“Will, what’s death?” The synth named William turned to look at Grant, its cpu humming quietly from within. It took a moment to formulate a response, the AI taking its time to find the right answer.

“Death is when something stops living, Grant.” The little boy frowned, leaning forwards in his bed.

“But, how can something stop living? I thought we lived forever?” He asked the synth. William took another moment to calculate his answer.

“Death is a term from an age long gone, Grant. Where did you hear it?” William asked. Grant leaned back, apparently satisfied.

“I dunno. I heard my mom saying something about it, then, like, something about percents? I really dunno. It’s all just grown-up talk to me.” The little boy said. He took a second to find a comfortable spot in his pillows, leaning back with a small smile. He never would’ve admitted it, but Grant loved all the rest and attention he’d been getting ever since that doctor’s appointment. He opened his eyes and giggled. “Do synths die, William?” Grant asked. The synth nodded, his plasticine skin almost orange under the evening light streaming in through the window.

“Death wouldn’t be the correct term, Grant. We get recycled, used again once we can no longer be of service.” The synth finished. He looked at Grant and realized the boy was confused. “However, for your understanding… yes. Yes we do.”

“Oh.” Grant said. His eyes sank, a sadness diffusing through him. “But, but then what if you leave me? Are you gonna do that William? Die and leave me alone?” Grant asked with rising panic. The synth smiled.

“Grant, I would never leave you alone. Never.” The synth’s eyes rose, landing on a slowly rising line across the room, quietly tracking its progress across the screen. “He turned back to the child. “Now. It’s time for you to get some rest. Remember, we don’t want you to feel sick for too long.” The synth said. Grant nodded.

“Okay.” He said with a yawn. “G’night Will.” William pulled the covers up and over Grant’s arms before stepping away and turning off the light.

“Goodnight, Grant.”

“Why can’t I go outside?” Grant asked. His arms were folded and a pout had spread across his face.

“To start,” said William, “You’re only in your underwear.” Grant nodded.

“Yeah, but I can put on clothes fast. Come on, the doctors won’t know if we just go for a few minutes!” Grant said. William shook his head firmly, reaching out and tousling Grant’s hair.

“And, if you had let me finish,” The synth said with a chuckle, “You would know that the second reason is because we don’t want you to get sick again. Remember when you had that bad cough a few nights ago?” William asked. Grant nodded, disappointment clouding his features.

“Fine.” Grant said. He sat back, waving his tiny arm to close the shades. William looked at him from his position next to the bed.

“Do you want me to tell you a story?” He asked Grant. The boy turned over, rolling so he was facing away from William.

“No. No story right now.” Grant said. William could detect the sadness in his voice, his AI quickly coming to a decision.

“Wait for a moment, Grant.” The synth said. Grant did as he was asked, listening quietly as the synth got up and left the darkened room. He sniffled. He missed his parents. They were gone on a trip, having left in a rush of teary-eyed faces and hastened goodbyes. He missed being outside, feeling the wind rush through his hair, lying in a field with the sun pouring through the clouds. Even though the grass made him itch and the sun hurt his eyes, he still missed being outside.

He closed his eyes again, quietly listening to the beep of machines in the background. Soon enough, Grant heard the fluid sound of William’s feet, a small smile appearing despite his will to remain stoic. “Grant.” The synth said quietly. “Look.” Grant turned over, looking at the synth’s clasped hands. Inside, a snail squirmed, resting on a bed of grass William had made for it.

“Oh.” Grant said. He giggled, reaching out to stroke the cool shell. The snail shied away, before eventually realizing it wasn’t in danger and moving again. William stood back up, shifting the snail into a small plastic container that had once held Grant’s lunch. The synth laid the snail within, smoothly transitioning the creature into its new home. He turned and looked at Grant, watching the boy’s smile. “Give him some water!” Grant said. He giggled some more as William poured in a tiny bit of water, the snail naturally gravitating towards the moisture.

Grant looked up at the synth, his earlier disappointment having been lifted away. “Thank you.” The boy said. His eyes closed as he coughed, then he was back to laughing at the snail. William pulled away, once again looking at the monitor across the room. The line had risen. William heard Grant giggle again, his eyes tracking as the line rose again, albeit at an almost imperceptible rate.

The synth looked back at the boy, realizing what he had done as Grant laughed once again. He glanced between the monitor, then Grant once again, and walked back to the bed. William sat down on the mattress with a cool sigh of air, his hand reaching out to move the snail-bowl back onto the bedside table. Grant lay back, a smile stretched wide across his features. “Wait.” All of a sudden, Grant’s smile had disappeared. He looked at William with a face of complete sincerity. “What do I name him?” The boy asked. William took a moment to think.

“Why don’t you name him…” William started. He was interrupted by Grant’s voice.

“I know! I’ll name him Wind! ‘Cause like, when I hold him and he moves, he feels like wind tickling my hand.” Grant said. He grinned, content with his choice. William nodded, categorizing the snail now as “Wind”.

“That seems like the perfect name.” The synth said. Suddenly, a beeping began to sound from the monitor across the room, and William watched as the line rose even higher. He stepped back quickly, reaching over and turning off the light. When the synth reached down and pulled the blanket up for Grant, the beeping stopped. William watched as the boy untensed, and he reached down and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“Goodnight, Grant.” William said. He was stepping out when Grant’s voice rang clear.

“Wait!” The boy said. “You have to say goodnight to Wind too. He’s my friend now, and that means he’s your friend too.” Grant said. William stopped for a moment, quickly deciphering what Grant meant.

“Well,” William started, “Goodnight to you too, Wind. Keep Grant safe.” The synth said. Then the door clicked shut.

The synth opened the door in the morning to see Grant playing with Wind, giggling as the snail crawled up and down his hand and arm. “Morning Will!” Me and Wind were just playing.” Grant said. The synth nodded, before reaching over and holding Wind’s container out to the boy. Grant looked at him, before putting Wind back in with a pat on the shell. The snail watched Grant as the container was moved away.

“Well, Grant, I realized something.” William said. He quickly looked at the monitor, realizing that the red line had dropped drastically.  

“What?” Grant asked. William smiled and held out his hand.

“Let’s get you dressed.” The synth said. Grant frowned.

“Why?” The boy asked. William shook his head.

“This will be a surprise for you.” He said. Grant nodded, letting William help him get dressed. The two left the room quietly, Grant shaky on his weak legs. The synth supported him as they made their way through the hall of the private medical wing, stopping short of the East entrance, the glass doors beckoning to them.

“Really?!” Grant asked his excitement turning it into more of a statement than a question. William nodded.

“Yes.” The synth said. “But only for a few minutes, okay?” William told him. Grant nodded, his mouth settling into a smile.

“Yep. Just a few minutes.” He said. William nodded to no one in particular before leading Grant outside, the hiss of the doors against the wall accompanying them. Sunlight poured onto them, somehow more tangible now that they were outside. “Woah.” Grant murmured. “It’s warmer than I remember.” William looked at him, then up again.

“Come with me, Grant. I have something to show you.” The synth said. He and Grant made their way down a winding path, passing small trees and the occasional bench.

Eventually, the synth stopped them at a green bush. Coming from underneath it the sound of a babbling stream could be heard.

“What’s this?” Grant asked. The synth didn’t answer, instead leaning down and parting the leaves of the bush so they could look within. Through the leaves they saw a stream that ran through the ground, and Grant could see dozens of snails, living in what appeared to be a dirt castle. “Wow…” The boy said. William looked over and saw that his eyes were wide with obvious admiration. Grant looked over at the synth and smiled, before looking up at the sky and the clouds. “Thank you.” He said. Grant closed his eyes. “Thank you.”

Suddenly, he was coughing, a rough fit that had him down on one knee. William immediately leaned over to pick him up but the boy brushed him off. “I’m fine. I just got something in my throat.” he said. The synth slowly untensed, leaning back and taking hold of Grant’s hand.

“It’s time to go back.” William said. Grant nodded his assent, glad to listen.

It was quiet in the room when William opened the door, sliding in silently so as not to wake Grant. He sat down on a chair across the room from the bed, his unblinking eyes watching the sleeping form of the boy. The synth was all Grant had left, his parents were gone, having run from a horror they didn’t know how to deal with. Yes. William was all the boy had left. The synth leaned back in the chair, not for comfort, but to gain a better view of Wind in his box. The snail was moving around, happily munching on the grass William had given him. The synth moved over to look at the creature, moonlight shining off its small shell.

Quietly, he sat down on the bed, his hand reaching down to rest on Grant’s shoulder. The boy was facing the other way from William, his head buried in the pillows. The synth leaned over to look at him, assessing how he was sleeping. He looked at Grant’s face for a few seconds, then further down to his chest, where he stopped. He watched for a little while longer, then slowly, his vision moved up to the monitor across the room. The line was completely in the red. William stood up, his hands shaking. He stilled them with a command, though seconds later it began again. William turned, still shaking, and moved back to Grant. He leaned down, and kissed the boy’s forehead, before brushing his hair out of his eyes.

William picked Wind’s container up slowly, before moving to the door and pressing the small red button right next to it. Then, he walked away.

Outside, William knelt beside the bush where he had first found Wind, his hands guiding the snail back into its original home. It seemed to turn to look at William, before almost reluctantly sliding back onto the ground with the other snails. William watched him go, finally stepping back. He looked down at his shaking hands, before sending a message to the ILR Synth Facility.

Unit 46 -WnD: Unfit for use. Recommended solution: Destruction.