I pull away from Zero's lips, ashamed, although he's been at my side through everything: facing those who hate my research, my less than supportive family, and friends who abandoned me. 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OEAUiiAUp

We had a nice dinner at a noisy, bubbly restaurant--a light spot in these tough days. It struck me as routine, not a date. 

Kissing him questions everything I thought. Zero is the most important person in my life, but yet, he is a robot. 

I fear getting too close, but now as a smile spreads over his face from observing my surprise, I realize that I've always known a machine would steal my heart.