Publisher's Synopsis
A pandemic, a single mother at the end of her rope, a lonely little girl, and a technological solution that promises to put an end to all their troubles. A virtual companion, an artificial intelligence construct that will always be by her side, one that will keep an eye on her, one that will keep her safe... and safely out of her mother's hair.
The end result? A life, and a world, transformed. For better? For worse? It is impossible to tell. It is a fork in the road.
This is the story of that little girl, of her mother, and her virtual companion in a world that will never be the same, because at the end of the day the pandemic was just the trigger, and that companion? That companion is here to stay, and his presence will come to define her life, and change the ways in which she interacts with those around them in a way no one could have foreseen... or maybe I should say their lives because by the time all is said and done, by the time the sickness becomes a thing of the past, and the children are allowed to emerge from the safety of their respective bubbles, those companions have already become ubiquitous. Each child has one. They rely on them, they trust them implicitly, and those companions display a loyalty no human friend could possibly hope to match. They have no needs, no wants, no troubles or worries of their own. They are always there, always available, always willing to lend an ear, and to let the children take the lead. What more could the children want, and what will be the price they, and the world, will have to pay?
