When I woke up the sun was just creeping in through a tiny slit between the curtains. I saw his body rise and fall with each gentle breath. Breaths he didn't even need to take.

I had not looked at my Synthetic so closely in a very long time. I did not want him to think there was anything wrong with me, so I observed him quickly. He was programmed to wake up and fall asleep within minutes of me.

There was his scar on the top of his left shoulder. We had a fight after Rex and I had become more serious. Daniel was furious with me. He could not understand how I could love another because he could not fathom it at all. He ran away from our apartment and was missing for almost a week.

The Synth Police found him under a bridge downtown. Some humans most likely targeted him one night and roughed him up. There was a massive gash on his shoulder and it was very hard for the menders to not leave a scar behind.

Daniel was the first of his brand. One of the first of a line of synthetic humans Aurora made from their brand new Pleasure and Care Division, Living FANtasy Robotics. People were lining up to get their synth versions of Marilyn Monroe, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande--the list was endless.

Imagine having Marilyn or Brad do your laundry, run your errands, and attend to all your other needs as well.

I was the first one to request Daniel Johns. Aurora was so enamored with my selection they offered me a generous discount during my free estimate meeting in Sydney. How could I have backed out then? I was already willing to give them all the money my late grandfather had left me. At the discounted price, I thought Daniel Johns Model DPJ1997FS was a steal.

I was twenty-four years old and smitten with my purchase in every way. Later I found out the consultant I had spoken with was born in Newcastle--the very town Daniel Johns was born and raised in.

The humans that pounced on him must have figured he was an older model. Not one synthetic brand or model is perfect. Mine happened to have horrible vision at night. He had no clue what was about to happen to him and no time to react. Luckily, he was made well and the human attackers were not absolute psychos.

Reports were on the news daily. Synthetics' heads rolling in the streets. Random synth body parts shoved into bins and strewn all over family beaches.

Synthetics were created to help humans. Over time they took away jobs, though, because they could do them so much more efficiently. Shortly after that, they took the place of human help and then lovers, assisting in a way that was more personal and at first very taboo.

Whether for labor, care or pleasure, many humans were still against androids of any variety in our world. The Synthetics engineered by Living FANtasy Robotics infuriated them the most. 

However, Aurora kept making them, and humans kept buying them. 

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tysm 4 reading 

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