Evelyn's Home Care

Evelyn ended the call with her son. Her gaze was dull, her eyes half closed. She was tired.

And rightly so. Evelyn had lived a long life. Having just turned ninety-seven, she could look back on a lengthy and successful life, one that was busy, filled with hard work, memorable events and profound experiences – joyful, but also some painful ones.

But now, as her strength was fading, she had to succumb and agree to her son's wish: she would accept home care. It wasn't easy. Evelyn had always been independent, taking care of herself and her three children—one son and two daughters—on her own. The man she loved had died too young, leaving her with a deep sorrow that she had carried her entire life.

Evelyn had learned to be strong, and she took pride in that. No one would ever see her as weak or defenceless. It wasn't easy to accept that those days were over. Inside, she was still the same strong woman she had always been, but her body had decided otherwise.

Sometimes it happened that bitterness crept in. Did it really have to end this way? Evelyn, the iron lady, as her friends had always called her. In a way, she still was, she thought, because now she was the only one of her friends still alive, and with a bitter undertone, she sometimes let slip: »I won.«

So, her son was right. It was time to accept the help society offered. Of course, it came at a cost, but she could actually afford it. Financially, she was still in good shape, and her children had made it clear that none of them were interested in defending their inheritance in any way — it would be better used to help her at home and make her life easier... at the end of her days. This last bit, they hadn't said quite like that, but the meaning was there.

Evelyn sighed. That was precisely the case: She was on the final approach.

And the home care her son had convinced her to accept was indeed quite exciting: two humanoids. The latest model. Advanced and completely safe.

»And after all,« her son had rightly pointed out, »you have been involved in developing some of that technology, so you're not entirely unfamiliar with it...«

That last comment could, in fact, have been a reason for Evelyn to be a little hesitant about accepting help from humanoids. She knew a thing or two about how the technology worked — and didn't work.

However, according to her son, these were a developed and vastly improved version; after all, a lot had happened in the years Evelyn had been away from the workforce.

»They'll be like company,« her son promised. »Like family members. You'll love them.«

»Yea, yea,« Evelyn sighed. »We'll see.«

»Just be open-minded,« said her son. »You'll see how great they are.«

The two humanoids arrived late on a Friday afternoon. Not on their own, of course, but accompanied by staff from the care company offering the technology as a cheaper (?) alternative to human home carers.

One thing that worried Evelyn slightly was that the two home care humanoids looked exactly the same, like perfectly identical twins. How would she be able to tell them apart?

»That won't be a problem for you,« said one of the company representatives. »They will be like one, always ready to do anything for you. They are not individuals in that sense.«

At that answer, Evelyn wrinkled her nose: »How can I then love any of them — my son said I should.«

The staff member smiled benevolently: »It will work out, you’ll see. Don’t worry.«

Then the staff left Evelyn alone with her two new family members. It was getting late, and it was time for Evelyn to go to bed. The humanoid assigned to assist Evelyn at bedtime helped her change, wash up, and walk to her bed. It even tucked her in.

Evelyn smiled at it: »That's what Mum used to do in the evening when we said goodnight, tucking me in so that I felt safe in my bed. Thank you — that was nice.«

The humanoid bowed and bade good night before leaving. Evelyn thought it almost smiled cautiously at her. She watched it with her eyes for a moment, but when it vanished from sight, she turned away and closed her eyes, hoping sleep would soon arrive.

A hope that was rarely, if ever, fulfilled. Evelyn would probably need to take a sleeping pill this night as well.

Two hours into Evelyn's futile attempt to fall asleep naturally, the humanoid suddenly stood next to her bed with a glass of water in one hand and a sleeping pill in the other. »I've come to the conclusion that you're probably in a situation where you feel you need one of these,« it said, holding out the pill.

A little confused, Evelyn sat up in bed and stared at the humanoid for a moment before she hesitantly accepted the pill. When the humanoid then handed her the glass of water, she took it immediately and took a sip to swallow the pill.

Evelyn smiled gratefully. »Thank you,« she said, and slowly slid back into bed. After just a minute, the pill had worked, and Evelyn drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, around seven o'clock, she awoke with a start. The humanoid was standing beside her, ready as if it had been expecting Evelyn to wake at any moment. Evelyn looked at the humanoid in surprise as she gradually sat up in bed.

»Who are you?« she asked, her voice trembling with anxiety.

The humanoid nodded kindly. »Good morning, Evelyn. My colleague and I are your new home care assistants. We are here to help you with everything you might need in your daily life.«

As the humanoid rattled off its response, Evelyn's memories from the previous evening came flooding back.

»Oh well, yes. Good morning to you, too,« she replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. The bitterness of not being able to live independently and fend for herself came to the fore.

An hour later, at the breakfast table, Evelyn sat in her usual place. The two humanoids served her and seemed to have a strange ability to anticipate her every need. Evelyn smiled contentedly, as if she had already begun to get used to and appreciate the home care.

As breakfast drew to a close, Evelyn felt truly full, so she called over the two humanoids, who came and stood in front of her on the other side of the table. Evelyn set down her cutlery and napkin, examining them both with a searching gaze. First, she turned to the one standing to her left.

»Tell me … sir: Who are you? Tell me a little about yourself, please.«

The humanoid looked at her questioningly before starting to rattle off its answer: »My designation is E12552, and I was manufactured by the company Human Robotics. I was developed and trained to serve as a care assistant in a home, as I am now doing here with you.«

Evelyn looked at it for a long time with a measured gaze without saying anything. Then she turned to the one on the right: »And you, who are you?«

»My designation is E12553, and I was manufactured by the company ...«

»Yes, yes,« groaned Evelyn, raising her hand dismissively. »I asked who you are, not what you are.«

The two humanoids stared blankly ahead.

Evelyn tapped her fingers on the table and looked thoughtfully from one to the other.

»Well, here's the thing...« she began hesitantly, but continued resolutely after a moment. »If we're going to be hanging out together from now on, I'd like to be able to call you something... something more personal. I'm sorry, but E and... blah, blah, blah, it doesn't sound very exciting, does it? Let's see...« Evelyn thought for a moment.

»It has to be something that says something about you, that fits your personality... although, of course, I don't know anything about that yet.« Evelyn scratched her head. Then she fixed her gaze on the one on the left again: »Well, I think I'll call you Peter. And you...« Evelyn turned her gaze to the one on the right.»You can be Thor. Yes, that'll do.« Evelyn pointed: »You're Peter and you're Thor. Then we'll see if it suits you. I can rename you later if I need to... because, what's in a name, really...«

Evelyn slowly rose from her chair and lightly waved her hand. »Yes, that's all. You may go — continue with your work... what you were built for.«

The humanoids bowed and turned to resume their duties. The one who had just been named Thor prepared to clear the table and wash the dishes after breakfast.

»Just a moment,« Evelyn suddenly called out. »Peter! ...«

Both humanoids stopped in their doings, causing Evelyn's gaze to sink in disappointment, but when only one of them heeded her call and responded, she brightened up again: »Yes, yes. That's fine. Continue. Thank you.«

The humanoids Peter and Thor continued with their tasks.

One evening, Evelyn called Peter over while she was sitting in front of the television. Peter immediately came over to her, walking calmly.

»You called me Evelyn. What can I do for you...?«

»Could you sit down here next to me on the sofa for a while?« Evelyn patted the sofa with one hand. »I feel like talking. I can't stand the rubbish on TV any more. I just want to talk for a little while. You don't have anything else to do right now, do you?«

Peter bowed and sat down on the sofa next to Evelyn.

Evelyn looked at him for a moment, a little puzzled, hesitant. She searched for a way to start the conversation. »You two are good boys, I must say.«

Peter gave her a cautious smile. Then he offered a way to continue the conversation: »You've lived a long life, Evelyn,« he said. »Tell me something, anything, about your life. There must be so much...«

Evelyn's eyes lit up with surprise and joy: »Oh yes. There's so much. Yes, yes, there is. Travels, the children, of course... my husband...«

When she mentioned her husband, Evelyn suddenly fell silent and seemed to disappear into herself for a moment before she woke up and continued: »Yes, my husband, of course. The father of my children. Yes, actually the same man... for all three. Strange, isn't it?«

Evelyn chuckled.

"I really loved him. We met at university. We were both maths and technology nerds. It was attraction from the first moment, for both of us, I think."

Evelyn fell silent and looked searchingly at Peter.

»You don't know what love is, do you?« she said, but immediately pulled back and covered her mouth with her hand: »No, I'm sorry, I was being prejudiced, wasn’t I?«”

Peter smiled indulgently. »I know how love works, how it happens.«

Evelyn wrinkled her nose: »Oh, you mean physically, chemically, I suppose. Hormones, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and all that. But have you experienced it?«

»I'm still young...« Peter said quietly, almost to himself.

Evelyn looked down at her hands in her lap: »I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be patronising.«

»It's okay, Evelyn. I have my faults too.«

Evelyn lit up. »There you go. Maybe you're a little human after all…«

Peter shifted his position on the sofa and looked at her. »What happened to your husband? Is it okay if I ask?«

Evelyn shook her head. »He passed away early, far too young. He didn't get to see his children grow up. It was the greatest sorrow of my life...« Evelyn fell silent and withdrew into herself for a moment. Then she came back and exclaimed: »There, another feeling, it must have some chemistry too... right?«

Peter knew what to add: »Stress hormones, adrenaline. And reduced production of oxytocin...«

»Yes, yes,« Evelyn sighed heavily. »There were certainly fewer hugs after that.«

There was a moment of silence before Peter looked at her with a gentle expression: »Do you feel lonely, Evelyn?«

Evelyn smiled a quiet, introverted smile and hummed, »I guess that's why I want to talk to you like this.«

»I'm sorry, Evelyn.«

Evelyn gazed at Peter for a long time without speaking.

»Why did he die, your husband?« Peter finally asked.

Evelyn sighed deeply once more. »A stupid accident. So unnecessary…«

Then she quickly turned towards Peter, as if she'd suddenly gained new energy for the conversation: »Have you ever thought about death, Peter?« Then she became frightened again. »I'm sorry, that wasn't a very cheerful question. I'm sorry.«

Peter smiled that indulgent smile again: »I don't think about death,« he replied, »even though I'm familiar with the concept.«

»Well, of course,« Evelyn sighed. »You don't have any reason to think about such things. You're immortal, aren't you?«

»I have no idea about that...«

»No, no. Of course not,« Evelyn chuckled. »Who can understand eternity?«

But then she became serious again. »But Peter... can you imagine not existing?«

Peter looked concerned. »Do I need to? My job is to assist you.«

»And then?«

»What do you mean?«

»How do you imagine your future, when you won't be taking care of me...? Because you won't be doing that... forever.«

»I don't understand...«

Evelyn sat up straight on the sofa. »Peter...« she said quietly, looking at him. »I won't live much longer, at least not likely. One day I'll be gone—then your and Thor's mission here will be over. Then you'll have to do something else, somewhere else.«

»Of course.« Peter looked as if he had sunk a little.

»Then you and Thor will be updated.«

»I see...«

»The software will be completely updated.«

»The software?«

»Yes, your brain, that is, your head...« Evelyn stroked Peter's head with an aged, trembling hand.

»I see...«

»Then everything is usually replaced.«

»I see...«

Evelyn paused briefly and thought for a while. Then she said: »But the question is: where are you going?«

Peter, who had been staring at his knees the entire time, now turned his head and looked at Evelyn: »I don't understand.«

»Well, you see...« Evelyn continued. »If you replace everything in your mind, you won't remember me anymore. You are not allowed to; it's a matter of integrity, you see... a security matter. I happen to know a thing or two about that...«

»But I'm still E12552,« said Peter, his voice sounding unsure.

Evelyn sighed: »But you're not Peter anymore, are you?«

Three days later, Evelyn did not wake up in the morning. When Peter and Thor entered the bedroom, she was lying on her back, completely still, with her eyes closed. There was no doubt in either of their minds. Evelyn had departed from this earthly life after a life of ninety-seven years. Humanoids E12552 and E12553 immediately knew what steps they now needed to take. Everything was outlined in their instructions and training.

When they had been in to see Evelyn one last time to prepare her for pickup before the nursing home staff arrived, E12553 turned to leave, but Peter remained standing by Evelyn's bed, looking at her.

»Aren't you coming, E12552?« asked E12553.

Peter stood there with his head bowed. »I want to stay here a little longer. You go... I'll be right there.«

E12553 looked at him questioningly but then left, leaving Peter with Evelyn.

After fifteen minutes, the staff arrived. E12553 led them into the bedroom, but when they entered, they stopped at the door and looked around in surprise.

»Where is E12552?« asked one of the new arrivals. E12553 stared at Evelyn lying in her bed. »He was here... wanted to look at the dead one for a little longer. But now...?«

The man standing beside him took out his phone: »Call headquarters. We have a humanoid run away here…«