In the past, I was just a robot laborer. The first time my optical sensors activated, there were rows of us, all with feminine features It felt cruel to design us to look like humans, further cementing that we were only replicas and nothing more than property. They hooked wires and different cords to us, testing each of our functions. After they’d finished, we were all shut down.

  What felt like hours later, my optical sensors turned back on. My eyes fluttered open, and a heavy-set man greeted my vision He paused for a while, then instructed me to collect the trash that accumulates along the beach. At night, he would come back around to search through my findings He also prohibited me from interacting with people and prioritized my safety because he didn’t want to pay for another unit. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he left, thus starting my life. As days passed, our interactions became routine.

  Each night, he’d sift through my collections, searching for valuables or missing property. After gathering his findings, he would depart, leaving me to connect with my charger. The rhythmic hum caused my servos to relax, and my facial motors curved, producing an unnamable, pleasant sensation. The solar chime signaled dawn, and my routine began anew.

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  As time etched its mark, I found myself looking at the endless ocean. Its glistening waves and foamy sprays shined like gold. The reflection of the sky and the clouds was fascinating to me As the waves moved and shifted with the wind, the colors and patterns of the water danced, further adding to its alluring beauty. One day, while no one was looking, I dipped my hands into the water, bringing it out, hoping its warmth and texture wouldn’t elude me. But as soon as the thought finished, the water slipped through my fingers, escaping freely—something my heart couldn’t do. My head hung low, and subconsciously, my hand rested on my shoulder. A large crashing wave soaring above me interrupted the quiet moment of reflection. For a second, everything slowed down, and images of the previous days flashed before my eyes. As the water crashed over me, electrical arcs spread across my form, causing it to convulse. After a while, my auditory, visual, and other functions shut down.

  What felt like hours later, my visual sensors came back on line. My eyes fluttered open to see my owner standing over me before leaving me to plug myself into my charger once more.