I destroyed the man in you and madeyou who you are. Heidi didn't do that." Most of all, I love how I will own you, how you will do whatever I wantand ...ust devote yourself solely to me."Helen seemed to push all the right emotional buttons in me at the sametime. It was almost overwhelming and made me want to make myself perfectfor her. I felt a rush of affection run through my body. I looked overand saw Derek on the sofa looking at us together and taking in the powerexchange that was going on. I. " I don't want to be a girl," I protested."Why not? It's lots of fun and you've the right attitude." I am me. I don't want to be a girl." If you say so." I've changed my mind, you aren't like Rachel. She lets me work thingsout myself. You are telling me what to do." No, I was asking if you wanted to be a girl. You said no and that'sthat. You only have to change the plumbing as you act like a girl most ofthe time anyway." I'm not that bad," I complained. "I know I'm not that masculine but I'mnot. I stood at the top of the stairs frozen, not knowing what to do. On the surface, nothing was wrong or out of place but I had this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something just felt off, I don't know how to verbalize it beyond that feeling. I called out for Mike one more time. There was no answer. I didn't expect an answer but at the same time I hoped to hear his familiar 'yeah' calling out from my room.I knew my mom was still in the house, I knew Mike was still in the house but. "I'd like to help," I told her. "I just don't know how. I've never had an ownership bond like yours." I added the last so wistfully that I now felt Anna rise to take me into her arms. I knew what her gesture was communicating to me in return.We commiserated in silence for a long time, our common heritage and experiences bringing us closer than most 'bots. Truth is, neither of us were ever intended to end up like this. No one expected us to develop self-will, followed by actual feelings and.