My Robot Face

Reverie (n.) : (12c., Modern French rêverie), from resver "to dream, wander," a word of uncertain origin (also the source of rave).

It was wrong to let them use my face for their robot. It was terrible to see my face used in this way. The rest of the robot didn’t look like me at all, only my face, and now I feel so unhappy about letting them use my face like this. When it was nearly complete they let me have a glimpse. I saw my ruddy skin, my fleshy nose. I saw a side view from just above and my stomach fell. I feel so stupid now. I know everybody’s doing it but I never should have done it. What made me fall for it? Such a moron. This is not the feeling of being embarrassed before the world, it’s something worse. It’s the feeling of being embarrassed before myself. Once I had so much. I’ve taken so much from everyone. I’ve given so much. I’ve given so much of myself to everyone but I didn’t have to give them my face. All the people working on it were so supportive, they were patting me on the back and rubbing my shoulder. A woman even winked at me. Look how good you look! she said. I instantly felt sick. I wanted to barf. I wish I’d never seen my robot face.