Short Stories Volume 1

"What is Sleep?"

One of my favorite things in the world is napping. Or just sleeping in general. It's not to say I'm lazy or anything, it's just that life can be so busy and hectic that when I get any chance to sleep, it's practically a god send. And it's always the right amount that I need. Be it ten minutes or the full nights rest.

Unfortunately just like a good nights sleep, UFOS are just as rare. But neither was the case for me. I was in the middle of doing my nighty routine when a lime green light started lifting me off the ground. I know that sounds so much like a cliché but it's the truth. Something was carrying me off the ground and into some spaceship.

Once inside, I saw that I was surrounded by not little green men although they were green. But giant bug like creatures, with antennas and mandibles. Basically looking like huge preying mantis. Only their eyes where this deep and bright pink, but not like a highlighter. It was more like that shade fandango. And when they caught the light in a certain way it almost like their eyes glowing. They were nearly hypnotizing.

The main thing they did was scan me when I was on the table. What for, I do not know.

But I was so tired. I know being abducted by aliens should be a priority but days without sleep can really take a toll. As I dosed off, I didn't care about what they did to me as long as they didn't eat me or probe me. I didn't account into someone shaking me awake like some sort of crazy person.

Nothing could surprise me more than seeing one of the aliens with a worried look on it's face gripping my neck and torso. At least that's the look I think it had, and the constant and rapid clicking it made sounded like he was talking rather fast.

"The human female seems to be conscious now. Vitals appear normal. No idea what caused the anomaly." one of them said.

What anomaly? All I did was fall asleep. Wait, they speak English? They didn't but they did have a translator.

"Human female. your scan is normal, yet you seem to have died for a little bit. Do you feel alright?" the translator spoke although technically it came from the one who had woken me up. I giggled a bit when I heard it, the translation, ugh him. I think the alien is a he. Anyway I thought it funny they thought I died.

"Despite being abducted, I was good until you woke me up and scared me." I try not to be too sarcastic but still honest.

When the translator starts clicking, mimicking what I'm guessing is their language, they turn to me tilting their heads in obvious confusion. Again not to push my boundaries, but what's to be confused about. I was asleep and they startled me by waking me up. That simple. Only it actually wasn't.

"Woke up? What is that?"

Are they being serious right now? I think they are. Ok, then. "Well when you're sleeping and someone of something disrupts it, making it so you're not sleeping anymore then that is waking up. I was asleep and with your shaking, you hence woke me up." I state.

All I get is more clicking, head tilts and confused looked.

"We still do not understand. You say sleep. What is that?"

Wow, they're being totally serious right now. What kind of being doesn't sleep? Everything needs sleep. Even plants have their resting periods. But them, by their confusion thinking I was dead, I don't think they sleep at if they don't even know what it is.

For the next six years, I stayed, well stayed slash was kept by them. They didn't torture me or anything, just studied me. Their studies consisted of anything and everything to do about sleep. Why we needed it, how long we sleep for, what happens when we sleep etc. They did want to see how long someone could go without sleep but when I told them that it could be harmful they quickly let it go.

Apparently this species doesn't commit any actual crimes against other species. Well despite the abduction thing. They value knowledge, so they go around the galaxy collecting it from the different species they encounter. I was the lucky human that got taken when they came to the milky way.

Of course during my period with them I taught them about other things about earth, the things humans do. But their main focus was sleep. It was weird the first few nights I woke up because one of them was always in my room watching me. They were still worried that something might happen to me during my rest. It didn't help their paranoia when I had a few nightmares, nothing big or terrible just the usual things, or when I would jolt. You know like how when you feel like you're falling and you wake yourself up by suddenly kicking your feet or your leg.

By the time the last year was up, I told and taught them everything I could about sleep and what my life was like. When I went to sleep that night I awoke the next morning in my own bed. On my desk, there was a very large box. Inside was numerous gifts, no doubt from them. They left a little machine that I recognized was a mini translator.

"Thank you human for providing us the knowledge not just about your world and species but about sleep. Speaking of which, we hope we did not disturb it while we took you home and that it was well. These parting gifts are for you. Live well little human."

Aw, that was sweet of them. They've come a long way from shaking me awake to making sure nothing disturbs me. To be honest I'm going to miss them. And this is going to be something I keep to myself. sure there's going to be a few people out there who would believe me if I told, but I didn't want anyone else knowing. They're a peaceful race. Last thing they need if the whole world found was a bunch of stupid humans experimenting or starting a war with them.

So it's goodbye for now. But I do hope I can see them again.