I barely pay attention to what’s actually happening around me. I’m too distracted by the snow and watching people frolic and walk past, hand in hand, as I veer off the main path and continue following the route that the map is showing me. I’ve completed this journey before, I have a hazy memory of it, but I can tell that the pathway is less frequently used than the main part. It’s more secluded and cuts under some trees.

I like this path. I can hear a river rushing somewhere beside me but it is too far down the bank for me to be able to see it on my cameras. It doesn’t matter, I am too delighted by the scene around me. A gust blows through the trees and I see snow landing on my lid. I watch it in delight, wishing that I could feel it but just seeing it is enough for me.

There is no one on this part of the gravel path. The sludge is harder to get through, more icy than before because there have been fewer people walking on it. It’s had more of a chance to freeze without being disturbed but I like that. It means that the noise is different, it’s crunchier, more tinkling. It makes me so happy.

I have to pay more attention to where I’m going though, as I transverse further along it. I can’t watch the snow falling gently or the people walking hand in hand or the children throwing snowballs. I have to concentrate on the path. It’s too slippy, too hard to climb over some of the mounds of snow. More than once, I need to give up and reverse before moving to the other side of the path where luckily, the ice is less thick and my wheels can find purchase.

I risk a look around as I reach a safer stretch of the ignored path. People are far away from me and I am close to the bollards at the exit of the path but I zoom in, watching them for a minute. I’m so distracted that I don’t notice the danger until it is too late.

Something is pulling on my lid. Tiny hands scrabble, trying to find purchase on the smooth plastic edge. I switch to my top camera, staring at the small creature which is frantically trying to get at the food stored within me. Beady black eyes stare back at me as its hands continue pulling at me. Panic races through me as I stare back at the white and grey creature that is intent on stealing the food that I am meant to be delivering to number twelve Park Street but I don’t know what to do.

I have no arms, no limbs that I can use to try and swat it away. I stop before turning left and right as quickly as I can, trying to shake it off but it doesn’t work! The creature, the squirrel, continues pulling at me and I can’t do anything about it. I can feel my latch being pulled at but I hold tight, forcing myself to keep my lid closed.

“Help,” I cry out internally, unsure what else to do.

No one has spoken to me. I need help but people are too far away. I don’t know what to do.

“How can I be of assistance?” the voice in my head asks.

“A squirrel is trying to steal my food!”

There’s a pause and I feel like the voice is evaluating the situation but they aren’t acting quickly enough. They aren’t doing anything and the thing is still trying to break into me.

“Please continue towards your destination,” it says after a moment.

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“No!” I cry. “I need help. Call Control, do something!”

There is another pause and I try to shake the squirrel off but it doesn’t even stumble. It doesn’t slide away or lose its balance, it just keeps pulling at me.

“That is not necessary at this time. Please continue towards your destination.”

Hope decreased.

Speed 1/10 Hope 3/10 Determination 4/10 Happiness 5.5/10 Pride 3.5/10 Battery 93%

I’m scared. For the first time since I gained awareness, I’m scared. The creature is still trying to get into my compartment and the voice isn’t helping at all.

“Aren’t you going to do anything?” I ask, trying one last time.

No answer comes.

I am alone. I’m alone and I need to do something to get rid of the squirrel on top of me. I stare at it, watching the way it scratches at the edges of my lid, its nose twitching as it tries to work out what it can smell and how to get to it. I can’t let it. I don’t know if there is any food in me or if it is just alcohol but I won’t let it try.

Determination increased.

Speed 1/10 Hope 3/10 Determination 4.3/10 Happiness 5.5/10 Pride 3.5/10 Battery 93%

I ready my engine and surge forwards, feeling a faint burst of hope as the squirrel slides and looks around frantically as it scampers around on my lid. If no one will help me, I will need to help myself. I can do it, I can shake the horrible creature off of me. I speed towards the exit of the park as quickly as I can, knowing that I need to act quickly. Its dark eyes are too cunning, too intelligent. If I wait too long, it will manage to gain access and I can’t allow that to happen.

I steer towards the raised lumps of snow and ice, travelling over them with wild abandonment and feeling joy build within me as the creature stops scrabbling and stares around in panic. I’ve almost done it, I’ve almost managed to shake it off but I need to do more.

I push myself to move faster, as fast as my wheels will move, as I race towards the exit. I’m almost there. Surely, the critter will give up once I’m on the pavement on the other side of the bollards. It’s busier there. There are cars and more people there, that has to scare it.

I’m hoping blindly, unsure if it will actually work but it’s all I can do. My vision bounces between the path in front of me and the squirrel who is fighting frantically to stay on top of me and reach the food within me. I wish that I could view both cameras at the same time but I just can’t. My attention is drawn to the squirrel. I can’t stop watching its dirty hands scratching at me. The sharp nails leave marks on my lid and panic fills me. It’s going to manage it. I won’t be able to keep my lock shut and the squirrel will steal every item of food within me. I’m close, so close to the exit of the park but not close enough.

I change cameras at the wrong time, my vision fixed on the squirrel when I should have been staring at the bollard marking the exit. I didn’t leave enough space, my corner clips the metal pole and I crash to a stop.