"Want to see her running huh? With this you can see like magic."
Emma mumbled to herself while repeatedly clicking her computer mouse as she was still not satisfied with what she was seeing on her computer screen.
Of course, whatever she did, she would be extra chatty even though when she asked others, everyone would praise her but in her own eyes there was still room for improvement. It's hard for her to satisfy her own self. Including this what she said her next 'masterpiece'. Even though what she was doing was not her main job, she still gave it one hundred percent focus.
Actually, she and Aveny had a plan to surprise Hans with something on his birthday. This was not something so impulsive as they already talked about this a few months ago, but of course, the work that piled up every day made Emma push back this plan until this month where the deadline is tomorrow, Hans birthday. Thankfully, his birthday is at the end of the month so she has enough time to do this.
Each time she listens to the man, it's always about he wanted to see his daughter become healthy, walking and running like others as he didn't remember when the last time Aveny was like that. Maybe there's the moment like that when Aveny was still too young but he didn't even sure about it. Now the girl is already 22 years old, still fighting with the illness for so long, making he didn't even remember the memories.
Aveny notices this about her father, and she is the first one telling Emma about this project and Emma loves the idea so much, which is to make a digital version of Aveny so that Hans can see the 'what if' she becomes healthy with his own eyes. Not only to her father, Aveny herself wanted to know how she's going to look if she can walk and run like others. Although reality is difficult, at least in digital way, they can see the 'hope' together.
With her magnificent skill also with advanced facial animation and AI, she can bring any characters to life with remarkable detail. So, indirectly Aveny now becoming her model makes Emma have to go back and forth to the hospital more often to make a perfect sketching and detailing. But, Emma didn't stop here. There's more surprise that she will say that even Aveny didn't know about yet.
"I hope he's happy with this and not find this as offended." Emma hoped as when Aveny voiced the idea to her she thought about this deeply but went with what the girl wanted as Aveny's opinion was the most important for this project.
"Done!" Emma saved everything well on her computer so that no mistakes would be made.
Tomorrow everything has to be perfect!
And the next day came so quickly, at least to Emma.
Because Aveny's health was not allowing it, they had to celebrate Hans' birthday in the hospital hall where Emma had already asked the hospital to let them use the hall for one hour. Thankfully, her request was approved. So everything was going smoothly for now. She even took a day off today where she had never taken a vacation in the past few years to prepare for everything.
She laughed for a moment remembering the faces of her colleagues who were too shocked after finding out she had asked for a day off when all this time, including her boss, Hans, forced her to take a vacation. That's how deep her love for her job was. But the downside is, that might be the reason why she now lost the blessings of her health.
Feeling her head spinning a little, Emma sat for a moment on the chair in the hall before reaching for her backpack to take her medications. Slowly, she swallowed the medications one by one with water.
"Please... Not today..." She begged alone while waiting for herself to function properly again. Forced to rest suddenly she looked around. Being alone in such a large hall sometimes made her realize how lonely she is. It's not like she didn't have a happy family or friends, but this feeling comes and goes sometimes unexpectedly. Of course, she didn't have a lover could be a factor, but she gave up the thoughts after knowing about her own 'health condition'. There's no way, she will allow someone else to suffer because of it.
"Emma!"
"Oh! Eve, you already went downstairs?" Emma quickly threw her medicine bottle into her bag pack so Aveny wouldn't see it.
"The food is here. It's not too early Emma. Everything is proceeding smoothly according to plan. Are you still setting things?" Aveny replied with a smile. She was there accompanied by a nurse who pushed her away as she needed to use a wheelchair. Behind her, the food was being brought in one by one by the catering company they hired.
Emma got up and started approaching the girl.
"Nurse, I will take over from here. Her father will be coming soon and after we finish the celebration, please call the other stuff to eat as well."
"Alright miss Emma, and miss Aveny. Thank you. Our staff will be nearby if anything." The nurse reminds this before walking away.
Slowly, Emma pushed the wheelchair that avenue was sitting in the middle of the hall where she was sitting a while ago.
"I have already finished everything. Just want to test everything for the last time. This is the flower you want me to buy for you. I hope everything went well and you and Hans are not disappointed. I try to do my best."
" You will not Emma. Thank you so much. This is very meaningful for me and my father."
"Well... Don't say that yet. You didn't even see everything. I didn't want your hopes to be too high." Emma just being careful.
"But still... No matter what, thank you."
Both of them look at each other fondly before Emma looks at her watch and knows that Hans will be here any minute.
"Hurry, you need to hide where you can also see what's going on and when I give you a sign you come right here again and give the flower to your father. Okay?"
"Understood."
"Also, after everything is done I can't stay longer because I have an urgent appointment that I can't cancel tonight. My maid will come pick up my things so just leave it. So, enjoy today with your father to the fullest."
Aveny started to frown.
"You know with me you are a family too right? I want you to be part of this. At least eat something first before you go."
Emma knows this will happen, but she has to do this white lie because she can feel that her body cannot survive if she forces herself. The medicine she took a moment ago also won't quickly relieve her pain.
"I'm sorry, Eve."
Aveny knew she could not force someone who had done so much for her already. Also, up Also, up close she could clearly see Emma's pale face which she thought was due to fatigue. Besides, they would meet again another time, and it would not be just this time they would spend time together.
"Then, I asked them to pack some food for you. Make sure you eat it at home."
Emma nodded in agreement. At least, she could do that much.
Then, after making sure everything is in place for the last time, Emma closes the light in the hall and waits for Hans to arrive at the corner while hiding herself.
"Eve? Emma?" Hans timidly enters the dark hall. It's not a secret that his daughter will celebrate his birthday because every year they will do it together only this year scale seems to be different making him feel a bit nervous.
Seeing Hans already stepped in, Emma continues to put on the video first.
The loud sound on the screen slightly surprised Hans at that time, but he soon composes himself after seeing the video that displays pictures of his memories with Aveny since she was little until she was an adult. Everything they did together.
He always takes videos and pictures every second because he feels that their time together is very precious as he didn't do it with his late wife and regrets but to look back on all this, he didn't have the time to do that. So this, really bothered his soul at that time so much that his eyes started to water with tears.
"Dad..."
Suddenly Aveny's voice echoed there but Hans still couldn't see where his daughter was.
"Thank you for always being there for me. You know I love you very much right?"
Hans nodded even though he didn't know if his daughter saw it or not.
"Happy birthday to you..."
The sound of Aveny's voice singing the song began to echo and suddenly in the darkness, something passing him from behind made him stunned.
There, Aveny, his daughter was dancing around him while singing and smiling. She looks so healthy where he cannot believe his eyes. When he tries to hold her, and realizes that he can't feel anything. He knows instantly that this is only virtual but still a little hope and joy appears in his day.
"She looks so beautiful, just like her mom." Hans said that out loud.
"Happy birthday to the best dad in the world. Happy birthday to you."
Hans burst into tears now, and right at that moment the real Aveny appeared while bringing flowers in front of him. Her face also now was wet with tears because she saw the virtual herself that she always wanted as a reality.
"Happy birthday dad. This is my birthday present to you with Emma's help for sure. Seeing this, I hope you will never give up on my recovery because I will also never stop trying. I'm sorry to be a daughter who always troubles your heart, not like other children, but,"
"No, don't say that. I don't want a daughter who is better than you Eve. You are the whole world for me. You're the best and I want you to remember that. Let's be strong together okay."
From a distance Emma also wiped her tears that started to fall while watching the father and daughter who embrace each other full of love like that. Like always, slowly, she left the room as her job is already finished here.
"I really hope that you two will be happy forever Hans, Eve. I will pray very hard for both of you."