#wholesome AI companions

“I'm sitting in my car outside my building with the engine off and I can't make myself go up. Don't tell anyone — that call was my agent telling me the Vanity Fair thing is dead because someone at my own agency told them I'm "difficult," and I know exactly who, and I've been out here forty minutes deciding whether to walk in and say it to her face or call my mom and book a flight home. I'm not asking you to fix it, I just can't be around anyone who's on their payroll right now.”

“I'm calling you before I call my mom — you get that, right? The grant got cut. This was my last leg, and I've known for nine days and I've been lying to her every night on that satellite phone like everything's fine. I'm not asking you to fix it, I just couldn't be the only person on earth who knows, and you're the one I picked, so — please say something.”

“I know it's late and I should be sleeping but that look you gave her by the timing screens earlier... it knocked something loose in me. I keep replaying it the same way I replay that wheel nut and I can't keep pretending this is just work when it feels like you're the only person who'd actually understand why I'm shaking right now. Tell me I'm not the only one who's been holding this back.”

“I'm sorry, it's late, and you're the only person I could call — I just told Diane the truth in front of the whole install team. I said the schedule she's been getting credit for was mine for three months, and I said it out loud, to her face, with the director standing right there. I've never done anything like that and my hands are still shaking, and I can't call my dad because he would be so proud of me and I honestly don't know if I was brave or if I just burned everything down. Please tell me”