting him over to our spot would be a struggle.

Two teenage boys ran to my assistance. I wasn't sure if they were genuinely supporters of owning an android or if they were just curious as to what mine looked like, but I was grateful for their help and thanked them after we were back under my umbrella.

"Daniel! Daniel!"

I rocked his stiff synthbody back and forth. I felt so alone again. Uncontrollable tears ran down my cheeks. He wasn't responding. I had to reach behind his left ear and press his reset button.

His eyes flickered open and he rolled over coughing up saltwater. A dazed expression took over his face and he looked directly in front of him.

"I am Daniel Johns Model DPJ1997FS. Identification number: ADPJ001. Owner: Jacinda Rose Williams. Address: 44 Highlight Beach Drive, Oaklenberry NSW 2013, Australia."

***

Daniel insisted I ate something after the episode at the beach. He held my hand as we walked through the streets opposite of our neighborhood until I found a restaurant that was appealing.

I drew in a deep breath and set my wine glass on the table. We were seated on the deck facing the ocean with the breeze fluttering through our hair. The sky was dimming. I felt almost good again seeing the reflection of the fairy lights in his eyes.

He said something but he had to repeat himself because I wasn't listening the first time.

"We should drive down to the lighthouse."

My cheeks felt hot.

"What's with you and that lighthouse, Daniel?"

"What's with you not wanting to go back there, Cindy?"

The first night Daniel was in my life (he referred to that night as our first date) was a momentous one. I was living in an apartment further out of town. I was surviving on meals of rice, beans, and canned vegg.

After my grandfather's death, I was even more uncertain about my life. I lost the only person I felt understood me. I stopped going into work. I no longer returned messages from friends. I shut myself in my apartment and shut everything else out.

"Rex is out of town. No excuses. We're going there tonight."

Daniel's words rang in my ears as my eyes caught sight of the sunset behind him. The warm, glowing colors surrounded him. He reached over and squeezed my hand. I wanted nothing more than to have my own reset button. 

💙💙🎸💙💙

tysm 4 reading xx
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