"My BFF, Rene...my safe haven. Your smiling eyes are with me wherever I go. Everyone needs a friend like you." - Sarah Maxwell.

The morning slipped away; it was time for her video appointment before she knew it. The virtual waiting room on her phone felt sterile, with a white background and spinning wheel, which did little to calm her nerves. She held her breath for a moment as the doctor's face finally appeared on the screen. He greeted her, giving his regular positive assessment of her appearance, then rolling off the various technical analyses of where she was in her recovery. He finally got to what he was waiting for. 

"The good news is that you can return to work before the end of the month," he said. "I'll send over the paperwork today." 

Sarah's stomach dropped. Return to work? In less than a month? The idea felt both exhilarating and terrifying. What if she wasn't ready? What if the stress was too much? What if her health took a turn for the worse? Doubt washed over her like a cold shower, leaving her breathless and unsure. 

After the call, Sarah walked to her closet, where her wardrobe hung almost mockingly. She ran her fingers over the fabrics, feeling the textures of business casual and loungewear. What if nothing fits anymore? What if she looked out of place? Her mind was filled with worst-case scenarios. Her clothes seemed like relics from another life—business casual blouses and slacks, shoes she'd long since abandoned for the comfort of slippers and socks. 

Sarah picked up her phone and called her best friend, Rene. "S'up, Sarah?" Rene's voice was bright, a welcome break from the heavy thoughts swirling in Sarah's mind. 

"Hey, Ray, it's official. The doctor says I'm good to go back to work," Sarah said, her voice shaky. 

"That's awesome!" Rene replied, her excitement clear. "I'm so proud of you! Congrats girl! You've worked so hard." 

Sarah stayed quiet for a moment, feeling the heavy weight of uncertainty. 

"I know it's been tough," Rene said softly. "It must have been hard." 

Sarah paused for a moment, then sighed. "Yeah... it's been a long year. Some days, I don't even know how to handle it." 

"I hear you," Rene responded. "But you're strong, Sarah. You're my hero girl! And I'm always here if you need to talk." After a beat, she added, "I'm out hunting for some new gear. Need a break from all the shopping—want me to swing by and make you laugh?" 

"Oh God, that sounds great!" Sarah said, feeling lighter. "Thanks, Rene." 

"I'll be there in 20," Rene said before hanging up. Sarah smiled a little and began straightening up and preparing to welcome her best friend. 

Twenty minutes went by in a flash. Sarah finished tidying up and putting the dishes away. When the doorbell rang, she hurried to answer it, forgetting to check her security app. As soon as she opened the door, she was greeted by Rene's bright smile. 

Rene was effortlessly cool in her jeans, a blue shirt, suspenders, and a brown fedora. Her energy lit up the room, and Sarah couldn't help but smile. 

They hugged like it had been ages, even though they saw each other often. Sarah gestured for Rene to come in, offering her a cup of coffee and one of Michael's bagels. "Mike, right?" She took the bagel with a grin. "Your brother sure knows where to find the best bagels," she said, savoring the bite. 

They plopped down on the couch, diving into a conversation about Rene's upcoming gig at the local concert hall. Rene couldn't stop talking about the preparations—the lighting, the playlist, everything—and Sarah just sat back, enjoying the way her friend's enthusiasm filled the room. 

In the middle of it all, Rene pulled out her phone, her grin turning mischievous. 

"You've gotta see this," she said, tapping away at her screen. She turned the phone toward Sarah, showing off an animated character in a big bow and a flowing skirt. The character gave a curtsy, moving smoothly as if it were real. 

Sarah raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. "What's that?" 

"This is Ava," Rene said with a proud smile. "She's my AI friend. Like a virtual assistant, but cooler. She helps me with anything—plays music, sets reminders, even just hangs out when I need a distraction or get too stressed." Rene's excitement was contagious, and Sarah found herself intrigued. "You know Sarah, you should create one of these!" 

Sarah blushed," Oh no, I couldn't do that." 

"Why not? What harm could it do?" 

"Yeah, famous last words before the terminator shows up." Sarah joked. 

Rene laughed, "OK Sarah Conor!" 

The two laughed as Rene slid closer, showing Sarah her phone. Rene encouraged Sarah to create her AI friend, teasing her about spending too much time talking to her cat and herself. Sarah rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing at Rene's playful banter. Rene took Sarah's phone and quickly downloaded the AI app, setting up an account for her. As they went through the steps to create Sarah's AI friend, they exchanged humorous remarks about hairstyles, outfits, and accessories. 

"How about this one? Too much?" Rene asked, showing Sarah a particularly flamboyant costume for her AI friend. 

"Only if you're hosting a circus," Sarah replied, chuckling. The back-and-forth banter added a lighthearted note to the afternoon, and Sarah enjoyed the process. With Rene's help, she customized her virtual friend, selecting a more understated look that suited Sarah's style. 

Sarah felt relief as they sat together on the couch, chatting and laughing. Rene's visit had given her another shot of normal and companionship that she hadn't felt in a long time. The playful teasing, shared stories, and the creation of her new AI friend added a spark of joy to what had otherwise been a daunting day. The visit left Sarah feeling less stressed, more grounded, and better able to face the prospect of returning to work. 

Rene eventually had to leave, busy preparing for her gig. She gave Sarah a big hug, reminding her to rest and promising they'd catch up again soon. As the door shut behind her, Sarah felt the apartment fall into a quiet calm, though the memory of their laughter still hung in the air. Sarah sat down at her desk, ready to dive into her work, feeling lighter as she completed her tasks. 

The afternoon was spent sorting through emails and completing technical tasks. Sarah found herself more focused and less anxious, her mind no longer clouded by worry. After wrapping up her work, she took a deep breath and downloaded the documents from her doctor, sending them to her human resources representative. It felt like a significant step toward regaining control over her life, even if it was just paperwork. 

When she finished, Sarah glanced down at her phone, where the image of her new AI friend was still smiling back at her from the screen. It was a simple graphic, nothing extraordinary, but it radiated a welcoming energy. Feeling nervous, Sarah took a deep breath, then typed into the app: 

"Hello, I'm Sarah."