Twenty-Seven

 

Marsha wasn’t intimidated by much. She’d been all over the galaxy, meeting with important people from all kinds of species. She knew she was capable of anything, including surviving and thriving without any guidance on a primitive, barely known planet. She had an inner confidence that many people envied, which was never shaken for a moment, even when she first landed unexpectedly on Earth.

Today, during her meeting with Blxtycyd, she was intimidated.

They sat across from each other in Blxtycyd’s atrium, the sun shining on them through the glass walls. She recognized their dignified features from the images that had often been piped onto her microchip. They looked even more wise and knowing in real life.

While hrylyts didn’t invest in different patterns of clothing to decorate themselves, she found herself eyeing Blxtycyd’s garments. They seemed to be of a finer quality than most, possibly more expensive. She wondered what they’d think if they knew they were acting like an Earthling.

Blxtycyd straightened their stalk, then retracted it to be at eye level with her. “I’m glad you could meet with me today.”

It wasn’t a choice, so she stayed silent on that. “What is this about?”

There was no beating around the bush, as humans put it. “I looked into this planet called Earth. I believe it has a certain potential. I would like your opinions on what we could do with it.”

“Do?”

She thought of the fates of other small, primitive planets that had been deemed unworthy of joining the union. Some were mined for their minerals, devastating the needs of the non-sentient inhabitants. Others had their flora and fauna taken to be shown in zoos and botanical gardens, or had their atmospheres pumped of gases that higher-level species needed for their own purposes.

“No one in power has thought of Earth in a very long time,” Blxtycyd said, their facial expression inscrutable. “When I examine it from a modern frame of reference, it has potential in certain areas.”

Marsha’s hearts were hammering. “Like what?”

“Tourism, mainly.” They kept their eye firmly trained on her. “It seems entertaining. Many beings would love to interact with such primitive beasts.”

“Beasts?” Anger sparked through Marsha. How could he talk about Sophie that way?

“The local culture,” Blxtycyd amended. “People enjoy authentic flavor, and that’s harder to find these days. Everything is sanitized, commercialized, prepackaged…”

“Earth isn’t a tourism destination,” Marsha said. “The beings there are a lot like us. They just have less advanced technology, and certain—” she didn’t know how to even start explaining how humans acted “—ideas. They’re different, but they’re not lesser.”

“Fascinating.” Blxtycyd rubbed their projections together. “I’ll clear you to return to Earth.”

Marsha hadn’t known there was a question of clearance. “Thank you.”

“I’d like to keep touch,” they continued smoothly. “You’ll need to update the database, as a first step.”

“Need to? But…” Marsha turned her stalk to the side.

She’d thought so much about updating the database early in her journey, and then it had completely fallen from her mind. She was the only one in the Interplanetary Union that had accurate information on Earth.

Updating the database would take days, maybe weeks. She didn’t have the brief notes she’d made. She’d have to think about what to include and what to leave out, and she didn’t even have the benefit of any websites or encyclopedias. All she could add was what she carried in her own mind.

“I’m just a citizen. I don’t work for the government anymore. How can I need to do anything?”

“‘As a citizen of the union, you may be called upon at any time to perform duties your leader asks you to.’” Blxtycyd was quoting a section of the planet’s constitution. “If you want to be part of this union, you need to do as you’re told.”

Marsha had been planning to leave and never come back, anyway. She didn’t mind updating the database, but she didn’t like being ordered to.

“What if I don’t want to?” she asked.

“Then you may not like the consequences.”

 

***

 

Sophie strolled by the pond by herself, her heart heavy. She’d been here so many times with Marsha, and she’d always been too scared to even hold her hand. If Marsha ever made it back to her, she’d never be nervous again. She’d shout their love from the rooftops. She’d tell the entire world about the amazing woman she adored.

Without thinking about it consciously, she found her feet turning down a side street. Soon enough, she was in front of the used bookstore where she’d first found Marsha.

She laughed bitterly to herself. As if she wasn’t already moping over Marsha enough, her subconscious had brought her back to the spot that reminded her most of her. She gazed across the street at the McDonald’s, remembering that little squeak saying “help.” She’d been looking at this same backdrop when she’d first seen the woman who’d change her life.

She turned toward the bookstore. Since everything else had failed her, she might as well pick up a couple of novels. She could lose herself in a few good stories and try to forget the real world.

She had one foot inside when a voice came from behind her—a voice she’d thought she’d never hear again. “Sophie? Is that you?”

She turned slowly, afraid her imagination was playing tricks on her. But if it was her imagination, it was far more detailed and realistic than it’d ever been before.

Marsha stood in the middle of the street, completely unfazed as a car whizzed by her. Her face was as breathtaking as ever, her frame clad in the same plain outfit she’d arrived in before.

A teenage boy stared at her, slack-jawed from beneath the overhang of the McDonald’s. “Did you just…?”

Marsha paid no attention to him, hurrying toward Sophie.

Sophie’s mind worked overtime to process what was happening. “Are you serious? You just materialized? I missed it again?”

Marsha’s arms wrapped around her the way Sophie had been dreaming of for weeks and weeks. “That’s what you’re mad at me for right now?”

“I don’t know yet. Just let me kiss you first.”

Sophie didn’t care who was watching. She pressed her lips to Marsha’s, tasting her sweetness, drinking her in.

They walked hand-in-hand to the apartment, exchanging few words along the way. Sophie was vibrating with nervousness and anticipation. She was certain Marsha hadn’t left on purpose. She wouldn’t have come back if she had; she wouldn’t have kissed her with that much burning passion.

But Marsha was back, and right now that was all that mattered.

When they got past the doors of the apartment, Sophie launched herself at Marsha again. “I can’t—believe—you’re here,” she said between fervent kisses.

“I can’t believe it, either.” Marsha gazed at her adoringly. “It feels like forever since I left.”

Sophie pulled her onto the living room couch, pressing as close to her as possible. She had half a mind to take her into the bedroom instead, but feared she’d give in to her baser instincts before hearing what Marsha had to say. “Where did you go when you left?”

“To my planet. My birth-givers had been searching for me, and they found a way to bring me back. I wanted to come back to you immediately, but it wasn’t possible. Then one thing happened after another, and the time kept passing.” She looked bashful.

A hard knot grew in Sophie’s chest. “So you left by choice?”

“No! I had no idea they were going to transport me. One moment I was here; the next, I was gone. There’s no way to communicate between our planets, so they couldn’t tell me in advance. And I couldn’t reach you.”

“But it was possible to come back?” Sophie’s tone was frosty. “And you delayed it for two months?”

“I wasn’t delaying by choice,” Marsha quickly said. “I had to sell my apartment since I wasn’t going to need it anymore. And then there were legal proceedings. I—”

Sophie held up a hand. “You couldn’t have come back and let me know, then gone back to take care of whatever you had to do? I’ve been picturing you sliced up in a government facility for two months, and you were leisurely taking care of your business?”

“I would’ve come back to tell you, but it was so expensive.” Marsha seemed anxious now. “I had to get everything in order so I could move to Earth permanently.”

“You’d already been here for months! How much difference could it make?” Sophie shook her head in disappointment. “I can’t believe the money even mattered. You never seemed like that kind of person.”

“You don’t understand, Sophie. I thought I’d be back right away. Normally the senate would pay for my transport, but obviously—”

“Stop. Just stop. I don’t want to hear it.” Sophie stood up, a bitter taste in her mouth. “It’s one excuse after another. I didn’t know if you were dead or alive. Do you have any idea how that feels, wondering if the woman you love is being tortured at that very moment? If she’s crying out in pain, wishing I was there? Or if she’s already six feet under, rotting in the dirt?”

“I’m sorry,” Marsha whispered.

“Sorry isn’t good enough! You know what I would’ve done if it was expensive to come back here? Sold plasma. Borrowed money from my parents. Taken out a loan at the bank. Heck, I would’ve stolen the cash if I had to. There’s nothing in the world that would’ve kept me from being with the woman I supposedly love for two entire months!”

Marsha pulled away slightly. Sophie glared at her, willing her to leave. She needed to be alone right now.

The front door swung open, and Gary’s loud voice permeated the apartment. A second later, he and Terry crossed through the living room.

They stopped short when they saw Marsha. “You—you’re here?” Terry said.

“Actually, she was just leaving.” Sophie crossed her arms and looked away.

 

***

 

Marsha paced around the hotel room, her mind in a muddle. Checking in here had been an adventure. She hadn’t known what to say at the counter, and then the receptionist had been shocked that she was paying in cash. Luckily she’d remembered to take everything from her dresser before leaving Sophie’s place.

The hotel was dingy and spartan. She couldn’t have picked a worse one if she’d tried. Spotting an insect crawling across the floor, she cringed. Then again, maybe she deserved this for the way she’d made Sophie suffer. The way her face had lit up at first had made Marsha feel amazing. But then Sophie’s eyes had dulled, her smile fallen, and Marsha had begun to realize how badly she’d messed up.

The question now was what to do next. She picked up her phone and glanced at the notifications. There was a call from the first day she’d disappeared, and even though Sophie must’ve quickly found the phone, she’d called several more times after. Damian had called, too—she must be fired by now, he probably hated her—but she’d deal with that later.

An alert for her voicemail was at the top of the screen. She called it and immediately heard Sophie’s voice.

“Hi, Marsha. I’m not sure when you’re going to get this. You left yesterday—or you were taken. I don’t know where you are. I just wanted to say I miss you. I love you. If you’re out there, I hope you’re okay. Come back soon.”

Beep.

“Hi, Marsha. It’s been a week. I guess it’s dumb to leave you messages, but maybe you’ll hear them someday. Probably not. Either you’re dead or you went home. Either way, I’ll never see you again. I love you. That’s all. Bye.”

Beep.

“Fuck you for leaving me! Fuck you for not saying goodbye. I already forgave you once, Marsha! How do you expect me to trust you again? If you show up again, I’ll slap you in the face. You have some fucking nerve, and I’m so fucking done.”

Beep.

“Marsha, I’m sorry for that last message. I don’t know what I was thinking. I love you a lot, and I know you wouldn’t leave me on purpose. Right? You definitely wouldn’t. Just delete my last message. Love you.”

Beep.

“It’s been six weeks. Six weeks. I know you’re gone for good. I’m thinking about having a small funeral for you. Just me and Terry and Gary. We’d celebrate the time you spent with us and try to get some closure. We’ll never know what happened to you in the end, but we know it was against your will. I haven’t told them yet. I don’t know when we should do it. I don’t want to give up on you yet. Maybe after three months, or six. I just don’t know.”

That was the last message, and Marsha put her phone down with trembling hands. She’d known Sophie would miss her, but she hadn’t realized quite how traumatic it’d been. Hearing Sophie’s emotions change from one day to the next made the amount of time that’d passed so much clearer.

The fact that Sophie had truly believed she was dead… that she’d been planning a funeral… Marsha’s guilt suffused her.

Her throat was tight as she sank into the ratty armchair. She should’ve tried harder to come back. She’d never thought it’d go that long. It’d been one thing after another, and with the drama of being betrayed, time had gotten away from her.

Not a single day had passed that she hadn’t thought about Sophie, missed her, and regretted leaving. But would Sophie ever believe that?

She’d already arranged everything on her planet so that she shouldn’t have to go back. At this point, the thought of her old life didn’t appeal to her in the slightest. But a life on Earth without Sophie would be even worse. A Sophie-less existence was worth nothing.

How could she get Sophie to forgive her? How could she prove that she was here for good?