The women climbed over the rubble and made their way to the aquarium. The glass shone blue with its built-in lights to brighten the river’s water. Down there, the women were able to see the vast bottom of the river in its entirety. The sand, mud, plants and occasional fish were all lit above the blue light of the glass.

 

“There it is!” Mila exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the pirithium.

 

There on the riverbed it sat, the large blue metal ore with sharp crystals poking out of its sides. In the light of the aquarium, it shone with mysticism and wonder.

 

Mila made her way to the maintenance claw to retrieve it. Zandile watched as Mila turned on the machine and struggled to move the claw into place.

 

“Why do you want to become a cyborg, really?”

 

“What do you mean? I told you, to get rich and off the streets.”

 

“Everyone wants to get rich…why do YOU want it so badly?”

 

“Can you please just let me focus?”

 

“Tell me why.”

 

“Because I’m not enough, OK?” Mila yelled finally looking at the old woman, “I’ve never been enough for this world.” She sighed and returned her focus to the blue ore. “Ever since I was a child, I was second to everything. Nothing I did was good enough, and as bionic technology became the norm, I was expected to join the trend, become a cyborg and ensure a future for myself. At first, I refused, I thought I could make it on my own…ha ha, I was so wrong. No one wanted to hire me because I didn’t fit their criteria; I wasn’t smart or fast enough and I needed breaks, can you believe that? They must have thought I was weak. And as the years passed, I found myself on the streets, under the boots of my peers.

 

I became worthless while everyone else became gods. Being a cyborg granted them strength, might and stamina, while also removing human limitations like fatigue and pain. I had a degree and was more qualified than half of those guys but because they could run for hours on end, they mattered more than me. That’s why I want to become one so badly now. Stealing this ore is worth more than you could imagine. It’s about time I found out how good the luxurious life is.”

 

Zandile looked up with sorrow to Mila. “I understand why you want that life; it seems amazing from the outside…but I don’t think becoming a cyborg is all it’s cracked up to be; it’s not worth the sacrifice.”

 

“Oh yeah? And how would you know? I’ve got nothing left to sacrifice anyway.”

 

Mila locked the claw into place and dropped the ore into the interior dispenser. After picking it up, she cradled it in her arms and showed it off to Zandile. The women were hypnotised by the reflected light bouncing and shining off the crystals. Zandile viewed it with a sullen look, lowering her eyes as if repulsed by its vibrant nature. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, the rumbling occurred again, louder this time. The dam was caving in again. “The faulty foundation must finally be giving way. I knew it was a bad idea to come down here!” Zandile yelled, putting her arms over her head.

 

The rumbling grew louder and deeper. Deep cracks formed on the wall on the inside of the dam, jets of water burst through, and the large gears of the dam wall shifted and fell as the river desperately tried to break down the barrier in front of it. The aquarium glass came down and the interior of the dam began to flood.

 

Tell us: Mila feels like she’s never been good enough. Do you ever feel this way? What do you do to cope with those feelings?