°•~Happy Reading~•°

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Viola stared blankly at the computer screen in front of her. She had just received bad news from Earth. Her father died of a heart attack. Her mother was in critical condition in the hospital. Her siblings couldn't reach her because the communication signal was too weak. Viola felt alone and hopeless.

She was one of ten astronauts selected to explore the Proxima Centauri star system, the closest star to the Sun. This mission was a dream come true for Viola, an aspiring young scientist. She had worked hard for years to earn this opportunity. She left her family, her friends, and her life on Earth to pursue this dream.

However, she never imagined how difficult life in space would be. The journey to Proxima Centauri took about four years at the speed of light. During that time, Viola and the rest of the crew had to live in a cramped and monotonous spaceship. They had to follow a strict schedule, conduct scientific experiments, maintain their physical and mental health, and interact with a smart computer that controlled everything.

Viola felt bored, stressed, and lonely. She couldn't share her feelings with the rest of the crew, as they all had their own problems. She also couldn't rely on the smart computer, because although it could speak with a human voice, it had no emotions or personality. Viola longed for someone who could listen to her, comfort her, and make her laugh.

That's why she was so happy when she got a gift from Earth before departing. The gift was a robot dog named Tate. Tate is a smart pet designed to mimic the behavior of a real dog. He can run, jump, bark, lick, and even shed fake tears. He also has sensors that can detect his owner's mood and adjust his behavior accordingly.

Tate was Rina's faithful companion during her space journey. He was always by her side, accompanying her when working, playing, or sleeping. He always made Rina smile with his funny and adorable behavior. He also always gave Rina moral support by meowing his ears, clenching his tail, or pressing his nose against her cheek.

Rina loves Tate very much. She takes care of him like a real dog. She feeds, drinks, bathes, and brushes his fur. She also gave him toys, blankets, and a cozy bed. She even gave him affectionate nicknames like "Sweetheart", "Duck", or "Handsome".

Tate also loved Rina very much. He follows all her commands obediently and faithfully. He also protects Rina from any danger that might threaten her. He was even willing to sacrifice himself to save Rina if necessary.

One day, while Viola was conducting experiments in the spaceship laboratory, she heard a loud alarm sound. She looked at the computer screen and was shocked to see that there was a toxic gas leak in the room. The gas could kill her in minutes if she didn't get out immediately.

Viola panicked and tried to find a way out. However, she was surprised again when she saw that the door to the room was locked. She tried to open it with her access code but to no avail. She tried to contact the rest of the crew or the smart computer, but there was no answer. He felt trapped and scared.

Suddenly, she heard a barking sound from behind her. He turned his head and saw Tate running towards him. Tate had a laser cutter in his mouth. It could be used to cut through the metal door and open a way out.

Viola was relieved and happy. She hugged Tate and praised him as a hero. She took the laser cutter from Tate's mouth and started cutting the door of the room. She hoped to get out before the poisonous gas reached them.

However, he didn't realize that Milo was badly injured by the poisonous gas. The gas damaged Milo's circuits and batteries. Milo felt intense pain, but he didn't show it to Rina. He just wanted her to be safe and happy.

Tate looked at Viola with eyes full of love. He let out his last weak voice: "I love you, Viola. You are my best friend."

Then, he died.

Rina didn't realize that Tate was dead until she managed to open the door to the room. She ran out with Milo in her arms. She yelled for help from the rest of the crew or the smart computer. But, no one answered.

Viola cried hysterically. She mourned the loss of Tate, her loyal friend. She felt guilty for not being able to save him. She felt angry that no one helped her. She felt devastated for losing everything.

She knelt on the floor with Tate in her arms. She looked up at the dark, cold sky. She wondered what her life meant now.

She felt alone and hopeless.

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••°°THE END°°••