He was my friend. I never thought of him as anything else. The very thought of him being a robot never even crossed my mind. I just thought that we were two guys, that liked to hang out.
I never understood why people gave us wierd looks whenever we went to the movies or the park. I just imagined that something was wrong with the way I looked. I never thought that he was the wierd one.
Then, one day when my mother tucked me into bed she said, “Peter, I don’t think you should see your friend any longer. I think you are old enough to find friends your own age.”
“But mom, he is my age!” I protested.
My mother put her finger to my mouth to shush me, “Peter, stop it. Listen to me, you can no longer hang out with him. Do you understand me?”
I nodded my head. I succumbed to her will, and everyone elses. I abandoned my friend to fit in with everyone else.

Now that I’m older, I look back with regret. Even though he was made of metal, he was the only friend I’ve ever had with a real heart.