The Galaxy Meetings

before

before her

Police sirens wailed and people were walking around her house like they owned it. She was sitting on the new sofa with her school bag still on her back that was smaller than the length of her legs.

A police-woman sat before the little girl with a notepad in her hand. Scribbles were all over the paper, and as the words were not as simple as 'cat' and 'box'; the little girl was unable to understand them.

"Where's mummy?" the little girl asked innocently, swinging her legs.

"Mummy... Mummy is gone to sleep for a while." The police-woman hesitantly replies, letting out a sigh.

The little girl stifles a small chuckle. "Asleep? In the bath? What a silly place to fall asleep in. When will she wake up? I won a colouring contest and I want to show her my picture."

"I'm afraid your mummy will be asleep for a while. But it's okay; you can come and stay with some lovely people instead. We can go and grab some of your favourite toys, if you like."

The little girl, now very confused, furrows her dirty-blonde eyebrows. "Um, okay then. I have a dolly that mummy got me for my birthday. I want to bring her! Her name is Rosie."

"What a pretty name! Shall we go and fetch her?"

The tiny, clueless child nods her head and so the police-woman led her to her bedroom, steering well away from the bathroom that was taped off.

***

before him

"What do you mean, it won't work?" the boy asked, running a hand down the back of his neck. Even though his hands were warm, he was still shaking and the hairs on his arms still stood up tall.

Ellie shrugged. "I never loved you. I-I was in a dark, dark place and you were just... there. I never meant to let things go for this long."

"This long?" he asked. "THIS LONG? Two years, Ellie. Two damn years."

A single tear ran down the heart-breaker's cheek. "I-I know, okay Chase? And I'm sorry. But I'm in love. Just, not with you."

"I loved you. I kissed you, I hugged you, I bought you meals and danced with you in the rain and watched sappy romantic films with you because I loved you! And- I was stupid enough to think that someone actually loved me too for me and not for my family."

He turned around and took a deep breath, processing everything in his brain. The past two years were the best days of his life – and it was all for nothing now. Now, it was just a waste. All heart-broken people would say that yes, it hurt, but they wouldn't change it for other memories. Well – he would. He really loved Ellie – and he really thought she did too. Obviously not.

Now, he was nothing. Now, he was certain the world was out to get him, and nobody would ever love him for him.