Survivors

Goodnight

The bed is regrettably comfortable.

The room is cold.

It's a large room. Like the size of my entire house back home. There's a bathroom, walk-in closet, and a full fridge stocked with food. It's one of the ones that dispenses water and the fancy ice cubes with holes in them. I'm not supposed to get it myself, of course. I press a button to call up a maid or butler, equipped with dishes to provide me food from my fridge.

"Are you ready for a nighttime routine?" Asks a lady from outside the door.

Ready as I'll ever be, I think as I let her in.

"What's involved in the routine?" I ask.

"A bath, a face mask, a massage, a-"

"I'll just see for myself." I say as she drones on and on. I head to the bathroom and lock the door.

"What are you doing?" She asks.

"Taking my bath." I answer.

"B-by yourself? Please, sir! Let me help you." I roll my eyes and let her in.

"Can I take a bath in my clothes?" I ask. She shakes her head.

And that's how a Gorfonian maid saw me naked.

There's at least twenty-five different soaps and shampoos and conditioners and moisturizers used. And then I have to lie down while she rubs my back. I then get dressed in a pair of pyjamas and she cuts my nails while a mask rests on my face. I'm almost asleep as she moisturizers my face, puts some pore-cleansing goop on me, and brushes my hair. She leaves me with a mug filled with alien tea.

"Goodnight, sir. Shall I read you a story or sing you a lullaby?" She asks.

"Nope. Bye." I push her out the door and down my tea. I lie down in the bed. It's the size of two king-size beds, easily. Which I always imagined would be good, but it makes me feel lonelier than ever. All this space. I hug a pillow to my chest as I lay awake. I had gotten used to having honey to cope with my insomnia. I bury my overly-clean face in the cushion and cry.

This is life.

I'm allowed to do everything except for what I really want to do.

I want to go home.

Not to Earth.

To Astralis Flight Thirteen. That's where my family is. I may be related to Polois by blood, but I refuse to acknowledge him as my family. That's spot's taken by Regeit, Maggie, Xavier, Wessa, and Jade.

I suppose what it took for me to acknowledge that as my home was to be thrown into somewhere worse.

There's no windows in the room. The maid explained that that's because there is no need to see the lower ones when I can look at perfection. And then she gestured to a mirror.

I wonder if she was free once.

Not truly free, of course. But less appreciative of Polois. Not seeing the Gorfona family as gods.

I actually care for some of these aliens.

A small fraction destroyed Earth. And that was because of Polois. Kivra was dissatisfied with it. I wish I could stay with the lowers on this planet. At least they feel like real people. Not just robots.

I eventually fall asleep.

***

I'm woken by someone staring at me. I open my mouth to scream, but they cup a hand over my mouth.