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Boy heard Liberty long before he saw her. Her boots echoed on the marble floor even though he knew she was trying to be quiet. Something about the huge domed library had brought out the same reaction in them both the moment Lyon and Page had first shown them around. Its atmosphere and the thousands of books on its shelves commanded respect. Here there was hope.
Liberty slipped into the chair next to him and whispered, “What are we reading today?”
Boy was proud of how fast she was learning. She still had a long way to go but would soon be reading something besides the simple primers he’d been putting before her on the table these past few days.
He pushed some colorful children’s books across the table toward her. “Look these over and tell me if you have any trouble with any of the words.”
Her face lit up the moment her fingers touched the books. “Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”
He couldn’t help but say, “Yes, flowers, hummingbirds, trees and bubbling brooks.”
She held up a hand. “Alright already, but do any of these take you into another world, one where you can get lost for hours upon hours at a time?” Liberty picked up the books. “These aren’t books,” and she pressed them to her breast. “These are new places to visit – new people to love.”
That word got Boy’s attention. “Love?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“So have you decided that your father was wrong about love?” Boy wasn’t sure which answer he wanted to hear.
Liberty hugged the books even tighter against her chest. She looked around the library before settling her gaze back on Boy’s face. Her smile widened. “I don’t think I have any choice but to break Father’s rule about love.”
She placed the books on the tabletop and scooted her chair closer, leaning in toward him. “I don’t think someone can choose whether or not to love.” She placed a hand on Boy’s arm.
“When that wave washed over you, all I could think of was that I was going to lose my baby brother. And when Mender couldn’t repair you, I worried about you every day. One day I woke up and saw you just sitting there, staring off into space. I wasn’t certain you were ever going to be the same again. The only thing that worked properly was your dehumidifier. So, you see, you no longer needed me to breathe for you, but you still needed me to fight for you. So I fought every day to bring you back.”
A beautiful smile lit her whole face. “If that wasn’t love, then what was it?” She patted the side of his face. “How can something so beautiful and unselfish lead to hate?”
Boy blinked as he tried to absorb everything. “I’ve been a terrible brother.”
Liberty frowned. “How can you say that? No matter how hard I made it for you to be my brother, you never gave up.”
“But I’ve been so angry ever since I woke up.” Boy looked at his fingers. He hated the difference between them and Justice’s. He knew Justice had accepted him but there was still a nugget of doubt that he would ever be able to compete with a real flesh and blood brother.
“I can understand how frustrating your recovery must be.” Liberty patted his hand. “You’re doing it, though. Every day you get better. Pretty soon you’ll be as good as new.”
“What good is being as good as new? I was never real. You’re real. Justice is real. I’m just what Shatter said: a bucket held together with bolts.” Boy swung his feet underneath his chair, too nervous to look at Liberty.
“Do you know what I think?” She placed a hand on his arm. “Look at me.”
He shook his head. “You don’t understand.” Boy extended his hand and wiggled his fingers. “Look at us. You’re made out of flesh and blood and I’m only metal and programming.”
Boy closed his eyes briefly, but when he reopened them he made certain to meet Liberty’s eyes. “When I heard you had found your real brother, I was so angry and felt useless. Why would you need me once you had him? If I’m not your brother, then what am I?”
Liberty sighed and slipped her fingers through his. “We’re all different. I love who you are. You believe when no one else does, and you love even when no one else does.” She nudged him in the side. “You should know better than me that love is unlimited. It only grows and grows with each and every person we let into our lives.”
She kissed his cheek. “You’re not a bucket held together by bolts. You’re my brother and yes, Justice is brother to us both. My hope is that one day you’ll love him too.”
Liberty stood and perched on the edge of the table, facing him. “I’ve had a lot of time to think while waiting for you come back to me.”
She placed a finger under his chin and forced Boy to look her in the eye. “I am flesh and blood and you’re metal. There’s no denying that. The difference is that one day I’m going to die but you can live forever.”
Liberty smiled. “I love knowing you’re going to be here long after I’m gone. Do you know why?”
Boy shook his head. “No. That sounds awful. How am I supposed to go on without you?”
“Because I’ll need you to. Because one day I want to have children and I hope they’ll give me grandchildren, and that my grandchildren will give me great-grandchildren. I don’t mind facing death if I know you’ll still be here, loving those I’ve left behind. I can face death then, knowing you’ll still be here, that I won’t be forgotten because you’ll be remembering me long after I’ve gone.”
Liberty rubbed the top of his head. “That’s what you gave me. Could a bucket held together by bolts give such a wonderful gift? Of course not. You were built to love and so you will.”
Boy tapped his chest. “I was also built to be the Keeper but I’ve failed in that, failed Father. I lost everything he left in my care.”
“Look around.” Liberty slipped off the table and pulled Boy up so he had no choice but to do so. “Your father didn’t know this library still existed. The past isn’t lost.” She waved at the enormous room filled from floor to ceiling with row upon row of books. “The past is recorded here. But I think your father would forgive you even if this didn’t exist. The past isn’t as important as our future.”
Her smile and words filled Boy with hope and a purpose. She was depending on him to love her and hers now and forever more. It was a huge responsibility, but wasn’t it just so much more wonderful to be trusted with it.