[heart in a forest]

She's so beautiful.

He can't stand it. Can't. Can't. Won't. Rather rip his own heart out before he goes around, fawning after her like the rest of the boys in the village are.

But she smells like spring, has soft green eyes, and bakes.

Jesus fucking christ, she bakes.

So he swallows his tongue, stands by the edge of the street, clean and pristine, while the rest of the boys fight and bite and scratch and claw for the last of her apricot biscuits.

He tastes cinnamon in his mouth, and thinks of the best flowers that would match her ginger hair.

He doesn't even know her name.

[dead in the best possible way]

"I'm sorry, I'm allergic to love."

The robot stares, the smile still fixed on its face, but still not entirely sure what to do. It wasn't programmed for this response.

It goes to the alternative route, the one designed for particularly stubborn customers. "Think of it, sir! Your own private lover, convenient, and worry-free! No need to waste your time worrying about making all the right moves when we've done it for you! And if you're not completely satisfied, just send her back to us for a full refund! You can completely trust u--."

Two seconds later, the robot is staring down a cherry oak wooden panel instead of a 24-year-old male, previous sexual partners: 1, birthplace: Tenamin, Kliver, graduated from the University of Quinton, has two older sisters...