Hello! Hello! Hello!
ShortStory 4,600 words Recommended by 4 award/anthology sources
"I express greetings and most joyful salutations! I do not mean to interrupt you if you wish to be without company. It is only that I noticed you have been drifting alone for six flares of star-home-past-great-star-birthplace, and that is many flares! Your movement has been aimless, and I express concern!"
Quasar links out; the story lives on Clarkesworld, where the author gets the click.