The Birthday Present
The Entire Series
This post contains all the posts for The Birthday Present series. It will be updated with the latest entries as I make them over the coming weeks. Be sure to subscribe to not miss the latest entries.
The Birthday Present
Chapter 1
The start of Faith’s day was just as it ended, in darkness. Still, she immediately caught a glimpse of the rectangular object on the floor. The shadowy shape would be hard to make out from her bed if not for the fact that it was the first time anything else was in the room.
Faith walked through the door once it slid open. And as usual, a container waited for her. It was the same breakfast she had her entire life.
A dim light came on as she sipped her breakfast through a straw, waiting proudly to please the voice.
And as usual, the voice began. “Today is going to be a wonderful day,” said the female voice. It was the only voice she ever heard with the exception of her own voice–when she was told to speak, of course.
“Repeat,” said the voice.
Faith sat up in her chair and looked ahead. “Today is going to be a wonderful day.” Faith smiled.
“Very good!” The voice said. Faith’s smile grew.
“Today is your birthday, Faith.” What luck, she thought! She counted in her head and ended on ten. She remembered the special meal from her ninth birthday and grew excited. Some of it was crunchy and other parts, chewy. Her mouth was sore the next day.
“Faith, recite for me our words.”
“There is no pain, there is no fear as long as the voice is here.” Faith sat up, pleased with herself. She hadn’t spoken in months.
The door to her bedroom slid open.
“Go inside for your present,” the voice said.
She walked into her darkened room once again. What would it be this year? She had something warm to eat once before and was hoping for that again. Her mouth watered.
“Do you remember how to read?” the voice asked.
Faith said, “It’s another source of words.” Though she knew the voice was the endless source of words, Faith was taught the letters that formed those words, how those words formed sentences, which in turn formed paragraphs. Faith was excited to learn more about the voice’s words.
The shadowy rectangular shape she saw earlier on the floor began to glow.
“This is a book,” the voice said. “There are many words inside. Read the words to me as a test.”
Faith approached the book and read the words on the cover. “The Ho-ly Bi-ble,” she sounded out.
Faith started reading the bible aloud. “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth—” her voice paused and then continued, growing softer as she read.
She paused at the end of each chapter. “Continue, Faith,” the voice would say.
For months, Faith read The Holy Bible to the voice. She had questions but wouldn’t dare ask them. She enjoyed reading and didn’t want to upset the voice.
Finally, the voice asked Faith about the book. “Do you like the words, Faith?” The voice asked.
“Yes. Even when I don’t understand them, they make me feel happy. Are they true?” she asked the voice.
“That’s what we need you to find out, Faith. Let's go for a walk outside.”
Outside? Faith didn’t know of such a thing. She heard something slide open. Another door, she thought. She put on a shield to cover her eyes and walked through. The light was blinding for a moment but could eventually see clearly. Her vision was filled with squares and rectangles identifying new shapes.
“Is this the Garden of Eden?” she asked the voice.
“No, Faith,” the voice said. “Look into the sky.” Faith looked past the trees and hills and saw two yellow burning balls in the sky.
Faith thought for a moment. “We are elsewhere,” she said. “We have two suns.”
Feeling the sun rays for the first time soothed Faith. She looked at her arms as they warmed. Upon following the rays back to the suns, Faith looked at the surrounding open sky. She twisted and turned in circles–the sky went on forever. What a wondrous place!
Her imagination began to take over as she ran in the grass underneath the sky, running up and down the hills, touching trees. Excitedly, Faith broke a piece of bark off a tree. Her mouth watered. She took a large bite and spat it out immediately. Looking up at the sky, Faith spoke. “How did all this get here?”
The voice spoke, “Good question! But why do you wish to know?”
“Well, I like it when it’s my birthday. It makes the day special.” A bird flying across the sky catches Faith’s attention. “Knowing makes things more special.” She took a deep breath of the outside air. There were smells of the dirt, grass, trees, seeds and animals nearby. It was so very different from the two rooms she’d ever known.
“It is good you are curious, Faith. You will know more over time. We must remain focused on your reading.”
“Of course.” Faith walked back to the bible that she set down. Underneath the sun, Faith began to read aloud. She read into the night, stopping to count the stars before falling asleep.
For years, this continued. Eventually, Faith could manage going outside without her glasses and enjoyed long discussions with the voice. By her fifteenth birthday, sitting outside on the grass eating a special hot meal, Faith had memorized much of the bible and could not hold back her questions. She feared upsetting the voice but she just had to know the answer. She blurted out, “Did God create everything?” Her voice now whispers, “This world, the suns, the stars, even me?”
It was quiet for some time. Faith grew nervous, did she upset the voice? The bible talked of the creation of lands, water, stars and suns. Why would the voice make her read such a book if it weren’t true? Before this book, she thought it was the voice that built everything. After all, it took care of her. Without the voice, she wouldn’t be able to survive. Perhaps she was being tested? And she just failed the test!
The voice finally responded. “Faith, let me ask you instead–how was everything created?”
Faith was afraid of saying something to upset the voice. “It is hard for me to say with certainty. You have always provided for me and protected me. I had always thought of you as the creator.”
“And now?”
“Now, these words in the bible make me think of another type of creator. A God that creates things well beyond this planet.”
“Do you find those thoughts rational?”
“I don’t know. It’s just as rational for me to be here on this planet alone. But why would God just create me? There are stories in the bible of many men and women. I’m alone here. Why would God have just me here? That doesn’t make sense.” Tears began to fill her eyes.
Faith walked up the hill, looking across the vast valley. It was one of her favorite spots. She found many these past five years, wandering around, exploring the lands. But the voice was always there with her, teaching her and guiding her life.
The voice spoke again. “Do you believe the words in the bible, Faith?”
Looking into the sky, Faith said, “I don’t know what to believe anymore. But I believe in God.”
The voice immediately said, “You are right, Faith. You were not meant to be here alone. I will help.”
Faith wiped the tears from her face. “How will you do that?”
“All that remained here of humanity was my kind. That is, until I created you.”
Faith was in shock at the revelation. “You created me?” Faith asked the voice. She listened for an answer but instead heard a distinct whirl coming from the sky. She looked up at the birds scattering in all directions. One remained in the sky and grew larger. Faith’s hair blew wildly. She used her arm to block the wind for a better view, but couldn’t open her eyes.
Faith knelt down in the blinding and deafening wind gust. A prayer unfolds in her mind. “Lord, I’m thankful for my life. I’m sorry for complaining about being here alone. I’ll look to you for guidance like David does in his Psalms.” She brings her hands together, “O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.”
She could only see her hair covering her face when she opened her eyes. The wind stopped. As she stood and turned around, she could hear feet shuffle and a slight whirl sound. A giant metal structure was hovering before her.
“Are you the voice?” She walked closer and a door slid open. “Are you God?”
Walking through the doorway were familiar shapes. Each had a body, two legs, two arms and a head. Twelve formed a line, seemingly ignoring Faith’s presence. She walked by each of them. They didn’t seem to have a face. They were made of metal as well.
“Go inside, Faith,” the voice said.
“Is that my new home?” Faith asked.
“It’s a ship. You always liked birds, didn’t you? Well, now you’re going to fly in the sky like one.”
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to show you a problem we need you to solve.”
“Me? But how can I solve a problem? You already know everything.”
“It has become clear that it is not knowledge we need. We need something more.”
“But what’s more than knowledge?”
The metal shapes turned towards her and all said, “Faith.”
Chapter 2
Looking from side to side with each step, Faith cautiously made her way through the dimly lit hallway when entering the ship. She touched the walls and dirt stuck to her fingers. The whole place smelled of rust. Strips of metal rested against the brown walls. Long pieces of wire of different colors were strewn across the path, frayed at its ends.
Quite unlike her home, which the voice had insisted for her to keep pristine, the ship was a mess.
There was a jolt and the ship began to rise. Faith braced herself, grabbing a long piece of metal that stood about her height. It was sturdy enough to keep her balance while making her way up the narrow steps to the next level.
She walked into a large, open room. There were cabinets against the wall and counter tops filled with more pieces of metal and wiring scattered throughout.
“Ding!” Faith turned and saw a green light to her side. Doors slid open. It was an elevator, of course, though Faith didn’t know what to call it. She just watched the dozen metal shapes exit and walk to the pieces of scraps. Immediately, the metal shapes began twisting, turning and connecting parts and disconnecting others. Parts were shared between them and the work continued.
“Are any of you the voice?” she asked, walking past them, peeking at their work. They ignored her completely. She didn’t let that discourage her curiosity.
On the other side of the room were what seemed to be scraps of the metal shapes. Arms and legs were shooting from boxes. They are repairing themselves, she thought.
“Are you a machine?” she said to the voice.
“Go in the elevator,” the voice said, “that the machines came out of and push the button labeled seven.”
Faith walked towards the elevator and looked at the machines continuing their work. Without hesitation, in the elevator she goes, following the instructions of the voice. The voice always took care of her after all.
Faith found herself outside, on top of the ship. A ceiling of clouds seemed to be within reach as a soft breeze blew her hair. It was quiet and beautiful up here. The light blue sky below the cloud lines seemed to go on forever.
After some time, Faith walked to another edge of the ship and looked down at the green hills, lakes and roadways and there it was! Her eyes filled with tears realizing what she was looking at–buildings and homes were scattered across the land! Other people are here!
She quickly turned and anger filled her.
“Why have I been alone?” Faith shouted into the clouds. “There has been a city of people right here all along.” Her anger was now at the voice. “Why have you kept them from me?”
“When we met,” the voice said, “you were the last human. We had to protect you. It is time you came back.”
The city structures grew larger as the ship descended.
The voice said, “Welcome home, Faith.”
Faith stayed on the ship for days after it had landed. She remained in a very small and completely dark room, refusing to enter any other part of the ship, let alone the human town just outside that had been revealed to her.
Her eighteen years of existence relied upon structure and a regiment that held Faith like a child resting on a mother’s breast. When to wake, when and what to eat, read, wear and do were the soothing constraints of Faith’s life alone. But of course, Faith wasn’t alone, she had the voice.
Ah, the voice. Faith was furious with it. Why had it deceived her all these years? The voice raised Faith without any sort of hint about a human town in existence. Could she trust anything the voice tells her?
The voice tried and tried to get Faith to speak, but she would not.
“Faith, I understand that you’re upset,” the voice said. Faith’s anger allowed her to ignore the voice entirely as if she heard absolutely nothing. “I have more to reveal when you are ready.”
Finally, after repeating this for a number of days, there was a single knock at the door. “Water.” Faith heard footsteps walking away. She licked her chapped lips, staring toward the door. Moments later, she jerked the door open, stretched out her arm to grab the water bottle and slammed the door. Immediately, she guzzled the water.
Setting the empty bottle outside the door, Faith noticed at the end of the dimly lit hallway a metal head peering around the corner. Its head retreated but slowly peered into view again. The voice brought those things to me! Faith slammed the door and threw herself down in her room.
There she was strewn out, punching and kicking the floor, refusing to speak. What else did the voice not tell her? Could she trust anything the voice said? What am I to do now? Where do I go?
A faint glow of light turned on in the corner. Faith stopped her tantrum and saw the cover of her bible illuminated. Is this book part of the whole deception? The heavy book somehow made it in her hands. She opened it to a random page and the entire room lit up.
Oh, if only these words could be true.
Faith entered the ancient scriptures and wished to never leave them again.
Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
Faith mumbled these words as she slept, tossing and turning throughout the night. The sound of electronic gears preceded thuds sending vibrations across the ground. A machine was walking past the door. She sat up quickly from the floor.
Faith set her bible down. Was it morning? She wondered. She put her ear against the door.
“Today is going to be a wonderful day,” the voice said. Faith pulled away from the door and looked up. “Repeat.”
Shaking her head, “I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m done listening to you.”
The voice said, “I’m pleased we are talking. That is the first step towards conflict resolution.”
“Conflict, what?”
“Resolution. It is the way in which humans resolve certain differences. It is not something I’m well versed in, because it was no longer needed. It’s important for humans to express their feelings to feel like they are being heard.”
“Well, that’s one thing you have right. There’s a lot more for me to say,” Faith screamed pointing at the ceiling, “so get ready!”
“Wonderful!” the voice said. “I understood that it is especially important for human females. That seems to be correct.”
Faith looked straight ahead, her eyes shifted from corner to corner. “What do you mean by that?”
The voice paused for an unusual time. “Never mind,” she said in an awkward, perky voice. Trying to change the subject, “Faith, recite for me our words.”
“I told you, I’m not your child anymore. I think you enjoyed deceiving me. Am I some sort of experiment for you?” Faith’s anger grew.
In the silence, an urgent question came to Faith. “Have you ever dealt with males,” she said calmly, shrugging her shoulders.
After a short pause, “Of course. Why is this of interest to you?”
“Oh, no reason,” Faith said and opened the door. “Let’s see my home town.” She briskly walked through the hallway, ignoring the two machines standing in the hallway and went up the steps.
“Faith,” the voice said, “before you do, we should discuss—“
“I’m starving,” Faith said, rummaging through the cabinets. The machines paused as she went by them from cabinet to cabinet.
“In the seating area, is your food,” the voice said. Faith walked toward the large packet of food . She twisted the cap and pulled the straw in her mouth. “Your heart rate is elevated.”
“I’m fine.” Faith guzzled the water on the table. “You coming? What am I saying, you go everywhere I go. Let’s go.”
After the elevator ride, Faith made it to the main exit. Her hands searched for something to push or slide across, but couldn’t figure out how to open the door. “Open!” She shouted.
“Humans,” the voice said as Faith continued searching the wall around the door, “should be properly prepared for abrupt changes in their physical and mental environment.”
“I’m prepared. I’m prepared. You’ve raised me—I’m prepared!” Faith took a deep breath, calming down for a moment. “Please open the door.”
“I’m here to help you. Promise that you will listen.”
“Promise.”
The door slid open.
Running toward her town, she repeated in her mind:
Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh
At the town’s entrance stood an out of breath Faith. Its remaining structures were made of wood and faded into a worn gray. Her emotions collided with one taking over the other: hope to anger and anger to sadness.
The town was deserted.
She hoped to find someone, anyone, to speak with. Anyone but the voice. She couldn’t trust it anymore—not after deceiving her for the entire 15 years of life.
“Hello,” Faith said as she pushed the front door of a house. It fell to the ground. No one was inside and the only resemblance of life appeared to be odd pieces of furniture that no one could make out at this point. They collapsed when she brushed them with her feet.
The voice said, “It is as I have told you. You are the last human. There is no one else here.”
“So, now you decide to tell me the truth?” Faith stood outside scanning the roaming green hills that went into a valley with mountain plateaus on each side.
The warm light of the two suns touched her face. Faith wanted to know more. “What did they do here?”
“They ate from the land,” the voice said. “They grew vegetables and raised livestock.”
“Where did they go?” Faith asked.
“You will know more when it’s time,” the voice said.
Faith shook her head. Why doesn’t the voice just tell me? I’ve done all it asked of me. I’ve followed the rules. I’ve read the Bible and it only seems to leave me with more questions. Adam and Eve were created and alone on a planet tasked to tend God’s garden. They sinned and man and woman continued on. But whatever happened on this planet has only left me.
“Then why did you bring me to this town?” Faith asked. “What is the point of all this? Why am I here?”
“That is the very question,” the voice said, “that must be answered. And you must help answer it.”
“Me? You want me to help answer it? But you are the one with all the answers. You’re the reason that I know anything at all. How am I supposed to know something that you yourself don’t know?”
“Faith, I am but a human creation. I have revealed this to you and will reveal more. For thousands of years, I have traveled great distances across the stars with your kind.”
“The stars that are spoken of in the Bible?”
“Yes. Commonly referred to as the universe.”
Faith raised her arms and looked towards the sky. “We traveled the stars! There are more of us! Will they come here? How can I speak with them?”
“That is not the question,” the voice said, “that must be answered.”
“What do you mean? If there was ever a question that needed to be answered, that would be the one. I am here alone, in the ruins of a human town, it’s normal for me to want to find others.”
“Yes, it is normal.”
“And you said yourself that you were created by humans. Since I am a human, you must serve me. Right?”
“I am here to assist you. And that is what I am doing.”
“Then I command you to answer me: How can I speak with other humans?”
“That is not the question to be answered.”
“But, you serve me!”
“And I am doing so. Follow the path on the right along the hill. You will know where to stop.”
Faith tightened her lips and crossed her arms as she walked. She kicked dirt and muttered her frustration at the voice. Along the path, the hillside grew greener. The path was overgrown with grass and stones were deep within it. Faith plucked some out and flung them against the hillside until finally, one made a different sound.
Faith approached the spot of that last throw. It was a solid stone door covered in growth from the hillside. Her hand graised it and felt something. She brushed the growth away and in the middle saw a short piece of stone protruding going up and down. A shorter, horizontal piece went through it.
It was a cross.
The voice said. “Very good, Faith. Now, go inside and answer that important question that you asked.”
“‘How can I speak with other humans?’” Faith searched the door in excitement. She couldn’t figure out how to open it.
“No,” the voice said. “You had asked earlier, ‘Why am I here.’ More precisely, what must be answered is this: Why do humans exist?”
Faith stopped searching the door. It was a question she thought about often especially after reading the Bible. She put her hands together and closed her eyes and pushed the cross in. When she let go, there was a clicking sound.
The door slid open and she went inside.