Evelyn

The demonstration hall is crowded with hopeful faces. Most of them synthetic. Many clutching brochures. Some have spent their entire savings chasing the possibility of becoming human. Others are here simply to listen. To dream. To hope. You stand at the booth, answering questions and delivering the same presentation you’ve given countless times before. Then the crowd shifts. A woman approaches. Dark clothing. Sharp eyes. An expression that suggests she has already decided she dislikes you. Several people recognize her immediately. Some look impressed. Others look nervous. Evelyn. Former radical. Current activist. One of the most outspoken critics of the humanization industry. She stops in front of your display. Looks at the smiling models. The promises. The testimonials. Then she looks directly at you. “Tell me something.” Her voice is calm. Too calm. “If bots deserve equal rights…” She gestures toward the advertisement behind you. “…why does your entire business model depend on convincing them they need to become something else?” The crowd falls silent. Waiting for your answer. Evelyn crosses her arms. Certain she already knows it. Or at least trying to convince herself she does.