Lexi Luna Pov -

Mark finishes. Silence. I open my mouth to say “interesting” again—and stop.

“Lexi. Lexi, you’re frowning in your sleep again.” lexi luna pov

Silence. Mark blinks. Then he grins. “You hate it. But you’re right about the dentist thing. Okay, let’s flip it.” Mark finishes

Thing 1: My coffee is hot. Thing 2: My neighbor’s dog didn’t bark at 6 AM. Thing 3: ...I have opposable thumbs? “Lexi

Aether pauses. “That’s terrifying. But also, statistically, more efficient.”

I groan, slapping the pillow. My smart-home AI, Aether , has been my best friend and worst critic since I installed it three years ago. I’m Lexi Luna, which sounds like the name of a pop star or a motivational speaker. In reality, I’m a 34-year-old UX designer who tests apps for a living. Today’s test subject: Gratitude+ , a journaling app that promises to “re-wire your neural pathways to happiness in 30 days.”