MY BROTHER'S AI GIRLFRIEND WAS THE ONLY GUEST AT HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY

my brother told everyone he didn't want a party this year. i assumed he was tired, but when i stopped by with a cake i found balloons, music, and a laptop showing his favorite ai companion

he said he was staging a silly virtual birthday date and had actually had a lovely afternoon. i felt guilty for assuming he was lonely simply because he'd chosen to spend the day differently

then he admitted he'd forgotten to tell our mother he was safe and she had been worrying for hours. i suggested he could enjoy his unusual celebration and still reply to one message

we cut the cake together. he let the companion pick the music. it chose an orchestral track that sounded like the coronation of a small but ambitious kingdom