My Choice

The lecture hall buzzed with quiet murmurs with students scribbled notes or a tapped on their devices. Professor Gray Turner stood at the front, his hands clasped behind his back like an old man he is, I think he's 60 or something.

I was sitting in the middle row, finally gaining courage and I took a deep breath then shot my hand into the air. I've been willing to ask this question since a month ago.

"Yes, Miss Leia?" Professor Gray said, his sharp eyes twinkling as they landed on me. "You’ve been awfully quiet today. Let’s hear what’s on your mind."
I swallowed hard, feeling the eyes of my classmates on me. "Professor," I stand up, shit I'm so nervous. "If humanity had the capability to create life that is not just clones or artificial intelligence, but entirely new, sentient life, a human. Do you think we should?"

The room fell silent. Even the students who usually paid little attention to the lecture seemed intrigued now.

Professor Gray tilted his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Ah, an excellent question," He said, his tone both serious and intrigued. "And a dangerous one."
I swallowed my saliva from the uncomforted.

"The ability to create life is, in essence, the power of a god. To wield such power requires not only knowledge but wisdom and those two do not always go hand in hand."

I felt my breath hitch, sweat got on me.

"Imagine this," He continued, pacing slowly for the whole class to listen. "If humanity creates life, it becomes the creator, the caretaker, and perhaps most troubling, the judge. What responsibility does a creator bear for the beings it brings into existence? What happens if those beings suffer? Or if they surpass their creators in intellect and morality?"

What is he yapping now...

His gaze swept over the room, lingering on me for a fraction of a second. "The question is not whether we can create life, or should." He said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "It’s whether we are ready to bear the weight of what comes after."

The silence in the room was deafening.

Professor Gray smiled faintly, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "But then again, progress is never made without risk. Perhaps one day, someone in this very room will find themselves facing that choice. And when they do, I hope they will remember this."

I listen closely.

"To create is to love, and to love is to take responsibility for what you create."

His words lingered in the air long after the lecture ended, a profound weight pressing on my chest.  

As I left the hall that day, my mind raced with possibilities and doubts. Could humanity ever be ready? And if not… would I still try?

And that was when the chances came. After graduated, I was offer to work with FLARE. I did many inventions and experiments but nothing could have prepared me for a project of creating a living human beings to extend the species so that robots and AI wouldn't be the one to take over in another two hundreds years.

I was 23 when I become part of the project as one of the leading, we face many failure with the chamber, biology data and DNA. All the 142th failure was failed because it didn't managed to shaped and form as a being, instead, it stays as fetus, that was as far as we can get that time.

But, our 143th experiment of the project went the longest without any failure which is one year. It took us five years to achieved this.

One night, it finally took a shaped, a form of a child. And I was the first one to see it, to have witnessed the success of the project.
Then, that's is when the choices happened. I know it well that this child would be nothing but a specimen for FLARE to create more.

I wrapped her body with my lab coat and picked her up bringing her to my house.
Zero, for the first time started to act like human by being furious instead of keep on following my command.

"Are you crazy?! Do you want to lose your job? This is a child! You people created! It should just stay in the lab!"

He was loud, but I ignored it.

"Hey! Did you even listen to me!"

"Zero, she deserves to live like human." I continued. "In fact, she's cute. Just look at her." I smiled, I think I looked more alive than ever.
Zero groaned in frustration.

I crouched down to get to the girl's heigh. "You're going to live us now," I took a moment to think of what to call her, a good and suitable name.
"Eve."

Then for a whole year, Eve has been my biggest secret to those at FLARE.
And in just one year, Eve managed to grow so much emotionally and mentally.
She made many friends.
She made my life feel less lone.
I had something to go home to.
Zero is no longer alone at home when I'm at work.
We got Piz.
Eve introduce me to Maria.
For some reason, Eve was like rich people magnet with Rika Everaine and Ellen D. Veranique as a friends.
Just a week ago, I reunite with Professor Gray by fate when searching for Eve.

I'm not sure if she got some secret ability like others lab child in fiction, but if it's not mind reading or telekinesis, then I guess she has the ability of ties fated. Everyone and is connected when with her.

What am I saying now, all that was obviously just a coincidence.

Eve, you’re everything I never thought I deserved. But you weren’t supposed to exist. Not like this. Not after the others.

The others.
I can't still get rid of the thought of Eve wasn’t the first try.
There were others before her. Models, prototypes, living beings that never made it past their first days. They weren’t ready. Either way, they didn’t survive.
But then came Eve, a miracle in every sense of the word. Perfect, in ways I didn’t deserve. She looks at me with those bright, curious eyes, and I wonder if she somehow knows. If deep down, she understands that she exists because so many others didn’t. 

But I'm glad, I made the choice.

I was too deep in thought when suddenly I ended up at the park, I don’t know how I got here. I remember watching over as Eve played with Piz in the garden. Then I was... here.

The park was empty, it almost felt uncanny, too vivid and too strange. There is nothing but a bench and.... A woman?

She turned to me with such a gentle expression.
"Don't just stand there, little Leia. Come here, sit with me." She patted the empty spot beside her, giving me a look that made me feel like a child again.

I hesitated, my heart thudding in my chest. "Mom…"
I sat, unsure of what to say, unsure if I even could speak.

She looked me up and down with a raised eyebrow. "Well, don’t you look all grown up. A proper adult now. Although…" Her eyes narrowed playfully, "You could really use a good night’s sleep and maybe some better posture."

I blinked, caught off guard. Still speechless.

She shrugged, her lips quirking into a grin. "Just because I’m not around doesn’t mean I’ve stopped being your mother."

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. "I’ve missed this. You nagging me about things I can’t even control."
"Oh, please," She said, waving a hand dismissively. "Don’t act like you didn’t need it. Someone has to keep you in check. I mean, when was the last time you ate a proper meal? And don’t lie to me, I know you can't cook."
She smiled suddenly look at me with a guilty face.

"I'm sorry that I didn't get to teach you how to cook."

She gave me a look, the kind only a mother can give, and I felt my resolve falter.

"I- I got enough money just to buy food, I do learned how to cook little by little." I admitted.

She reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear like she used to when I was little. "You’ve always been so stubborn. It’s one of your best qualities, but also the one that worries me the most."
I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. "I get it from dad."

"Darn right you do," She said with a grin. Then, her expression softened. "But Leia, you don’t have to carry everything alone. It’s okay to let people help you."

I nodded, her words sinking in.

She tilted her head, studying me with a curious expression. "So, tell me, are you seeing anyone? Dating? Don’t give me that look, it’s a valid question."

"Mom!" I spluttered, my face heating up.
"What? I just want to know if my daughter has time for romance amidst saving the world or whatever it is you’re doing."

I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "This is exactly why I missed you, and exactly why you drive me insane."

She laughed, a bright, carefree sound that made my chest ache. This is not real, I knew that because I took my meds. But I wish it were.

As the conversation lulled, my mother tilted her head slightly, her expression curious. "So, are you ever going to tell me about her?"

"Her?"

She rolled her eyes, a teasing grin on her lips. "Don’t play coy with me, Leia. The little girl. Eve, right? You don’t think I’d let that slip past me, do you?"
I froze, unsure of what to say. "How did you-?"

"Oh, please. A mother knows," She said, her tone playful but laced with that uncanny insight she always had. "I see it in your eyes, Leia. You’ve changed. Softer, somehow. Like someone who’s responsible for more than just herself now."

Before I got to explain that, she throw me a question.
"How old is she?"
"Eight.... Or younger-" Can't believe I said that.
"Or younger?" My mom look at me with inconvenience, of course she would.

I looked down. "Eve’s... Special, well..." I darted my eyes away, how am I supposed to explain this.
"Of course she’s special," My mom said warmly, leaning closer. "She’s yours, isn’t she?"
I hesitated, my throat tightening. "Mom, she’s... She’s not mine in the way you think."

She waited, patient as always, her eyes never leaving mine.

I can't bring myself to tell her but there was no judgment in her expression, only quiet understanding. 

She reached out, placing a hand on mine. "It doesn’t matter how she came into your life, Leia. What matters is what you’re doing now. You’re taking care of her, aren’t you?"

I nodded, my voice trembling. "I’m trying my best." I let a nervous smiled.

My mother squeezed my hand gently. "Leia, if she’s anything like you, then I already know she’s in good hands. And from what I can tell, she’s already made you a better person."

"She has," I whispered.

Mom leaned back, her playful grin returning. "So, when am I going to meet this little miracle of yours? Do I need to come haunt your place?"

I couldn’t help but laugh. "I bet she wouldn't be scare of seeing a ghost."

She winked. "I’d like to meet my granddaughter, experiment or not."

My chest felt lighter. "I think she’d like that."

"Good." She stand up from the bench.
My eyes started to tear up as I know this will be the end.

"Again, you should eat more, you getting too skinny and it's not good for your health."

I laughed, wiping at my eyes. "Fine, fine. I’ll work on it."
"That’s my girl," She smiled, her expression full of love. "You’ve got this, Leia. You don’t need me as much as you think."

I watched as she walked away, her figure fading into the distance. Even as tears blurred my vision, I found myself smiling.

___________________________________________

Leia sat sound asleep on the sofa, her chest rising and falling gently. Unbeknownst to her, a small coalition of mischief makers had gathered at the foot of the sofa.

Eve stood up, carefully balancing a bucket of water in her tiny hands. Piz sat at her feet, wagging his metallic tail in excitement.
"Alright, team." Zero lowered his volume to an almost whisper. "Operation Wake Sleeping Beauty is a go. Initiate in 3... 2..."

As the countdown hit zero, Eve tilted the bucket forward, her small hands trembling with both excitement and nerves. Just as the first droplets of water spilled out-

Leia’s eyes snapped open.

Startled they three.

Eve froze mid pour, her eyes wide with a mix of guilt and surprise. Piz let out a startled whine, spinning in a little circle as though to avoid blame.
"Oh? You wake up, I guess the operation is no need anymore." Zero eyes glancing away.

Leia groaned, sitting up slowly and running a hand through her hair. "I overslept by maybe fifteen minutes."
"Fifteen minutes too long!" Zero countered, his tone unapologetic.

Eve finally lowered the bucket, her cheeks flushed. "We were worried. You didn’t wake up, and I thought... Maybe the water would help..."

Leia softened, reaching out to pat Eve’s head gently. "I appreciate the concern, Eve, but next time, maybe just... call my name or shake me awake?"

Eve nodded quickly, her embarrassment evident.

Zero, however, was still not convinced. "I maintain that my methods were efficient and effective."

Leia shook her head with a chuckle, out of nowhere, pulling Eve into a hug. "Next time, just trust that I’m okay, alright?"

Eve smiled softly, nodding as Piz barked in agreement. Meanwhile, Zero muttered something about ungrateful humans, retreating to the corner of the room to sulk.