Page 69 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“Yes, you’ve opened my eyes to how far men still have to go in the Empire for any sense of equality. My life will be dedicated to that cause now so no other man will have to give up his human wife because of prejudice.”

I kiss him again. I want to tell him that I’ll never forget him but that would just be turning the knife in both of our hearts.

Commander Fox and two of his officers are waiting for us as we disembark the Lio. I expected Commander Fox to be livid for lying to him but he looks just as patient and friendly, well not as amicable, as the first time we were here. The officers have no face expressions, but the one I recognize as Officer Sem greets me personally. “Madame Georgiana Smith, please come with me. It’s time to prepare you to return to Earth.”

“Wait, I want to say ‘goodbye.’”

The officers share a look. Commander Fox answers, “Go ahead. This will be the last time you see Axl.”

I turn and look up at Axl. He looks so handsome in his uniform and his long black hair braided down his back. “I wonder if I’ll ever learn how to braid?”

“Those are your last words to me?”

“You look like you might cry. I didn’t want to make it worse,” I say as my own tears are running down my face. “I can’t believe this is really it.”

A tear escapes one of his eyes. “I don’t mind crying. I’m losing the only woman I’ve ever loved and you won’t even remember my name.” He touches his chest where my necklace is under his clothing. “But I’ll never forget you, Georgiana.”

I hold him tight. I feel so guilty right now. I should be agreeing to return to the Empire, but I can’t. Life would be too difficult for me. “I’m sorry this didn’t turn out the way either one of us wanted it to.”

“Madame Georgiana Smith, walk in the gods’ light.”

I reluctantly let go of him, give him a sad smile, then turn and follow Officer Sem. I have nothing in my hands because I can take nothing. Axl has all my belongings that I acquired on my trip across the galaxy. As soon as we reach the medical center an Alliance doctor is there and the human woman I met before, Caroline.

“It’s good to see you again Georgie. I’m just sorry this will be the last time,” Caroline says.

“There’s nothing I wanted more than for things to work out with Axl. But I can’t live in the Empire. The Empress would probably kill me if the loneliness and prejudice of Alliance people didn’t first.”

“I don’t think I could live there either,” Caroline admits. “I’ve never been there, but I watch Alliance news broadcasts. It seems extremely strict.”

“But you live here.”

“This,” she puts her hands out indicating the station, “is a halfway house between the Empire and Earth. We have our own culture and it’s a generational mission. In time, we might even have our own culture completely different to that of Earth and the Empire.”

“I understand.”

Caroline hands me a tablet. It is the contract Lia told me about to say that I acknowledge that I am having my memory erased and my translator removed so that I may return to Earth.

“So I won’t remember any of this?”

“No. Possibly in a dream if you come across something that triggers a memory. We can’t truly erase memories, just push them down so deep you can’t access them.”

I get teary-eyed again. “Why are these my only options?”

“I’m sorry, the galaxy is heartbreaking sometimes,” Caroline says holding out the contract for me to agree to. I reluctantly sign it. “Now there’s one more thing, Axl insisted that you write yourself a letter including this address.” She shows me an address and hands me a pen and paper. “We will leave it for you. But this is the only favor we are doing for you. Don’t try to leave yourself any other clues.”

I look at the address. It’s noticeably short but I know German addresses can look short to American eyes. I write myself a note including the address and hand it back to Caroline who takes it and puts it in her pocket.

I try not to cry thinking about this. Mentally, I start to question my decision, but Caroline puts a hand on my shoulder and calls the doctor over. “She’s ready. Let’s do this quickly.”

The doctor takes my hand and immediately I begin to feel better. “There you go. This will all be over in a couple of minutes.”

I have the worst headache. I open my eyes to look for some water, I grab the glass next to my bed drink some and then fall back asleep. I must have had a lot to drink last night at Walpurgisnacht. So much in fact, I don’t remember what happened. Who was that mysterious man by the fire? Did he drug me?

I immediately sit up and check myself. I’m naked which is odd, but not that odd if I came home really drunk. But otherwise I’m unharmed. My suitcase is here. It’s not where I left it though. Perhaps one of the cleaners moved it?

I get up and look around my small room. It doesn’t look like anyone has been here. I open the curtains. It’s early morning. I get back in bed and go back to sleep.

I wake up again, get dressed and go down to the front desk. “Good morning. I was wondering if anyone has turned in a mobile phone? I lost mine at Walpurgisnacht.”

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