Page 81 of Alien's Eternal Mate

“Arael? Did you fall asleep?”

I lifted my face from her shoulder. Arael’s face was turned to the side, her lips slightly parted, eyes shut as if in repose.

Fear gripped my heart. I shook her, oh so very gently.

“Arael? Arael, can you hear me?”

My shaking grew more frantic.

“Arael. Arael, wake up! Wake up now! You have to wake up, please, wake up…”

My voice grew hoarse, and the ringing in my ears seemed to indicate I’d been yelling at the top of my lungs. Suddenly, there was masari all around me. Some of them, big lads with thick arms, pulled me away from Arael. Others wearing Physicker garb struggled to save a life that had already fled.

I fought the orderlies, trying to reach my dead wife, but soon I realized the truth. I sagged in their arms, and they went from restraining me to supporting me.

At last, the Physickers stepped back, and they let me go. I stumbled, half falling across my lifemate’s body.

Arael was gone.

TWENTY-TWO

CARTER

We buried her on Old Starlost, near where our house used to be.

I moved into Pages' old place, though it had fallen into disrepair. Despite my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren’s best efforts, I refused to leave. Pageus’ house had one unique qualification.

I could look out the window and see my wife’s grave.

I spent the better part of a year like this, waiting to die. But one day Ajax showed up with my youngest great grandchild and told me that I had to live for them, even if I couldn’t live for myself.

I didn’t move out of Pageus’ place, but I did become more sociable. I even got into politics again, albeit strictly on the local level.

The Physickers gave me more and more pills to swallow, more and more treatment plans to follow. No one wanted to admit the truth, except for me, of course. My body was breaking down, and science just couldn't stop it.

Not that I wanted to stop it. I was ready for my life to be over. Yes, my children, my family, gave my life meaning. But I was tired. Everything hurt, but I could have dealt with the physical pain. It was the terrible, empty hole left behind by Arael that I could not abide.

So I stopped taking my pills. Not completely, I just didn’t put that much effort into taking them on time, or getting more when I ran out. I didn’t show up for all of my appointments, either. I didn't want to waste my time.

One day, my chest tightened to the point I could barely breathe. None of the remedies helped, saved an emergency inhaler that could only be used two, maybe three times in a single day without serious side effects.

Once I could breathe, I eschewed my hoverchair and instead hobbled down the hill on an old fashioned cane. I sat down on a rock beside Arael’s headstone, and rested my hand against the smooth gray surface.

“Well,” I rasped. “I think today is the day, my love. Today is the day we are reunited I’m sorry it took so long. I just hope…no, I pray that when I die, I go to the Masari version of the afterlife and not the human one. I have to see you again, beloved. I just have to.”

“Don’t worry, you will.”

I turned my rheumy eyes toward the speaker.

“Who’s there? Spoke punk kid playing games…”

My voice trailed off when I saw my father, now literally a century younger than I.

“Oh, it’s you. I suppose this means I’m losing my mind again. The end must really be near.”

“Every ending is a beginning, Carter. Or should I call you Gro?”

I snorted.

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