Page 75 of What Makes an Alien a Dad?

“I’ll die for you.”

“I can’t live without you.”

“You complete me...”

They all used to sound like utter gibberish to him before. Now, their meaning emerged sharply, as if the fog shrouding his mind had cleared.

Yes, he would die for Maya with no hesitation. He wished it would’ve been him standing on that ledge instead of her. It’d be far less stressful than seeing her in danger.

No, he couldn’t live without her. If she left Neron now, he would survive. He’d go through the motions. He’d take care of his daughter. He’d do his work. He’d survive, but that would not be the life he’d want to have. Without Maya, he couldn’t be happy. He’d survive, but he couldn’t live fully.

Because she did complete him.

There was a hole the size of a human woman in his heart now. And only she could fill it.

“Fuck,” he groaned, dropping his head between his shoulders.

He was truly and utterly fucked, wasn’t he?

He was in love.

“I love her, don’t I?” he asked the screen. The AI remained silent and, in this case, completely useless.

He loved Maya. And he was about to lose her.

His first instinct was to run to her. Except that she no longer lived in the hospital. Chances were, she’d refuse to see him. But even if she didn’t, there was a huge possibility he’d screw it up even more the moment he opened his mouth. Being in the same room with her robbed him of words. Thoughts deserted him, making him feel light-headed and dumb.

If he went to her, he’d ruin it.

“I’ve read some wonderful words written by you...”

He was good with words. But in this case, he was only good when the words were written. He’d composed some beautiful love letters to her, expressing the emotions he’d never thought himself capable of. Because all those words had come straight from his heart.

Maya used to love his letters. Maybe he could make her love them again. And through them, maybe he’d get a second chance at her love, too?

This time, he’d also get to put his own name under the words expressing his feelings.

“To Madam Maya Gupta,” he dictated to the AI. Then, he closed his eyes and let his heart speak once again. The words flowed easily, “Maya, my dearest beautiful flower...”

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