Extraterrestrial Lives

1

She said it wasn't what it seemed. She said that life is but a dream within a dream. What does that even mean? I look that up on the Earth data base we have. It's a quote from a story by some author of the name of Edgar Allen Poe. She said it for a reason so I read his works. I think along the lines that she has set.

She really is different from me, from my people. Is she not dead then? Or perhaps she's my Lenore?

I have to believe that she isn't really dead. But then why are my parents not bringing her to me? I heard them begging the doctor to help me. The doctor said that she would have to be at my bedside before I would stop believing her dead.

She's dead, I saw her get up on the bridge railing. I saw her jump, didn't I?

I don't know anymore. The agony had pressed down too hard on my chest by the time I got to the bridge I could barely breathe. My vision had already clouded over. Darkness had already started descending, did she jump? I had screamed out to stop her before I passed out, but did it work?

But my parents wouldn't let this agony continue if she hadn't died. They may be hard asses but they love their children even if we are screw ups.

Where is she? I need her. I need to see her, even if it is her broken body.

I force the pain away. The agony, I'll never get used to it, but she might still be alive. Which means she might be hurt, hiding or taken. That better not be the case, if someone has taken her I'll kill them.

I wake up and for the first time since the nightmare began I'm not screaming in agony. I look around me and find my parents still in each others arms crying. Surprisingly enough my sister is there too with her daughter.

It's my niece that notices I'm awake first. "Raffy," she says in delight. I don't know what my sister was  thinking bringing her to where I was liable to waking up screaming in agony. I wouldn't want to harm my niece by scarring her mentally. Apparently my sister doesn't have the same problem about it that I do.

My niece pouncing on me brings me out of my thoughts. "Sylvie." My voice is hoarse, rough and sore from all the screaming I've done. I've likely damaged it permanently.

"Raffy, mommy's going to have another baby. I'm going to be a big sister!" Sylvie says excitedly.

I try to smile at her but her words bring me pain. Maha, was going to have my baby.

"Get her out of here now!" I order fighting hard against the pain. I can't let the screams out while she's in here. "Get her out of ear shot. Hurry!" I'm begging them. I can't hold it in much longer. My sister has whipped Sylvie into her arms and has run out of the room. I hear Sylvie crying for me, but everything I have is trying to hold back the pain.

When I can't hold back the pain any longer the spasms take over and I let out the screams.

I manage to somehow stay conscious and I slowly bring the pain level down enough to speak. "She's alive, find her. Find her!"

I look at my son and the agony he's in. He seemed fine at first when my granddaughter starts talking to him, but then she mentions that my daughter is going to be having a baby and it triggers something. Rafe demands that we get Sylvie out.

I see the pain he's holding back and shut the door behind my daughter. Sylvie doesn't need to see Rafe or hear him when he's in so much pain.

The screaming is almost unbearable. How long will he suffer like this before it kills him? I had hoped that when he woke up without the screaming he was getting better.

He somehow calms himself this time and manages to speak, "She's alive, find her. Find her!"

He didn't see my shock. How did he know? How could he know?

"This is beyond cruel. I know you hate me, but I never once believed you hated your own son. Now, I don't know. Bring her to him. I don't want him to continue suffering."

"She's still unconscious. We can't bring her to him yet. And they still aren't sure that they can save the baby."

"You can order her brought here, you're the freaking King. For once in your life think about your son! Everything he has ever done was done to gain your approval. Your's not mine. He worked hard to earn the spot on my ship, yes, but he also knew that he would hardly ever see me. All he's ever wanted was to have your approval. Now he needs you to show that you actually give a damn about him. Get her here!"

I look over at my son. He's done so much for Maha, sacrificed or was willing to sacrifice everything for her. Now he's dying and he needs her to live. I've never believed anything more than I do that in this moment. Only Maha being by his side can bring him back.

I don't even look as my erstwhile husband finally takes out his phone and makes the call that could save my son's life.

Once he hang up I turn on him, "You let him suffer for a week in the most agonizing pain I've ever seen. You were willing, hell you order our granddaughter to be here so that she will be scarred from hearing her beloved uncle scream in agony. You aren't fit to rule anymore. It's just too bad there is no one better able to do so."

"You should be careful, love. Your words could be taken as treason to your king," his words are venomous.

"Yes, but they are true never the less and you know it. Is that why you are torturing the one most fit to take over ruling?"

Before my eyes my husband deflates. "No. I had no idea it would be this bad. Rafael needs to take the throne, he out of all of them is the only one fit. But he cannot have an unstable queen."

"If he doesn't have Maha, by his side, he won't be stable enough to rule. Connections like they have don't come to our people much. He needs her in a way-I always wanted to be needed. She will be his strength.

"If she will ever forgive us, forgive him. What we've put her through, I'm not sure she will forgive us. To find or think the only way out is through death. What have we done to her?"

My husband puts his arm around me. There are times, rare times when I feel the love we once had for each other flare again.