Work Text:
Before
It was a calm August morning. All the birds and insects were still sleeping, the air had a quiet aura. Even though it was summer, Gabriella still woke up early. She was conditioned to waking up at 8 am on the dot everyday for school, but she still grieved the time she didn’t get to sleep in.
The morning was still and calm as she laid in her purple flower patterned bed, she could hear her father’s steps in the kitchen.
She leapt out of bed, deciding against changing out of her pajamas. She stretched her arms, hearing her joints click. She sighed and walked to the kitchen to see what her Father was cooking.
“Morning Papa, what’s on the menu?” She smiled as she sat at the counter.
“Morning Mija. Some scrambled eggs and pancakes for my little champion.” Her father smiled lovingly, ruffling the top of her head as he paused his cooking.
Gabriella giggled as she tucked her head down.
Miguel scooped up some eggs and two pancakes for her, placing the eggs on top of the pancakes just the way she liked it. As he sat down next to her, she noticed something amiss. “Papa, did you make any for Lyla?” She asked. Miguel sighed.
“Lyla? Do you want some breakfast?” He called out. Lyla appeared next to Gabriella, no matter how many times she did it it always made Gabriella jump.
“Why thank you for the invite.” Lyla said humorously, sitting down and chomping down on some holographic eggs.
“Papa, you’re gonna drive me to soccer practice right?” Gabriella asked as she ate her breakfast.
“Of course Mija, 1 o'clock on the dot, right?”
“Sí” Gabriella nodded, her mouth full.
Miguel chuckled. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Gabriella opened her mouth and chewed loudly, making her Father snort and roll his eyes. Once she finished her plate she placed it in the sink and rinsed it, then put it in the drying rack. Gabriella then opened up the fridge door and poured a big glass of orange juice, sliding it to her Dad.
“Coach says we need lots of vitamins to stay healthy.” She teased lightly.
“Mhmm.” Miguel chugged down the orange juice. Lyla then glitched back and forth through the kitchen.
“I’ll be leaving for work, think you can hold the fort down while we’re gone?” Miguel asked as he finished his breakfast. Gabriella took his plate and placed it in the sink as well.
“She always does!” Lyla cheered, making Gabriella smile. She liked to think she was responsible for her age. Miguel ruffled her hair for the millionth time before leaving, Lyla glitched to Gabriella, giving her a kiss on the head.
“Toodles Gabriella! No parties while we’re away!” Lyla teased as she left with Gabriella’s Dad.
About a half hour after they had left, Gabriella went back into her room. Every inch of her bedroom walls were covered in pictures, old memories and magazine cut outs. She had a large cork board that displayed all of the ribbons she’d won in her soccer games. In her sock drawer was her Piggy bank.
She carefully took it out, not wanting to drop it. It had been a gift from her Papa for her 10th birthday. She unscrewed the bottom and dumped all of the loose change she’d collected for the past weeks.
Gabriella remained in her pajama pants but put on her blue jacket, pocketing all of the change. She walked down the hallway to the door, grabbing the house keys on her way out. She locked the door and double checked she had properly locked it.
Walking down the sidewalk, Gabriella looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful day out, not a cloud in the sky. As she waited for the bullet train to arrive. She plugged in her earbuds, humming along to her playlist. The songs were a mix of things her friends had recommended her and music her Papa played for her during car drives.
When the bullet train finally arrived, Gabriella stepped on and sat on the seat and continued to listen to her music.
About 15 minutes later, she arrived at her destination. She stepped off the train and glanced back and forth as she quickly crossed the street. The area was a nice part of town, with lots of cute little local shops.
She looked through each store window but remained on track. She was on a mission. Finally, she reached the bakery. As soon as she stepped in, the smell of freshly baked bread hit her nose. Looking through the display cases, Gabriella wanted to buy every single treat.
Luckily, she was strong of will. “Excuse me? Can I please have that one?” She asked politely to the employee, pointing to a certain pastry. Tres leches cake. Her father had mentioned it before, saying it used to be his favorite dessert.
The employee nodded and took out the pastry, placing it in a fancy box. Part of the reason Gabriella decided to come to this specific bakery was because of how they wrapped their desserts.
“What colour? For the ribbons?” The employee asked, looking over the case at her.
“Blue and red, please and thank you.” Gabriella said eagerly. The employee nodded and cut two different ribbons, wrapping them around the box neatly. Gabriella took the box and held it carefully with both hands and left, shouting out a thank you at the employee as well.
She walked off the curb again back to the stop for the bullet train. Luckily it didn’t take too long for it to arrive.
-
The second Gabriella returned home she placed the box containing the dessert all the way into the back of the fridge, making sure all the other groceries wouldn’t squish it but instead skillfully hide it.
She sat on their comfy couch and watched TV until 12:35.
“Please don’t tell me you just sat and watched TV all day.” Her Papa returned and walked to the back of the couch, leaning over it to look at his daughter.
“No, I promise.” Gabriella joked as Miguel gave her a teasing, knowing look.
“Go change into your uniform, we’ll leave soon.” Miguel nodded his head to her room. Gabriella jumped off the couch and changed into her soccer uniform, she decided against wearing her lucky socks. It was just practice, not a proper tournament.
“Alright Papa! I’m ready to go!” Gabriella called out as she jumped up and down trying to tie her shoelaces together.
Miguel gave yet another ruffle to her hair as she walked past him outside to their car.
Gabriella sat in the front, changing the radio from song to song until she decided on one. “You know, the drivers are supposed to pick the music.” Her Papa smiled as he looked over at her, setting the car into gear and driving down the road.
“Hmm but my song choice is better.” Gabriella smiled widely and stuck her tongue out jokingly.
“Ah, good point.” He chuckled and continued to smile.
The pair walked down the field to her teammates.
“You’ll stay for practice right?” She asked as she looked up at her Dad.
“Of course Mija, there’s no place I’d rather be.”
-
The entire ride home Gabriella told her father excitedly about all of the new moves she was learning for next year. Miguel listened to every word. He pulled the car inside, and the two continued their usual routine of sitting on the couch and watching television.
“Lyla wanted me to remind you, you have a dentist appointment tomorrow. I hope you’ve been brushing.” Miguel said, sliding his arm on the top of the couch and he kicked his feet out.
“Mhmm.” Gabriella murmured.
“And flossed.” Miguel continued.
Gabriella paused and feigned innocence. Miguel raised an eyebrow.
“You can’t lecture me about flossing, you can after I give you your gift.” Gabriella defended herself as she sat up.
“You got me a gift?” Miguel raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Mhm!” Gabriella jumped off the couch to the fridge, sliding the dessert box back out. She presented it to her Dad proudly. “Ta Da!”
Miguel grinned as he opened up the box, careful as to not wreck the ribbons. Gabriella sat down next to him, watching his face. Miguel’s eyes lit up when he saw the dessert.
“My favourite, how did you know?”
“I’m an all knowing powerful being. Plus mind reading.” Gabriella said as she tucked her legs in.
“Of course.” Miguel agreed, splitting the cake in half and giving the bigger piece to Gabriella. She gladly took it.
-
Gabriella flossed and brushed her teeth when the clock hit 9. She sat in her bed, changed back into her comfy pajamas. “Lyla?” She called out.
Lyla quickly appeared beside her. “Goodnight Gabriella.” Lyla said, smiling. Her Papa then came in to say goodnight as well. Exhausted from the long day of practice, Gabriella hugged her Dad. He kissed her forehead.
“Mm… can you stay? Just till I fall asleep.” She murmured as she laid her head against her pillow. Miguel, unable to deny her anything, brushed her hair out of her face and laid down next to her.
“Good night Mija.”
“Night Papa.”
Gabriella drifted to sleep, Lyla on her right and her Papa on her left. She felt safe with the both of them there, safe and loved. Lyla’s hand glitched in and out of the bedsheets, her holographs lighting the room.
Miguel awkwardly fit himself in the twin sized bed while both Lyla and Gabriella slept soundly. He planned on going back to his bed after his daughter fell asleep, but he soon fell asleep as well next to Lyla and Gabriella. He felt at peace, his heart warm.
-
After.
Lyla glitched through the metal door into Miguel’s lab. Her form kept glitching uncontrollably. She was unfocused. If she were a human, she knew she would probably be shaking.
The office space was dark, the floor barely illuminated by the computer screens.
“Miguel’s a mess. Gabriella’s dead, she’s gone.” She said aloud, even though no one was there. Sometimes saying things out loud made them feel more real. It didn’t work.
The pixels of her eyes ached, like tears were supposed to be pouring out. But she was AI, she couldn’t cry.
I don’t have the proper emotions to cry, nor do I have the water to shed any tears, she told herself. She still wiped her eyes.
Maybe if she pretended to cry, this odd painful sensation would go away. Lyla had briefly entertained the idea of wiping the memory of Gabriella from her hard drive, but she couldn’t bring herself to. She wanted to remember Gabriella, to keep her with her.
Lyla glitched down the path, her pixels uncontrollable and chaotic. She placed herself by the area she and Miguel kept her battery. I need to re-charged, Lyla thought. She didn’t want to be conscious.
After I re-charge, I’ll feel better. I can sort through all of my memories, and I can fix these sentiments. Lyla couldn’t afford to be chaotic in this way.
She placed herself in her battery and turned herself off, the computer lights slowly dimming out until she was left in the dark room.