The Unseen

Musings of an Extraterrestrial

Shae stood at a distance, watching Cody and Dylan. Charlie Nolman stood next to him.

"I'm not sure what to do now," Shae admitted to Charlie, "It seems like I'm no longer needed."

"What do you mean?" Nolman asked. He still didn't understand how he couldn't read Shae's mind, but he decided against asking.

"It appears there are others to guide him now. My duty to him is complete."

"What duty?"

"It was always my race's mission to guide someone, from the lowest peasants to the greatest kings, until our assistance wasn't needed. It appears that he has found others to rely on in my absence."

"He misses you, Shae."

"That is irrelevant. Our duty is not driven by relationships. It is to pass knowledge down through the generations. What I don't understand is my inability to move on. I did so several times before coming to this world."

"Does your race develop attachments to others?"

"Not often. Though I myself am engaged."

"Really?"

"Yes. She means the world to me."

"Might this have something to do with your separation?" Shae pondered the question some time before responding.

"I think you might be right. My theory is that my relationship with my fiancé has altered the way I view relationships. No longer are they merely for aiding the other, no. She has taught me to love and to sympathize." The two stood in silence as Dylan and Cody left.

"This new perspective will make it difficult on this planet."

"How come?"

"I am immortal, Mr. Nolman."

"Your fiancé also?"

"Yes. But you are not. Cody is not. Dylan, Ema, and Sarah are not. That is the true curse of immortality, Mr. Nolman. You watch everything you know wither and turn to dust. The world moves on without you." He shuddered, blinking away a tear.

"It's lonely, Mr. Nolman. Very, very lonely."

"Would you lose your immortality, given the chance?" Shae stared at the stars, and shook his head.

"By no means. The number of people I've helped, the catastrophes avoided... I have given to much to my mission to lose sight of it now."

"But what about beforehand? Before your helped so many?"

"That, Mr. Nolman, is a hard question. And one that I believe would depend entirely upon my willingness to sacrifice."

"Sacrifice what?"

"My life and all that it consists of. From what I have watched with you humans, I would choose to remain immortal."

"Why?"

"Because your kind could use a lot of guidance."