Her eyes flew open at the sound of the alarm. She rolled over and shut it off, noticing that he was already awake. A soft humming drifted from the bathroom.
She glanced at her reflection in the vanity mirror across from the king-size bed. Her hair was set in curlers, wrapped neatly beneath a white satin headscarf. She wore a simple pink nightgown with short gathered sleeves.
Sliding out of bed, she slipped on her white slippers and walked to the chest at the foot of the bed, pulling on her robe. Then she made her way into the bathroom and stood before her vanity, studying herself again—light brown eyes with a faint hint of purple and a lovely light-toffee complexion.
“Morning, darling,” she said.
The man standing beside her smiled. He was tall with build was lean yet broad. His hair, a glossy black streaked with pale blonde that match his blue eyes. A shade of blue that was almost otherworldly, all of it complement his warm fair skin tone.
“Morning, love,” he replied.
She turned on the faucet and picked up her toothbrush and the tube of toothpaste lying between their vanities. As she brushed her teeth, he slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. In the mirror, she smiled at him. After a moment, he left the bathroom, and she continued brushing.
When she finished her routine, she returned to the bedroom to dress. Removing her robe and nightgown, she put on her bra and slipped into a black swing dress dotted with white. She took off the headscarf and removed the curlers, brushing out the curls into soft waves. After applying her makeup, she fastened simple gold earrings and stepped into black flats.
Downstairs, he was waiting for her.
He looked impeccable—a black vest over a crisp white shirt, tailored black pants, polished shoes, and matching socks. His round black-framed glasses only enhanced his handsomeness. His jacket lay draped over the back of a chair in the living room, next to his briefcase.
She entered the kitchen, and they kissed.
“What would you like for breakfast?” she asked.
“Nothing, my love. I need to get to work,” he said. “I’ll pick something up on the way.”
“Alright,” she replied.
They shared one last kiss before he grabbed his jacket and briefcase and headed out through the garage.
She looked around the living room.
It was spacious and beautiful, with plush carpeting underfoot. A low walnut-framed sofa sat at the center, paired with two tapered-leg armchairs angled toward a simple round coffee table. Sunlight streamed in through the sliding glass doors. A stone fireplace anchored one wall, with a tall floor lamp standing beside it.
She walked to the sliding glass doors and paused, studying her reflection. So lovely, with her fuller, voluptuous curves. She smiled softly at herself.
Suddenly, the doorbell chimed.
She stepped away from the glass doors and crossed to the front entrance. Beside the door was a security screen. She tapped it, and the display flickered on, revealing a man dressed in a delivery uniform. She pressed the speaker button.
“Yes?” she said.
“Yes, I have a delivery for Mr. Warren Evenon,” the man replied.
She opened the door carefully and offered the delivery man a polite smile.
“I’ll take it,” she said.
He handed her a data-slate and a stylus. She signed her name, and he passed her the package—a medium-sized box, nothing overly large.
“Have a good day,” the delivery man said.
“Thank you. You as well,” she replied before stepping back inside.
She closed and locked the door, then placed the package on the console table near the entrance. Returning to the living room, she looked around thoughtfully. What should she do now?
Then she remembered she hadn’t checked her sales reports.
She walked to the sofa and sat down, picking up her Vista Compact Comp and opening it. As the screen lit up, she began tapping on the keys, pulling up the sales figures for the cosmetics she sold. She worked as a sales representative for the cosmetics company, Horizon Beauty.
A smile spread across her face as she studied the sales chart. Everything she had promoted was selling well. If the numbers kept climbing, she would soon have enough to buy the black-and-white checkerboard pumps she’d been eyeing—along with a few other things.
Warren would gladly buy her whatever she wanted; he loved to spoil her. But she preferred earning her own spending money. She liked the thought of purchasing things for herself—and even surprising him with gifts bought from her own earnings.
After reviewing the chart once more, she closed the device and set it aside. Rising from the sofa, she drifted back toward the sliding glass doors and gazed at her reflection again.
Something is wrong… this isn’t my life.
“Huh?” she whispered to herself.
And then, without warning, she fainted.
***Static Memory***
It was raining, and I hadn’t made it home yet. I hated walking in the rain. My umbrella kept me mostly dry, but the wind still managed to mist my face and legs.
I finally reached my unit at the cheap extended-stay hotel where I lived. Swiping my key card, I hurried inside.
Home was exactly what it sounded like—temporary. A couch that pulled out into a bed, a tiny kitchen, a small dining table that doubled as a desk. Functional. Barely comfortable.
My boyfriend wasn’t home. I had no idea if he had been home at all. He was always gone. Some work trip, he would say.
Randy was a traveling sales representative for a pharmaceutical company—one that had been mentioned in unsettling news reports more than once. I tried asking him questions about it, but he always dodged them. Eventually, I stopped asking.
He was gone a lot.
Sometimes I wondered if he even thought about me. He used to call constantly. That stopped after we moved in together—his idea, not mine. But being the silly, devoted woman that I was… here I was.
I placed my umbrella on a towel by the door and removed my coat and soaked sneakers. In the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror.
Fairly pretty. Nice smile. But definitely not head-turning.
My clothes were wrinkled and messy from clearing tables at the local diner, where I worked as a busser and dishwasher. I changed out of them and tossed them into the hamper. I’d do laundry tomorrow.
After showering and changing into white sweatpants and a slightly oversized dark gray shirt, I placed a frozen dinner into the microwave. I glanced at my phone.
Still no call from Randy.
I decided to call him.
The line rang and rang before going to voicemail. I didn’t leave a message. I’d already left him seven.
When the microwave chimed, I removed my dinner and sat alone at the small table.
I was tired of being alone. Tired of living in that miserable extended-stay hotel. It wasn’t that I wanted extravagance. I just thought that by now, Randy and I would have moved beyond that place. He always bragged about being able to provide for both of us.
But it never showed in how we lived.
And by now… I had hoped we would be married. I didn’t want a fancy wedding or an expensive ring. I just wanted us to be happy.
Lately, though, I wasn’t sure we ever were.
***End of Memory***
“Dahlia!”
“Dahlia, darling! Wake up!”
Her eyes fluttered open. As her vision cleared, she saw Warren hovering over her, panic etched across his face.
“What happened?” she asked, slowly pushing herself up.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I came back because I forgot some important papers… and I found you passed out.”
She could see the worry in his eyes.
“I don’t know what happened. I finished checking my sales report, walked to the sliding glass door… and then I just fainted.”
Warren pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
“I love you,” he said softly. “You are my bright star. My world doesn’t shine unless you’re in it.”
He leaned back to look at her, tears spilling down his cheeks. She gently removed his glasses and wiped them away. His eyes—so hypnotic, so unusual—were the first thing she had ever noticed about him.
“I’m okay,” she reassured him.
“Darling, I’m taking the day off,” he said firmly.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know. But you are more important. Work will always be there. You are my priority.” He lifted her hand and kissed it.
Her eyes filled with tears at his words. He always treated her like a queen. Almost reverently. He never demanded anything of her—only her presence. No matter how small the gesture, he made her feel cherished every single day.
“You don’t have to stay home, baby,” she said gently.
“I know,” he replied. “But I want to.”
She sighed softly. She knew him well enough to understand there would be no changing his mind.
“Okay,” she agreed.
Warren smiled.
“Once I put away my briefcase, I’ll change, and we can go out. I’ll take you to the park… or shopping. Anything you’d like.”
Dahlia smiled back.
“Let’s go to the park. And maybe lunch at Sally’s.”
“Of course, my lovely Dahlie,” he said warmly.
“My handsome Ward,” she replied.
◾◾◾◾ II ◾◾◾◾
The day was beautiful, the sun shining warmly over everything.
Dahlia and Warren strolled through the park, watching mothers push infants and toddlers in strollers, older couples walking their dogs, and a few retirees playing chess beneath the shade of wide-branched trees.
Afterward, they had lunch at Sally’s, a casual café that served simple but delicious meals.
As they sat at their table eating, Dahlia noticed Warren staring at her.
“Honey, is something wrong?” she asked.
Warren reached across the table and took her hand.
“I’m just thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t come back home,” he said quietly.
“Baby, I’m fine,” she reassured him.
“After lunch, I’m taking you to the doctor,” he said firmly.
Dahlia sighed.
“There’s no need. It was probably just a light fainting spell. Nothing serious.”
“Still, I want to make sure you’re okay.”
Realizing she wasn’t going to talk him out of it, she agreed.
◾◾◾◾
Dr. Robert Franklin gave her a thorough examination and found nothing wrong.
“See? I told you,” Dahlia said lightly.
“I just wanted to be sure,” Warren replied. “You can’t blame me for being cautious.”
“I understand that,” she said gently.
“Darling, could you step out for a moment? I’d like to speak with Dr. Franklin about another matter,” Warren said.
“Of course,” she replied.
She left the exam room and headed toward the waiting area.
As soon as the door closed, Warren turned to the doctor.
“What really happened?” he asked.
Dr. Franklin adjusted his glasses.
“A glitch,” he said calmly.
Warren exhaled sharply. “Damn.”
“Look,” Dr. Franklin continued, lowering his voice, “just keep an eye on her. And don’t overwhelm her. Your… excessive adoration may have been overstimulating her. That could have triggered the glitch.”
Warren sighed.
“Possibly,” he admitted. “But only because I love her so much. From the moment I saw her, I fell in love. I want to give her everything she wants—love, safety… a perfect life.”
Dr. Franklin gave him a knowing smile.
“Just take care of her. Love her. And if the time comes when you must tell her the truth… do so.”
Warren nodded solemnly before leaving the room.
◾◾◾◾
The ride home was quiet.
Dahlia wasn’t sure why, but she felt… lost. Something wasn’t right. She couldn’t name it, only feel it pressing against her thoughts.
She stared out the window at the houses, buildings, and people passing by. For some reason, she felt as though she didn’t truly know any of them—as if they belonged to a world slightly out of reach.
Warren pulled into the driveway and pressed the garage door opener. The door lifted, and he drove inside.
“Lovely, we’re home,” he said gently.
“Okay,” she replied solemnly.
“Let me get the door for you.”
He stepped out of the car and hurried around to the passenger side, opening the door and holding out his hand.
She smiled faintly and took it, stepping out. Warren closed the car door, and together they walked into the house. He pressed the wall panel to lower the garage door.
“Oh, darling—a package came for you. It’s on the console by the front door,” Dahlia said.
“Alright, honey,” he replied, heading toward the entryway.
Dahlia remained in the kitchen, gazing out the window. Her thoughts drifted.
***Static Memory***
“You’re always gone, Randy!” I shouted.
“I have to work, Dahl. How else are the bills going to get paid?” he snapped.
“What bills?” I shot back. “The only bills we have are the cellphone and rent. I’m the one buying the food and everything else we need!”
“With the money I make,” he said coldly.
I stared at him. He made me feel as though my job meant nothing—as though I contributed nothing.
I didn’t respond. He grabbed his bag and headed for the door. Before leaving, he turned and looked at me. He could see that I was angry—but also hurt.
And while it bothered him… it didn’t seem to matter enough.
“I’ll be back in two weeks,” he said.
I said nothing as he walked out.
It was in that moment I decided I’d had enough. Tomorrow, I would get my own cellphone plan with a different carrier. I would start buying food and necessities only for myself with my money. His money would go toward rent—and nothing else.
It was a beginning.
***End of Memory***
“Dahlia!”
She turned to see Warren standing there, holding the package she had brought inside.
“Yes?” she asked.
“It’s for you,” he said with a smile.
“For me?” she replied, surprised and confused.
He placed the box on the counter and opened it, revealing a navy blue and purple music box with delicate gold accents. He lifted the lid.
Softly, it began to play one of her favorite classical pieces—the Love Theme from Spartacus.
She smiled.
“I had it made for you,” he said.
She noticed tears in his eyes, and her own vision blurred as he handed the music box to her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome, my love.”
She brushed away a tear. “Why do you spoil me?” she asked softly.
“Because I want to. I want to give you everything you need and everything you desire.”
His words made her chest tighten.
“What if there comes a time when you don’t want to anymore?” she asked, her voice catching.
Warren gently took the music box from her hands and set it on the counter before pulling her into his arms.
“If that day ever comes,” he said, tears slipping down his face, “it will mean I don’t deserve you.”
“And what if I’m the cause?” she whispered.
“Dahlia, never think of yourself as less than,” he said firmly. “You are wonderful exactly as you are. You are beautiful, intelligent, creative, and kind. Whatever flaws you think you have—they are nothing compared to your virtues. When I look at you, I see the woman I chose to spend the rest of my life with. You are my bright star. Beautiful. Unique. I chose you simply because of who you are.”
Her lips trembled into a smile as he wiped away her tears.
“Thank you, baby,” she said softly.
“My lovely Dahlia… I love you,” Warren whispered.
“And I love you, my handsome Warren,” she replied.
And they kissed.
◾◾◾◾ III ◾◾◾◾
***Static Memory Dream***
I sat by the window. It was nighttime, and the moon shone brightly. Despite the glass being closed, I could still hear the hum of the city below.
As usual, Randy wasn’t there. Always gone.
When he found out I’d gotten my own cellphone plan with a different carrier, he merely shrugged. I suppose he saw it as one less expense.
I didn’t bother telling him that I had started buying groceries and necessities with my own money—money I had been quietly saving ever since he insisted that his income should cover rent and expenses. At this point, I was only paying rent.
I had been thinking about moving out—finding another cheap extended-stay hotel closer to my job.
Suddenly, pounding shook the door.
My heart raced. Slowly, I walked over and looked through the peephole.
Two men stood outside. Both looked rough.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“We’re looking for Randy,” one of them said.
“He’s not here.”
“Like hell he’s not!” he snapped.
Before I could react, they kicked the door in. I fell backward to the floor as they entered.
They tore through the place, overturning furniture and ripping through drawers.
“Damn it!” one of them cursed.
“I told you he took it with him. He’s not stupid,” the other replied.
The one who had cursed started toward me, fury in his eyes, but the other grabbed him.
“She doesn’t know anything. It’s doubtful he told her.”
The man struggled against his companion’s grip.
“Let it go, Fred! Let it go!” the other man shouted.
Fred shot me a venomous glare.
“You tell Randy that next time we see him, he either pays what he owes… or you’re dead.”
They stormed out.
When they were gone, I broke down—crying, screaming, shaking.
It was then I decided.
I was leaving.
***End of Static Memory Dream***
“Dahlia! Dahlia!”
Her eyes flew open. Tears streaked her cheeks.
“Darling, what is it? Tell me about the dream,” Warren said, holding her tightly.
“I can’t remember everything,” she said, trembling. “Just feeling scared. Angry. Abandoned. I was in a small apartment, and two men kicked in the door. They were looking for something. One of them almost came at me.”
Warren tightened his embrace.
“No one will ever harm you, Dahlia. I will make sure of it.”
She rested her head against his chest and slowly drifted back to sleep.
But Warren remained awake, staring at the moon through the sheer curtains. His strange blue eyes began to glow softly.
“No one will hurt you, Dahlia. No one,” he said in an otherworldly voice.
***Memory Callback***
He had been watching her for some time.
He hated what he saw—how horribly Randy treated her.
Randy was nothing. He was not merely a traveling sales representative. He was a drug smuggler. Funded by the very company he worked for. His position gave him freedom, money, and cover. He funded a lavish lifestyle in the Florida Keys while Dahlia remained in a crumbling extended-stay hotel in Chicago.
Tonight had been the final straw.
Two men breaking into her home.
He would not allow her to continue living that way. Even if she moved, she would still struggle while Randy thrived in secrecy.
No.
Randy would face consequences.
And Dahlia would have a better life.
That night, as she slept, he teleported into her apartment and gently caressed her face.
“I’m taking you home, Dahlie,” he whispered. “But first, I’m going to make Randy Benson wish he never left you alone.”
He called the police and reported her missing, giving a detailed description and informing them that her apartment had been ransacked.
After finishing the call, he lifted her carefully from the sofa bed.
“We’re going home, Dahlie.”
In a flash of light, they vanished.
***End of Memory Callback***
The next morning, sunlight poured into the bedroom.
Dahlia woke to find Warren still beside her, though already awake.
“Good morning, darling,” she said with a smile.
“Good morning, lovely,” he replied.
“Why aren’t you getting ready for work?” she asked.
“It’s Saturday.”
She covered her face with her palm, and they both laughed.
“What would you like to do today?” he asked.
“I need to go grocery shopping. Would you like to come with me?”
Warren smiled. “Yes, I would.”
“Okay.”
They kissed, and Dahlia slipped out of bed, heading to the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, Warren reached for his Teleflip. He opened it and pressed a single button. A holographic image appeared.
“Yes, Commander?” said a man with short blackish-red hair, green eyes, and a tanned complexion. He wore a dark green and silver uniform.
“Give me an update on Randy Benson,” Warren said in a low tone.
“He has been charged with trafficking controlled substances and is being held without bond. The pharmaceutical company Health Forward has terminated his employment and publicly disavowed any knowledge of his activities.”
Warren smirked.
“Of course, they did. And the search for Dahlia?”
“The police are still looking for her and are questioning Randy. They suspect his illegal dealings are connected to her disappearance.”
“As they should,” Warren replied. “Keep me updated.”
“Yes, Commander.”
The hologram vanished.
“Honey, who were you talking to?” Dahlia called from the bathroom.
“Just a colleague from work. Nothing important,” Warren said as he rose from the bed.
Dahlia opened the bathroom door as he approached.
“The bathroom’s all yours,” she said.
Warren wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“Later,” he murmured with a smile.
They kissed. He gently guided her back toward the bed, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as their kiss deepened.
◾◾◾◾
Dahlia and Warren walked up and down the aisles of the local grocery store. Dahlia pushed the cart while Warren read from the shopping list displayed on the Vista Comp Tablet, checking off each item with a stylus.
Warren glanced up and noticed one of his colleagues at the end of the aisle. The man gave him a subtle nod before walking away.
“Darling, there’s something I need from aisle four. I’ll be right back,” Warren said.
“Of course,” she replied.
Warren walked off.
Dahlia continued down the aisle, scanning shelves—when suddenly her body jolted. Her vision blurred, and she slipped into a trance.
***Static Memory***
I wake up in a white room.
The bed beneath me is impossibly comfortable—so comfortable that I almost don’t want to move. But something about this place feels strange. Stranger than anything I’ve ever experienced.
I realize I’m wearing a white nightgown that reaches my ankles.
Across the room stands a mirror and vanity. I rise slowly and look at myself.
I look the same… yet different.
My skin appears clearer—as though impurities have been erased. It’s soft, smooth, nearly flawless. My hair is the same color and texture. My complexion hasn’t changed. My body is still mine—only slightly more toned, subtly refined.
Rejuvenated.
Footsteps echo.
A section of the wall slides open like a seamless panel, and a man walks in.
His hair is a blend of silver and gold. His eyes glow faintly, like moonlight refracted through crystal. His complexion carries a pearlescent shimmer.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I am Commander Nevian,” he replies.
He wears what resembles a military uniform—dark green and silver. A pin on his chest is shaped like a fusion of a hexagon, oval, and rhombus.
“Where am I?”
“You are safe,” he says calmly. “Away from the wretched man who endangered your life.”
“Randy? What happened to him?”
“He is living comfortably in the Florida Keys with money earned from smuggling rejected pharmaceuticals—drugs deemed unsafe for public distribution but profitable on the black market.”
It doesn’t take me long to understand what he means.
“How do you know this?” I ask.
He takes my hands and looks into my eyes.
His eyes… hypnotic. Almost as though they are faceted like blue diamonds.
“Marry me, Dahlia,” he says softly. “I will love you. Protect you. Give you anything you need—anything you desire.”
His voice carries a subtle resonance—vibraphonic, otherworldly.
“I can’t marry you. I don’t know you. And you don’t know me.”
He places something in my palm.
A ring.
It looks like a diamond—but inside it burns a living flame.
“It is called Ice Fire,” he says. “Similar to your planet’s diamond. But as you can see… it contains flame.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
Commander Nevian lowers himself to one knee.
“Please marry me.”
“I can’t,” I say.
Yet as I look into his eyes, something shifts.
As if he knows me.
As if I know him.
“Dahlia… what I am about to do—I hope one day you will forgive me.”
He rises and places two fingers against my temple.
Everything goes black.
***End of Memory***
“Dahlia?”
She blinked and saw Warren standing in front of her.
She stepped backward.
“Dahlia, what’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed.
“None of this… none of this is real,” she said, her voice shaking. “For some time now, I’ve felt that something is wrong. Memories… feelings… This isn’t real.”
She turned and hurried out of the grocery store.
“Dahlia!” Warren shouted, running after her.
She raced across the parking lot and into the street, barely aware of the traffic. Warren called her name repeatedly, but she didn’t stop.
She didn’t know where she was going.
She just knew she needed answers.
Dahlia found herself standing outside Dr. Franklin’s office.
She walked in briskly and approached the reception desk.
The nurse looked up.
“Mrs. Evenon?”
“I need to see Dr. Franklin. Now.”
Moments later, Dr. Franklin stepped out.
“It’s alright, Nancy. I’ll see her.”
◾◾◾◾
Inside his office, Dahlia stared at him.
“Who am I?” she asked.
“Dahlia Katherine Monroe. Born on Earth.”
“Where am I?”
Dr. Franklin opened his Vista Compact Comp and turned the screen toward her.
Her birth certificate. Identification records. Medical files. Her home address.
Everything official.
Everything documented.
“What happened to Randy?” she asked.
Dr. Franklin displayed Randy’s mugshot and arrest record.
Her eyes widened.
“Drug trafficking?”
“Yes,” he replied.
She looked up at him, unsettled.
“You still haven’t answered my question. Where am I?”
Dr. Franklin held her gaze.
“That,” he said quietly, “is a question Warren must answer. Not me.”
◾◾◾◾ IV ◾◾◾◾
Dahlia walked out of Dr. Franklin’s office.
Warren stood there, genuine concern in his eyes.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Answer my question first,” she said. “Where am I?”
Warren exhaled slowly.
“On an ark ship,” he replied. “It’s constructed with mostly organic technology.”
Her heart pounded.
“So… we’re in outer space?”
“Yes,” he said gently. “But still within Earth’s galaxy.”
“Why did you take me away?”
Warren stepped closer and carefully took her hands in his.
“Dahlia, I want to tell you everything. But please—let me explain when we get home.”
His voice cracked slightly.
After a long pause, she nodded.
He opened the passenger door for her. She got inside. As Warren rounded the vehicle, Dr. Franklin stepped out of the office.
“Tell her the truth,” the doctor said quietly. “I have a feeling she’ll understand. And whatever she asks of you… do it. You love her. Just do it.”
Warren nodded solemnly, got into the driver’s seat, and drove off.
◾◾◾◾
When they arrived home, they silently put away the groceries. Dahlia couldn’t help but notice that Warren had finished the shopping after she ran out of the store.
Once everything was stored, they walked into the living room and sat together on the sofa.
Warren looked at her carefully.
“My name is Commander Nevian,” he began. “I am the head of Axiaon Social Interaction and Research. My home planet is many light-years from Earth. To put it simply… when we first arrived in Earth’s galaxy, you had not yet been conceived.”
“When was that?” she asked quietly.
“Earth year 1939,” he replied.
She stared at him.
“Go on.”
“Since that time, we have observed Earth. We’ve studied humanity—its brilliance and its cruelty. Some of what we’ve witnessed has been beautiful. But some of the most destructive things we’ve seen… are bigotry, violence, exploitation, the violation of others. The list is long.”
“So your people decided to interfere?” she asked cautiously.
“We already have.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’ve been abducting people?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “But in most cases, we leave a clone in place of the individual we take.”
“And me?” she asked. “Did you leave a clone for me?”
He hesitated.
“No. I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
Warren met her gaze.
“Because I took a personal interest in you.”
She didn’t interrupt.
“I watched you. Closely. I learned everything—your favorite colors, the music you love, what makes you laugh, what brings you to tears. You fascinated me. I told myself I would leave you alone… if you found someone who truly loved you. Someone worthy of you.”
He paused.
“But then there was Randy.”
“Randy Benson,” she said softly. “I know. I chose the jerk.”
“Yes,” Warren said quietly. “But he never deserved you.”
“Why didn’t you just… guide someone else into my life?” she asked.
His expression softened.
“Because I had already fallen in love with you. And I realized I couldn’t bear the thought of simply giving you to someone else. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t want you for myself.”
She swallowed.
“So you took me.”
“Yes.”
He continued carefully.
“Before I did, I called the police and reported you missing. I told them your apartment had been ransacked.”
Her breath caught.
“So you saw what happened.”
Warren nodded.
“I saw everything.”
Silence stretched between them.
“I know it sounds insane,” he said. “Selfish. Maybe even cruel. But I took you to protect you. Randy needed to face consequences. He needed to lose his freedom and his job. And I am working on exposing the pharmaceutical company behind him.”
Dahlia stared at him.
“So you just took me from my home planet and gave me this life,” she whispered.
Warren’s voice trembled.
“Yes, but one where you are loved and adored.”
“However,” he said softly, “if you want me to, I will return you to Earth. It would break my heart… but I will do it. If only so that you don’t hate me.”
Tears fell from Warren’s eyes.
Dahlia began to cry as well.
“I need to go back,” she said, her voice trembling. “But part of me doesn’t want to live without you.”
She looked up at him.
“Can you come back with me?”
Warren slowly shook his head.
“No. I can’t live on your planet. It’s too toxic for me.”
Dahlia leaned into him, sobbing quietly. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her as though afraid she would vanish.
“Warren… I do love you,” she whispered. “But you need to send me home.”
He nodded, swallowing hard.
“Then I will. But I ask one thing of you.”
Dahlia pulled back slightly, her heart pounding with dread.
“What is it?”
“Let me place you somewhere different. Anywhere but Chicago. And… allow me to continue providing for you. Please. Let me at least do that.”
Through her tears, Dahlia managed a small smile.
“Alright. You can do that. As for where I’d like to live… San Francisco, California. I have family there.”
“San Francisco,” he repeated softly. “Very well. And I will give a full explanation of your disappearance. One that is… mostly accurate.”
A faintly devious smile touched his lips.
Dahlia shook her head, though she couldn’t help smiling too.
“Goodbye, Randy,” she murmured quietly.
◾◾◾◾ V ◾◾◾◾
Dahlia’s return surprised many. However, it also damned Randy, as she explained that she had been kidnapped by the men who broke into the apartment. She testified that a stranger had rescued her from them.
At his sentencing for drug trafficking, Randy asked the judge if he could speak to Dahlia for a moment. After a brief hesitation, the judge agreed.
Randy Benson wasn’t a tall man—just average in height and build. His complexion was light tan, his hair dark, slightly curly, and his eyes brown. The orange jumpsuit did him no favors. He looked worn, smaller somehow.
“Dahlia… I’m sorry,” he said.
“Really?” she replied, crossing her arms.
Randy shrugged.
“I never meant for you to get caught in the middle of it. But now you know why I couldn’t tell you anything.”
His words made her think of Warren.
Warren had kept secrets too.
But she understood the difference now.
Warren kept his secret because he loved her and wanted to protect her—even if his methods had been extreme. Randy kept his secret because he didn’t want to give up his money, his job, or the lifestyle it afforded him.
The difference was love.
“It is what it is,” she said calmly.
Randy leaned in closer.
“Dahlia… what’s wrong with your eyes?”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Your eyes. I never noticed before, but they have a tint of purple.”
Dahlia shrugged lightly. “Trick of the light, I guess.”
She adjusted her purse. “Take care, Randy.”
Then she turned and walked out of the courtroom.
In the ladies’ room, she stared at her reflection.
Her eyes did have a faint purple tint.
My gift to you. Purple is one of your favorite colors, so I enhanced the natural pigments in your eyes to bring it out.
Warren.
He was speaking to her telepathically.
She smiled.
“What did you do to my skin and body?” she whispered softly.
Toxins were purged from your system. A healing serum repaired any internal damage. As for your body… I like it exactly as it is, and I know you do too. I simply tightened the skin in a few places that required it.
Dahlia laughed softly under her breath.
“Thank you.”
Of course, my Lovely. Now go—the flight to San Francisco leaves soon.
She smiled at her reflection one last time and exited the restroom.
As she walked out of the courthouse, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Peace.
She was closing one chapter of her life and stepping into another.
◾◾◾◾
Life in San Francisco turned out to be wonderful.
A beautiful house. A bank account that comfortably covered bills and allowed her to live without worry.
Yet, she found herself lonely.
Her family was relieved she was safe, and she loved being near them—but at night, in the quiet moments, she missed Warren.
She thought about the life he had created for her. Though wrapped in illusion, the emotions had been real.
His love for her had been real.
And she loved him just as deeply.
One evening, she stood in her kitchen, staring out the window.
“Warren… I miss you,” she whispered.
I am with you, Lovely.
Suddenly, a simple black sedan pulled into her driveway.
Her heart skipped.
Curious and cautious, she walked to the front door and opened it.
The car door opened.
A tall man stepped out. He had short, wavy black hair, a medium-fair complexion, and a broad, solid build. Dark, round sunglasses covered his eyes.
Something about him felt familiar.
He walked toward her.
“Can I help you?” she asked carefully.
He removed his shades.
His blue eyes glowed faintly.
“Warren?” she breathed.
He smiled.
“Hello, Lovely.”
She rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck.
“I thought you couldn’t live on Earth—it was too toxic,” she said, pulling back to look at him.
“I made adjustments,” he replied with a small grin. “I altered myself to be more human—physically.”
Her eyes widened. “So… you can live here now?”
“Yes. Though from time to time, I’ll need to return to the Ark for rest and reset. I couldn’t change everything. If I did, I would cease to be who I am.”
She smiled softly.
“That’s fine with me. You accepted me exactly as I am. You never tried to change who I was. If anything… because of you, I found my creativity again.”
“And that,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, “is all I ever wanted.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes.
And then they kissed.
