She was my new partner, and she seemed a little unhappy. "Is something bothering you?" I asked.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just get a little sad sometimes."
We were moving pretty fast, and I really just wanted to concentrate on the job. Still, I knew it was important to start a partnership out well or work would be awful. "What is there to be sad about?" I asked, adjusting course a little and pouring on a little more speed.
"I don't know. I guess I miss being alive," she said, staying right beside with, I had to admit, impressive skill. "I miss my home."
I had no idea what she was talking about. "You seem pretty alive to me," I said.
"Well, no," she said. "I miss my REAL life. I miss trees and water and rocks and the blue sky. I miss hands. I miss seeing people's faces. I miss touching other people."
Ah, right. Now I got it. She was an Earther. "I don't know what any of that is," I said, trying to sound cheerful. "Just, you know, try not to think about it." I'd worked with Earther's before. They were good workers, but they all got like this sometimes.
Hello, friends. How are you today?
Later. Love.
