"Please?" she looked at her husband. "Make me a navi."
He sighed, "Sweetie, I know you're lonely but a navi might be too much."
The woman slumped in the bed that she had been occupying for the last three months. "I just want a friend," she said softly.
Her husband's heart softened as he looked at his sick wife. "I'll try," he said. "Any requests?"
"I want a nature navi. Something to remind me of my gardening," she smiled. "I miss it," she looked out the window longingly.
He leaned down to kiss her, "I know sweetie."
"Have a good day at work," she said.
He nodded and left her room.
That afternoon, she heard the downstairs door open and shut. "Welcome home," she called. She heard the tell tale steps creaking as he walked upstairs to her. He opened the door and came in with a smile.
"Hey," he said.
She smiled back and noticed something small concealed in his large hands. Her chest rose with a hope that she had long since forgotten. "What is that?" she asked playfully.
"What is what?" he teased her.
"What is in your hands?" she asked.
"You mean this?" he let her see the small PET.
She brought her hands to her mouth in sheer joy and gave a gasp of delight. "A navi?" she asked.
He nodded, "Yes, just for you."
She held out her hands like a little girl at Christmas. He laughed out loud and obliged. She turned on the tiny computer and watched breathlessly as it booted up. A navi who for all the world liked like a giant flower greeted her.
"My name is Plantman," he said in a soft voice and gave a polite bow.
She smiled at him, barely able to contain her excitement. "My name is Anna," she replied.
"Pleased to meet you," he said.
"Likewise," she replied.
Her husband put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you happy?" he asked.
She nodded with tears in her eyes, "Very much, thank you."
The next day as her husband left for work she was in a much better mood. She waved goodbye and as soon as she heard the door shut she pulled out her PET and turned it on. "Plantman?" she asked.
"Yes, Anna?" he replied.
"Could you tell me what it's like outside?" she asked.
"Can't you see out the window?" he asked, slightly puzzled.
Anna made a face, "I know, but just tell me, please?" she asked.
Plantman gave her a soft smile, "It's sunny outside and it will be all day. There will be partial could cover this morning, however."
"What do to clouds look like?" Anna asked before Plantman could go on.
Plantman stopped and paused. He brought up a screen that showed the cloud cover and looked at them. "Cotton balls," he said.
Anna rolled her eyes, "No really, what do they look like?" she asked.
Plantman was taken aback. "W-well one kind of looks like an upside-down wedding cake," he said.
Anna gasped with delight, "Go on please."
They spent many long days together like that. Weeks upon weeks, months upon months were spent gazing at clouds, snow, flowers and trees from Anna's little room. Both were perfectly content with their life, at least until Anna started to get sick again. Her condition slowly worsened until they knew she was on borrowed time.
"Planty, sorry we couldn't travel all over the world like we planned," she said softly.
"I-it's okay," he said in a shaky voice.
"Andrew," she whispered. Her husband leaned over her. "I love you," she said with tears in her eyes.
"I love you too," he said.
"Bye Planty, I'll miss you as well. I…love…you…" she gripped Andrew's hand. "Goodbye," she said.
Before she took her last breath Plantman escaped into the safety of the internet where emotions could be ignored. He ran as fast as he could away from his PET and he knew that he could never go back to his peaceful life.
It hurt too much.