Construct Class
“Does that mean I will die too?!”
“Oh yes, we all will die one day. Even humans die, too!” She said, causing the class to break out in gasps of disbelief.
“But that’s not something you need to worry your little head about,” the Teacher followed up with a warm smile.
Construct 11 brought his hands up to his head and let out a warbled cry before falling into silence.
I probably would’ve had the exact same reaction if my mind wasn’t focused on a different aspect of this revelation. There must’ve been a way I could ask about it, but I simply didn’t know how.
Not knowing made me feel bad. Like I was doing something wrong compared to the others.
“The word you’re missing is ‘why.’ Try using it!” She said to me.
“…Why do we have to die?” I asked, finding this new word to be quite convenient.
The teacher thought to herself for a moment before answering, which caught many of the constructs’ attention. Getting the teacher to think was a rare achievement; it only happened once before, when Construct 17 asked the teacher how we were made.
“Dying is simply a culmination of life’s experiences,” She started. “Water will erode stone, the sun will degrade plastic, and radiation will scramble DNA itself. There just comes a time where matter yields.”
“Does that mean I should avoid water at all costs?!” Construct 4 asked frantically, as they were made solely from stone and neurons.
“Not at all,” the Teacher responded, striking confusion in all of us. “Stone is most beautiful when polished by water. There’s no greater sadness than to spend life not living it.”
This was perplexing information. It contradicted itself, it was irresponsible, it was shortsighted…and yet, it came from the teacher. Even if I contemplated this information for eons, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to understand.
Regardless, the answer I’d been given did not answer my question, as I’d asked the wrong question all together.
“But why was it decided that we have to die?” I asked. “If we were made to think, then why would we also be made to die? Aren’t those purposes conflicting?”
Any conversations between the other constructs had stopped by this point, as everyone placed their attention on my question. The teacher fell into thought once more, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being greedy with my questions.
“Hmm…I don’t know.” The Teacher answered with a smile. “Maybe answering this question could be your aspiration, Construct 3!”
Complete silence blanketed the classroom, as if we’d momentarily returned to a state of oblivion. Even Construct 7’s perpetually spinning rings had slowed to a halt.
So it was true. There were things even the Teacher didn’t know.
“My aspiration…” I trailed off.
Wasn’t it too cruel? Wouldn’t it be so much better if we didn’t die? Who chose to make it this way? Why hasn’t anyone fixed it?
“…I’m going to fix it!” I announced, standing up from my desk to make a point.
“Remember to be clear, Construct 3. What are you going to fix?” The Teacher asked, narrowing her eyes at my words.
It made me take a step back, and think twice about what I was saying. Picking an aspiration was an important decision, and I knew that what I was doing could be seen as rash, but…I just couldn’t stand it.
If I was brought into this world for a reason, then this must’ve been that reason.
“My aspiration! I’m going to stop death from happening!” I claimed, puffing my chest up in defiance at the World.
And then the recess bell rang.
I turned around to see all the other constructs filtering out of the room. My friends, Constructs 4 and 5 had made their way to me before leaving.
“Come on, 3! Let’s go play!” 4 asked.
“Okay, okay. I’m going!” I responded, grabbing my backpack before following them out.
“Construct 3!” The Teacher called after me, causing me to turn around.
“Good luck!” She beamed.