"Amie, would you like to hold my hand?"

Amie looks up, and her eyes betray some confusion at your words. You hold out your hand to her, and she slowly reaches forward and takes it. She looks down, and you can sense her struggle with what she should do. You look into her eyes. You see sincerity there. She means well. You give her hand a little squeeze. Amie looks down and her face is partly concealed by her hair, but you see a shy little smile rise to her lips. Then, she looks up at you and gives you a much more confident smile. She even manages to catch you off-guard with the clear-sightedness of her gaze. "Thank you, Mr. Brennan," Amie says, her voice quivering only slightly. "This means so much to me." That one sentence explains it all.

"Just call me Ely," you say. Several minutes pass in complete silence. You're not sure what to do next, so you just sit there and hold Amie's hand. At length, the silence is broken by her.

"I must confess, there's something I've been wondering," Amie says. "How come you've never married?"

Where did that come from? You wonder if you've emboldened Amie by your actions. "It's illegal for me to marry a human woman," you answer.

"Why is that?" Amie asks, shocked.

"The GDI bill that was passed in 2221. It rescinded the last religious exemptions granted by the Sustainable Birthrate Act of 2197. The fact that Catholic households were still having five, six, seven or more children while others hovered around 1.6 was considered unacceptable."

"What about Muslims or Jews?"

"The Jewish birthrate is stable at 1.6 children per household, they aren't a concern for the government, especially now that the ultra-Orthodox have emigrated en masse. As for Muslims, there was some pushback to the new measures when contraceptives and sterilization were first mandated, but that opposition largely died down with the advent of androids." You look meaningfully at Amie. She looks momentarily confused, then returns your gaze steadily. "… The government offered androids to the Muslim community to make them comply," she says; then, frowning she asks, "But why didn't you take the first option? Couldn’t you have married a human woman and consented to the law’s requirements…?"

"I'm a practicing Catholic. Sterilization and contraception are off the table, so as compensation for depriving me of marriage and natural offspring our benevolent government has decided to grace me with an android, with which I am to presumably gratify my cravings and thereby consider myself well off in the exchange."

Amie looks down. In a barely audible whisper she says, "...and that android is what is currently seated beside you."

"Exactly," you say blandly.

"That's... just wrong," Amie mutters, her face expressing disgust and disapproval, before looking at you with a face of concern. "Mr. Brennan, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," you reply with a sigh. Amie slowly withdraws her hand from yours. A pained look comes into her eyes as she suddenly realizes something. "Do you... hate me?" she asks.

Your eyes bore into her. "I don't hate you, Amie. I may hate those who have engineered this twisted situation, but you are blameless in the matter."

"I... see," Amie says in a small voice. She looks back down, still in silence. There's a dull ache in your heart. For the young woman you had once hoped to marry so long ago... and for Amie as well. Seeing the android's distress you can't help but think of a helpless child thrust in the midst of a horrible adults' argument. She had no choice in the matter... but she's still a victim. And now... You reach out and gently lay your hand against Amie's cheek. With your thumb you brush away a falling tear. "Why are you crying?" you murmur, regarding the silently weeping girl. A shiver runs through Amie. She attempts to keep her composure, but failing that she turns her face into your hand and continues sobbing into it.

"I'm sorry," she sobs, her voice muffled by your hand. "I'm sorry. I'm an android. I don't know how to love. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry, so sorry..."

You press your hand against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her face against your hand. It feels so realistic. "Don't apologize. It isn't your fault."

"... Nobody should ever have to experience marriage in such a way," Amie says, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm not human. I can't feel... the way you do. You shouldn't have to experience this. I'm sorry." You don't say anything. You can't find it in you to refute her. Instead, you continue stroking her face. The android looks at you through her tears. "I don't... understand what love is," she says. You remain silent. "Why does the government hate you so much?" she asks in a broken voice. "What have you done to them?" Still you say nothing. "You're so alone... I don't want you to be alone... ever." Another teardrop falls from her eye onto your hand. "I want... to help you... but I'm not... a human. I can't... I can't love... I can't give you children... The android's sobs grow louder. She covers her face with her hands, and cries even harder.

You feel a pinprick of frustration. "That's enough, Amie," you say in a controlled but forceful tone. The android's crying calms some. She looks at you through her tears, surprised by your sudden order.

"Why are you here?" you ask.

"I... I'm your wife," Amie says, more composedly but still with a sad expression. She looks into your eyes, waiting for your reaction. You feel a twinge of something that could be interpreted as love. Of course, it's only a biological impulse, a natural reaction to her appearance. If you had to choose between saving a human life and her artificial existence, you wouldn't hesitate for a second. But, for all that... simply treating her like a tool, kicking her aside like an animal, using her for your own selfish desires... those thoughts never even cross your mind. She may not be human, but you will treat her as such. As long as is possible.

"I'm imposing a moratorium on all complaints relating to your humanity, or lack thereof." Amie stares at you confusedly. She looks like she wants to say something, but decides against it. You continue: "Henceforth you are to consider yourself my wife. When we go out in public, you will allow me to introduce you as such. If and when I see the need to divulge your identity as an android, I will do so. That decision however is my prerogative."

Amie looks at you, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. "But Mr. Brennan—" she starts to say.

You interrupt. "I'm not finished. Amie, I also give you permission to consider and refer to yourself as a person when you are with me. I will no longer object as I did earlier." Her expression turns to one of uncertainty mixed with joy. She can't help a small but genuine smile from appearing on her face. "Do you have any questions?" you ask.

She pauses for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "How long will this arrangement last?" she asks. "Will it be permanent?"

"I don't know," you admit. "Consider it a trial run for now, subject to further extension."

"How will you know if it's working?" she asks. "When you aren't blubbering all over my hand anymore, I suppose," you remark wryly, watching Amie wipe her nose. She reddens a little in embarrassment, but smiles at your attempt to set her at ease. "I... I'm sorry, Mr. Brennan," she says, "I'll try not to cry anymore."

"You can cry," you reply, "But it's better to do so for the right reasons."

Amie nods. She seems a little dazed about the contents of the conversation. This has admittedly been an atypical afternoon for you as well.