Page 66 of Whisked Away By the Alien

“Your mother packed some clothing, photos, and other personal items for you.”

“And my recipe box,” Bubbe adds. “You need to feed that boy. He’s all skin and bones.”

“Bubbe, I think you need new glasses,” Rachel says. “That alien is all muscle.”

“That’s my point! Not an ounce of fat on him. He’s wasting away. A male needs to come home to good cooking. And Golda’s a good cook.”

They all assumed I’d go with Stenikov. What am I missing? Besides a brain, apparently.

And a heart.

Rachel approaches. I’m surprised to see her here with Sadie. I thought she feared Stenikov.

Her eyes run up and down me. “You’ve changed. For the better, Goldilox. This alien of yours suits you. Now let me give you a little advice.”

Here it comes. She’s not going to let me grieve in peace. Right now, all I want is to curl up in bed and cry myself to sleep.

“Go ahead. I can’t feel any worse than I already do.”

“Get your fucking coat on and go after him, you fool.”

“Rachel!” Bubbe scolds. Rachel never swears. No one does in our house.

“I’m not the fool who let the man of her dreams walk out that door, Bubbe. You know I’m right,” Rachel says to our grandmother.

“Everyone agrees with you, Rachel, but you don’t need to swear, especially in front of the baby.”

“Yes, the baby.” Rachel’s expression turns stern as she dangles her daughter inches from my face, knowing I can’t resist kissing my sweet little niece. “Go ahead, Goldie. Tell your niece why she’s never going to have any cousins to play with. Because we all saw how you looked at that big blue alien. He’s the one for you. They’ll never be another. You’re going to stay here and turn into a miserable person because you were too scared to go with him.”

“I’m not scared of going with him!” I shout. I’m not mad at Rachel, but at myself. I messed up. Big time. “I’m scared I’ll never see you, or Mom, Dad, and Bubbe again.”

“Stenikov’s your family now.”

That’s the first time she’s used his name. And without any slurs. She really believes I belong with him.

Everyone does.

“You want me to leave Earth? All of you?” I’m shocked by the thought. And the realization that I already know the answer. They not only wanted me to go with Sten, they expected it.

“We want you to be happy. To have a full life,” my sister says. “Our ancestors fought for their freedom, their happiness, and for their families. Hell, our whole world’s been fighting for freedom from the Coalition for twenty years and we finally got it. You need to do the same. You’ve always been a fighter, Goldie, so start fighting. For you and Stenikov.”

She’s right. It’s what’s been tearing me apart. I want to be with Sten, but I didn’t think I could leave my family. They’re all telling me they’ll be fine without me. They’ll still have one another. And even if I never see them again, the love will always bind us, all of us.

I hug Rachel and Sadie, then Bubbe. I dash into the kitchen and kiss my mom and give her the world’s biggest hug. No words pass between us. She understands.

When my Dad comes downstairs, I hug him. I’m afraid to sayI love youto them because it sounds like an ending, not a beginning. As I race to the door, Rachel shouts, “Wait!”

“What?”

“Take your coat, Goldilox. Your big blue bear probably does a good job keeping you warm and then some,” she says waggling her eyebrows, “but it’s still cold out there.”

I take the coat from her and hug her one last time. Hell, if my sister can advocate for Stenikov, then clearly I have the approval of my entire family.

I race down the street, trying to figure out which bus connections I need to make it to TAB, Teterboro Airfield B, the section reserved for alien ships. Sten’s scheduled to lift at 5pm, which gives me three hours to get there. If the buses are running on time, it should take me two hours. One hour margin. I’ll make it. I have to make it. I refuse to lose my sholan, my heart and soul… the love of my life.

* * *

“What do you mean,I can’t enter?” I snap at the soldier guarding the entrance to TAB. “I’m his wife. He’s expecting me. Hail his ship. His name is Warrior Stenikov Zelin, from Zyan.”

---