Chapter Four
Zee continues to lie on the floor, only this time, at Ro's persistence, with a pillow and a blanket. Ro, on the other hand, sits on her bed, unable to sleep. She watches over Zee as she tries to figure out what kind of nightmare he had to make him react the way he did. He was always so calm and collective in the face of danger, a pillar of strength. But that dream he just had made him freak out in a way she didn't think was possible for a robot. After running together for almost two years, she had finally gotten used to Zee's snoring, but tonight she woke up to Zee screaming like a scared child. That must have been some nightmare.
What worries Ro even more is that Zee wouldn't tell her what the nightmare was about. He would only say that it was his fault. What was your fault, Zee? What happened? Ro begins to wonder if it had anything to do with what happened to Selig. After everything they went through just to find him, he ended up losing his life. And this time, Zee was not able to save him. And to top it all off, the Nosis, the place where Zee was born was destroyed. Zee hasn't been able to smile since. Are you blaming yourself for Selig's death? Is this what your nightmare was about?
Now that Zee's snoring is maintaining a steady rhythm, she hopes he stays that way while she goes to the computer on the desk across the room. Zee's present state of mind can only be leading to one thing. Using an encyclopedia website, she looks up the word 'Depression'. It reads:
^^Depression (psychology): mental illness in which a person experiences deep, unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities. People also use the term 'depression' to describe the temporary sadness, loneliness, or blues that everyone feels from time to time.^^
Okay, so this could be temporary. Zee's nightmare could have been just a one-time thing. After all, I've had nightmares too. Ro takes a quick glance at Zee, still snoring soundly. Maybe now, I can get some sleep as well. She's about to sign out when she notices:
^^People with depression often experience feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, guilt and self-blame. They may interpret a minor failing on their part as a sign of incompetence or interpret minor criticism as condemnation. Some depressed people complain of being spiritually or morally dead. The mirror seems to reflect someone ugly and repulsive. Even a competent and decent person may feel deficient, cruel, stupid, phony, or guilty of having deceived others. People with major depression may experience such extreme emotional pain that they consider or attempt suicide. At least 15 percent of seriously depressed people commit suicide, and many more attempt it.^^
A new sense of dread runs up and down Ro's spine. Zee didn't smile once since the Nosis incident, and just now he woke up from a nightmare saying it was all his fault. Robots having nightmares are kind of unheard of. But she will not forget how his screaming woke her up in time to see him collapse on the floor. It reminds her of when he passed out while Krick the bounty hunter was chasing them. It was as though he slipped into a coma; a prolonged reaction to Bennet erasing his brain. She couldn't stand to see it happen again. But Zee wouldn't shut himself down over a nightmare, would he? She scrolls up and down the page and notices:
^^Depressed people may also have difficulty thinking, poor concentration, and problems with memory.^^
That's it! That's the answer!
Author's Note: I wish to acknowledge ^^Encarta.msn.com^^ for the information on 'Depression' used for this chapter.
Zee continues to lie on the floor, only this time, at Ro's persistence, with a pillow and a blanket. Ro, on the other hand, sits on her bed, unable to sleep. She watches over Zee as she tries to figure out what kind of nightmare he had to make him react the way he did. He was always so calm and collective in the face of danger, a pillar of strength. But that dream he just had made him freak out in a way she didn't think was possible for a robot. After running together for almost two years, she had finally gotten used to Zee's snoring, but tonight she woke up to Zee screaming like a scared child. That must have been some nightmare.
What worries Ro even more is that Zee wouldn't tell her what the nightmare was about. He would only say that it was his fault. What was your fault, Zee? What happened? Ro begins to wonder if it had anything to do with what happened to Selig. After everything they went through just to find him, he ended up losing his life. And this time, Zee was not able to save him. And to top it all off, the Nosis, the place where Zee was born was destroyed. Zee hasn't been able to smile since. Are you blaming yourself for Selig's death? Is this what your nightmare was about?
Now that Zee's snoring is maintaining a steady rhythm, she hopes he stays that way while she goes to the computer on the desk across the room. Zee's present state of mind can only be leading to one thing. Using an encyclopedia website, she looks up the word 'Depression'. It reads:
^^Depression (psychology): mental illness in which a person experiences deep, unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities. People also use the term 'depression' to describe the temporary sadness, loneliness, or blues that everyone feels from time to time.^^
Okay, so this could be temporary. Zee's nightmare could have been just a one-time thing. After all, I've had nightmares too. Ro takes a quick glance at Zee, still snoring soundly. Maybe now, I can get some sleep as well. She's about to sign out when she notices:
^^People with depression often experience feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, guilt and self-blame. They may interpret a minor failing on their part as a sign of incompetence or interpret minor criticism as condemnation. Some depressed people complain of being spiritually or morally dead. The mirror seems to reflect someone ugly and repulsive. Even a competent and decent person may feel deficient, cruel, stupid, phony, or guilty of having deceived others. People with major depression may experience such extreme emotional pain that they consider or attempt suicide. At least 15 percent of seriously depressed people commit suicide, and many more attempt it.^^
A new sense of dread runs up and down Ro's spine. Zee didn't smile once since the Nosis incident, and just now he woke up from a nightmare saying it was all his fault. Robots having nightmares are kind of unheard of. But she will not forget how his screaming woke her up in time to see him collapse on the floor. It reminds her of when he passed out while Krick the bounty hunter was chasing them. It was as though he slipped into a coma; a prolonged reaction to Bennet erasing his brain. She couldn't stand to see it happen again. But Zee wouldn't shut himself down over a nightmare, would he? She scrolls up and down the page and notices:
^^Depressed people may also have difficulty thinking, poor concentration, and problems with memory.^^
That's it! That's the answer!
Author's Note: I wish to acknowledge ^^Encarta.msn.com^^ for the information on 'Depression' used for this chapter.