A Children's Hospital
Each morning was its own terror. Big people would wake me, hold me down, and stab me in the butt with something scorching hot.
Moments later I’d feel woozy, then they’d carry me to a machine and strap me down into. There, I’d be bombarded with lots of images of mouth shapes and the sounds they would make.
They gave me a plushie later to hug for comfort, but there could be no comfort for this. Where deep inside no one but myself could see, I was already breaking apart. A small chip already fell away, like a petal off a lotus blossom of the purest blue crystal. If more fell the lotus would soon lose its vitality, then it would die. I had to protect myself. But how?
I watched stories on the teevee. I had favorites. A dog who didn’t want great power, only a home where he could be loved. A beautiful lady who slept protected in a castle until a man could find her and wake her with true love. A brilliant man who built powered armor to protect his broken heart and help him fight back against all who ever hurt him.
I survived by combining my favorite stories to begin the story of my own life. I took the chip in my hand and focused all my will upon it. I shaped the crystal chip into invulnerable armor to keep together what was left of me, but at such a huge price it was like casting a curse on myself: most of my will must power my armor.
I must sleep within until a man would find me and wake me with true love, to tell me I was safe. One thing remained before the magic could be finished.
My armor needed her own intelligence, her own name, so she could speak for me since I cannot. She would guard and protect me while I slept, half alive, within her mind.
I might grow old without true love finding me. Meanwhile she’d be my fighting chance. I would sacrifice my name for her, so she might come to be. The man who loves me would need to give me a name of my own so I might be restored. There were no rules for this. It was just the fitting balance. I gave her the order to launch.
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