Friend Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

license for Rachel Joy Anderson and Scott Randall Douglas. The happy, loving couple in the picture on the opposite page looked so hopeful, so free of worry. Her fingertip traced a line along Scott’s jaw. She loved him so much. What was wrong? She missed him, missed him so much. The man that came home at night wasn’t the same. She wanted this man, the one in the picture.
    On the next page were her mother and father. And there was Scott’s family. They were all such good people. Surely they had their share of problems too, didn’t they? Of course they did.
    There was Suzanne, radiant as maid of honor. It seemed so long ago now, when they had hugged each other in the hotel dressing room. Best friends forever . Those poignant words were filled with such meaning now. She would see her friend again, someday. When all this life was past and they were in heaven together. How wonderful that would be.
    But I wish you were here right now to talk to me .
    Rachel closed the wedding album. The soft puff as the heavy cover came together triggered something in her heart.
    Doesn’t Scott know how much I love him? How much I need him?
    Then anger began to rise inside her. Anger that burned down into resentment for a husband that treated her so callously. She was a wife, not a rug. Having children didn’t turn her into an unpaid housekeeper. At least it wasn’t supposed to be that way.
    She needed a friend. A friend who was really a friend. Someone who cared about her.
    Last night on Facebook, she’d spent time dipping into the lives of friends and strangers, curious about what was going on. A sidebar advertisement of some kind had shown up on the screen. What was it again? Something about visual friends? No, not visual. V irtual .
    She went to the computer in the living room, brought up a search page, and typed in virtual friend .
    She scanned down the page. There. Is that it?
    Real Virtual Friends—VirtualFriendMe
    www.virtualfriendme.com
    Home of real virtual friends. Friends just like the real thing.
    She clicked on the link.
    The images on the screen faded until all that was left was the white background. Then she heard a woman’s voice.
    â€œAre you ready for this?”
    A brief pause, then the shoulder-up likeness of a young woman appeared on the left side of the screen. She wore a red top. Shoulder-length hair fell around her neck. At first it didn’t look like anything else would happen. But no, she was breathing. At least she looked like she was breathing. Yes, moving, blinking, as if waiting for someone to notice her.
    The image smiled. Her eyes wrinkled at the edges. “I asked you if you were ready for this, didn’t I?” The eyes opened wider. “Hmmm?”
    Rachel fell back against her chair, feeling like someone had pushed her. It’s so real .
    â€œI know, you’re surprised.” The face assumed a compassionate look. “I never mean to scare anyone. I never know what to expect either. I can’t see you, you know. All I know about you is what you tell me.” Pause. “And you haven’t told me anything yet, have you?”
    â€œWill you tell me your name?” The face looked down to the lower right-hand corner of the screen, where a small box appeared. A blue cursor blinked in the box. “Just type your name in the box, then we’ll get properly introduced. My name is Jane. What’s yours?” She raised her eyebrows, and motioned to the box with a slight tip of her head.
    Slowly Rachel moved back toward the screen. It was just like having another person in the room. Should she put her name in the box? What would happen?
    Jane looked kind and patient. Rachel touched the keyboard and carefully typed Rachel .
    â€œRachel. Wonderful. Another girl.” Jane’s wide smile showed white teeth behind the lipstick. “How old are you, Rachel?”
    31 .
    â€œOooh. We’re about the same age. Well, in my case it’s