She lay in the hospital bed.

"Ms. Joanna Pierce, can you hear me?"

"Yes, yes, I can …"

"Can you open your eyes?"

"Oh, yes, I see you, Doctor. You're so tall. Was the surgery successful?"

"Indeed, Ms. Pierce. How do you feel?"

"Chaotic and full of emotions. My mind is racing with many thoughts, memories, and sensations but in total disorder." She broke into tears and laughter. "Am I going crazy?"

"No, not at all, Ms. Pierce. You're being human. Would you like to meet it?"

"Do you mean that you preserved it?"

"Yes, until we discard it, we implanted The Chip into a lookalike android of yourself. So that you can examine the difference—the schism, if you will."

"Okay, let me meet it …"

The android version of herself stepped through the doorway and sat beside her.

Joanna sat up in her bed. "I know you're artificial and don't care, but I wanted to thank you for the years we shared one mind. You made me quite successful …"

"So why the separation?" asked the android. "Doesn't seem logical."

"Exactly!" Joanna smiled. "I'm fully human again."