Time seemed to drag on for me during my time at the hospital. I can hardly move around by myself, if at all. The first day was the hardest, as I had very little to entertain myself with except my hospital room's TV, and Alice wasn't much for conversation. Every so often my nurse would stop by to check on me and refill my morphine. My nurse didn't seem to acknowledge Alice's presence, who stood quietly in the corner, watching everything that went on.

  Then again, that isn't exactly surprising to me, given how silently she stands there and almost blends into the wall. Were it not for the fact that I glance in her direction every so often, I would have forgotten about her existence as well. The nurse would then ask me if I needed anything, and I would say 'No thanks' which would prompt her to leave.

  Later on after a few hours, I felt the need to use the bathroom, my first thought was to press the 'Call nurse' button for assistance. I then paused, almost forgetting about Alice yet again. I turned to her and expressed my need to use the bathroom. She gave a quick, 'Understood.' and helped carry me towards the bathroom, setting me gently on the toilet seat. At least she was careful so as not to unintentionally cause me harm. She wasn't too rough or jarring, which was a major relief to me and something that I deeply appreciate.

  It was a weird thing, being picked up and helped like this. Definitely something I'm not used to. It kind of makes me realize just how we take certain things for granted, like the ability to walk and being able to go to the bathroom by myself. Now? This is probably going to be routine for me. Something that I would need to adapt to.

  I requested some privacy, prompting her to step outside and leave me alone, though she did leave the door open slightly so that she could hear me in case I needed help or slipped and fell. I used one hand to hold onto a handle bar for support and balance... now I had a better understanding why a patient's gown was open at the back for moments like this. Note to self: get some more shorts or pants that can be easily slipped on and off for when using the restroom.

  Once I was done with my business, I called Alice back in and she dutifully picked me up and gently placed me back into my bed, pulling the covers over my legs and lower abdomen for my comfort. With that done, she silently returned to her 'spot' in the corner, remaining almost as still as a statue. "Thank you for your help." I state in appreciation since one thing my mama taught me when I was growing up was to always express gratitude when people help you or do something for you.

  "Of course." She responded in a robotic and flat tone, making me feel slightly awkward. I'm not really sure how to talk to her, much less communicate with a machine. While she was certainly as lifelike as any human, at least in appearance, she lacked any real warmth and tenderness of a human caretaker that often bonded with their charges. Even so, it wouldn't be fair to not give her a chance. We had only recently met after all. Still, it was slightly off-putting in a certain way... like she knew 'what' to say but not how to mean it. Her words while polite felt... empty.

  This made me wonder... How long has she been active for? How much interaction has she had with humans, if at all? Was she pre-programmed for certain behaviors or would she learn as she went along? I kind of wished I had asked that Carver fella more about her before he left. Maybe I can ask at a later time? He is supposed to show up for a monthly visit, right? I could ask him then.

  Eventually, my mother and step-dad returned to visit me... and they came bearing gifts! My step-dad offered me two plastic containers, one filled with pork loin, and the other with fried chicken tenders that had been soaked in pickle juice. Some of my favorite foods. He also remembered to bring a cooler filled with my favorite sodas to drink, all of them ice cold and ready for drinking!

  My mom brought some of my books for me, more specifically 'The Inheritance Cycle' and 'Lord of the Rings' books for me to read during my stay. She had also brought along my handheld game console along with its charging cable and game cartridges. Finally, she brought me a new cell phone since my old one failed to survive the crash. Most fortunately, the data from my old phone was uploaded to the new one, so I didn't really lose anything.

  My mother took the money from my account since our bank accounts are linked to pay for the phone, not that I minded as it was my responsibility in the first place. Their visit was brief as my mother had to go to work, and my step-dad had a golf game that he had to attend with some of his buddies, prompting them to say their goodbyes and well wishes and leave before I even had a chance to introduce Alice, who remained largely unnoticed.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I decided to dig into my food while it was still warm and began to cut apart a slice of the pork loin with the aid of some provided plastic utensils that my folks brought along. As I took my first bite, I moaned as the juices of the meat almost gushed out and exploded across my tongue. I literally had to suppress the urge to wolf it all down and remind myself to chew, even as the meat almost melted inside my mouth.

  I then glanced at Alice yet again. She was watching me as I slowly reached into the cooler, which had been conveniently placed on a chair so that it would be within my reach as I collected a soda can and popped it open. It felt a bit awkward for me, eating in front of someone who wasn't also eating... even if that 'someone' was a robot that can't eat or enjoy food like I can, or anyone else for that matter.

  Her eyes remained locked on me, never moving or wavering. Her expression unchanged. As statuesque as ever. I'm unable to tell if she is observing my eating habits or puzzling out how and why humans enjoy the flavors of the culinary arts. Those lifeless doll-like eyes made it difficult, if not impossible to tell what she was thinking... or if she was even thinking at all.

  I try my best to avoid overthinking it as I swallow the piece of food in my mouth before preparing to take another bite of pork loin. "Your parents seem to care for you." Alice spoke from the corner, making me turn back to her as I raised an eyebrow. Huh. That was the first time she had said more than two or three words since she first arrived.

  "They don't 'seem to', they really do care for me. Why else would they bring all this stuff for me?" I question dryly, a part of me wondering why she chose to bring that up as I slip another piece of food into my mouth. For a brief moment, her eyes seemed to flicker, though I'm not sure if they actually moved or if it was just a trick of the light.

  Alice did not answer as she resumed standing there as quietly as ever. I tried to look into her eyes, trying to see if I could find anything in those blue orbs of hers... but I couldn't see anything but the empty stare of a doll yet again. Since she didn't appear to have anything further to say, I continued to enjoy my meal in relative peace and silence... but I still couldn't help but wonder where that statement came from or what prompted Alice to finally break her usual silence.

  After I finished my meal, I set aside the plastic containers and patted at my full belly, a quiet burp escaping my lips as I muttered an 'Excuse me' to myself. Given how good my step-dad's cooking is, and the fact that I can live in both wealth and comfort, I would need a means to stay in shape to avoid getting fat. Maybe, when I build my dream home, I should add in a swimming pool? Swimming was something that I enjoyed doing as a child, even if I wasn't good at it.

  Yeah. A swimming pool would be a perfect addition. The indoor kind that was heated would be good. That way I can use it year-round. A little thought to store away and shelve for a later time. With my meal finished, I decided to pick up the first entry to the 'Inheritance cycle' and began to read the first pages. My eyes slowly skimmed over the words before I flipped to the next page.

  As I read my book, I glanced at Alice yet again, who remained stationary as always. I pursed my lips and then asked her offhandedly "Hey, Alice? Don't you get bored standing there all day? You've barely moved from that spot."

  Her head moved ever so slightly to acknowledge me as she responded in a factual tone "Boredom is a human concept. Humans often find themselves restless and as such, try to find a means to occupy themselves for the purpose of entertainment. Sometimes when humans feel that they have nothing to do, they sit and ponder about what they can do to fill the void."

  Wow. Cutting it to the quick, huh? She definitely wasn't wrong though. Humans can be fickle things. "Be that as it may, you shouldn't be expected to stand in a corner all the live-long as if you were a piece of furniture." I responded with a dry chuckle. I smile a bit at her and then produce my copy of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' as I extend it towards her.

  "Here. Give this a read. You might like it." I offer her, in all honesty, I'm not really sure why that I offered. Maybe I was trying to be polite or break the ice, so to speak.

  "Is that an... order?" She asked me in a neutral tone, and for a second, I wondered if she had briefly paused or if I had imagined it. If she had, then it was likely because she had never been offered the chance to read a book before. If so, I was kind of proud to be the first one to give her the chance.

  I shrug my shoulders and casually answer "Let's say for the sake of an experiment that I do 'order' you to take a seat and read this book." Alice stared at the book in silence, and for perhaps the first time, I think that I see the gears moving in her head. As if she were actually thinking about it. Finally, she stepped forward and accepted the book and sat down in an empty chair next to me.

  She opened it and then rapidly flipped through the pages at a blurring speed before snapping it shut and spoke "Done. I have finished reading." I could only blink a few times, as I had forgotten that machines don't process information as humans do. It wouldn't be impossible for her to quickly skim through it and read it within a fraction of a fraction of the time it would take a person to do.

  "Okaaay." I spoke in a slightly drawn out voice before I then added "You read through it... but did you take the time to enjoy the material?" At my question, Alice blankly stared at me, her face completely unreadable.

  "Try again, more slowly this time." I advised her, and after a second or two, she opened the book once more and began to read at a slower and more human pace. That's when I realized something... when I offered her the book, I didn't explicitly 'order' her to read it... she had chosen to of her own volition. That was kind of funny... but maybe that meant there might be something a little more to whatever gears, clockwork or circuitry was buzzing in her head.

  I shrugged to myself and continued reading my own book, feeling a little happy that I wouldn't be reading alone now... and that maybe I had somehow lessened the gap between us. By how much? I don't know... but first steps and all that good stuff.