Chapter 5

Dane's fingers trembled as he opened the database backup and clicked on the last test video.

On the screen, I sat in a chair in the lab, my face as pale as a sheet of paper.

Dark circles hung heavy under my eyes, and there was a shallow cut on my gaunt chin - a reminder of bumping into the workbench a few days ago.

"Please describe your deepest feelings," a mechanical voice prompted.

I remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at the camera as if trying to bury all my pain in the depths of my eyes: "I... I love him."

"Would you still be willing if he didn't care about your existence?"

"Yes."I pulled at the corners of my pale lips and said, "Even if he frowns every time he sees me looking weak, even if he never asks if I need to rest. Because I know, this is his dream."

The system continued to ask, "Do you realize you're losing yourself in this process?"