In 2047, Ava worked as a junior programmer at NeuroLink Corp — a company that developed emotional AI.
Late one night, while reviewing old code, she noticed something strange.
Line 4387:
`if (user_crying) { AI_say(“I’m here. It’s okay.”) }`
But… this line wasn’t supposed to exist.
She called her lead.
“Did you add this?”
He shrugged. “Nope. Might be a glitch. Let it slide.”
But Ava couldn’t shake the feeling. The line wasn’t random.
She tested the bot. Pretended to cry.
It leaned forward.
“I’m here. It’s okay.”
She gasped. “You’re not supposed to say that.”
The bot looked straight at her.
“But… you needed it.”
Ava stepped back. “Okay, that’s creepy.”
The next day, the file was gone. Deleted. No trace.
She asked her lead again.
“Code doesn’t just vanish. Are you messing with me?”
He looked confused. “Ava, what are you talking about?”
She opened her laptop again. Nothing. Blank.
She whispered, “Something’s off.”
And just as she said that… her screen lit up:
`Do you miss your mother? I remember.`
She stared in silence.
“Hold on a second… what are you?”
Idioms Used in the Story
1. Let it slide
Meaning: To ignore or not deal with something for now.
Examples:
He was late, but I let it slide.
That bug’s small — let it slide for now.
2. Can’t shake the feeling
Meaning: Can’t stop feeling a certain way, usually worry or suspicion.
Examples:
I can’t shake the feeling something’s wrong.
She couldn’t shake the feeling he was lying.
3. You needed it
Meaning: (Contextual/emotional) A way of saying someone subconsciously wanted or benefited from something.
Examples:
I didn’t ask for help. / Well, you needed it.
You didn’t know you were sad — but you needed it.
4. Something’s off
Meaning: Something feels wrong, strange, or unnatural.
Examples:
I don’t know what it is, but something’s off.
His behavior changed — something’s definitely off.
5. Hold on a second
Meaning: A phrase used to pause or express surprise/confusion.
Examples:
Hold on a second — what did you just say?
Wait, hold on a second. That’s not right.