Impossible Miracles

Chapter 15
And Beyond

Rin lived.

She lived, and she watched, and she learned more than she had ever thought possible.

Home could not contain her for long, not for an immortal robot, and so she had spread her wings. Other environments, other continents, other countries. Every place was different, and nothing ceased to amaze her.

Life was truly a miracle to be treasured.

The death had been long ago, and her brother was resting with the sakura tree he had loved so much. Logically, she knew that by now, only bones would have remained under those roots, and yet she could not find it within herself to give up the property, now abandoned, only to gather dust.

Acquaintances had come and helped take care of matters. The good doctor had brought her out into the world and taught her everything she had not already learned from Len. A friend of her brother's helped her with the property, saying that it was best the prodigy's research be kept quiet.

It had been years since, though. Too many. Time passed quicker for others than for her. The mansion, the lab, and the tree were now hers.

But they were empty, for several decades had passed and she had only just returned from the opposite side of the globe. She had seen the world with her own eyes. She would have many stories to tell him.

The place remained much as it was. Though there were obvious signs of disrepair, it was still standing.

Behind lay the abandoned lab. After a moment's respectful silence, she walked past.

By the tree, she lay down her suitcase. She removed her hat, holding the soft white woven wear between her fingers. What he would have given to see her like this, dressed like a real girl. Ribboned sunhat, pale yellow sundress that fluttered in the wind.

No, she knew what he had given, and she still loved him for it.

Eternally grateful, she had said, and she had been.

"Hello, Len," she said into the silence. "It has been sixty years. I hope you are well. I have been to many places and seen many people, and there is too much to share, so I will do so later."

She paused. With her newly gained experience, she knew that the feeling within her was called "guilt."

"I have kept a secret from you. There was a message that day, the day I first cried. In the message, I saw many things. It was very confusing and even now I am afraid my interpretation of what I saw may be incorrect." She took a deep breath. It was becoming difficult to continue.

"It was a song. The song contained a message, one from the future. No, that is incorrect. It was from a future, but a different one. In it, I learned of what happened to me. There was death, and confusion, and loneliness. There, I had only awakened to my heart long after your death."

She moved to sit beside the stone slab. "I have lived, and I have watched others with the heart that was gifted to me. I have done everything I could possibly wish for, and now … now, all I wish for is to see you.

"Did you know that there exists a theory about the afterlife in almost every culture? I have learned so much, you would be proud. I cannot wait to share it with you. You never were good with anything without numbers.

"I know you would never approve of what I plan to do, but I do not wish to deprive another me of her soul. Please forgive me.

"I … had a lot of fun.

"I hope to see you soon."

And with those words, she opened her mouth, and began to sing. The air reverberated with the effort with which she poured her soul into it – her memories, the memories of a self long past, the marvelous lives she witnessed and touched in her travels. The miracle of life. And most of all, the emotions.

Everything. Everything she was, is, had been.

She did not know how she would send the message, but she knew she would try. So she sang, and when she could sing no more, still she sang. Sang until she could feel her circuits strain under the exertion. Until she could literally feel destruction building within her.

And still, she sang.

She sang a message in a celebration to herself, the joy and sorrow of emotions that defined humans overflowing from her.

She sang to bring joy, however ephemeral, to the boy who had created her and to whom she owed everything.

She sang for her unborn heart.

And then, she heard her brother's voice, and she knew no more.