The Visitor

9. Written In The Stars

Squinting, Bree squared her body towards the stranger walking toward her, and pushed back the flying locks of hair blocking her eyes from viewing the image of the man before her.

"Are you lost?" The words were loud enough to hear before he got close enough to where she stood.

He admired her from afar and a wave of relief flooded him. He had learned his lesson after the innumerable failed attempts the night before. He'd been remarkably eager and selfish, nearly ruining what he most desired.

When he awoke that Earthly morning, he practiced his humanlike mannerisms, posture, and speech in anticipation of their encounter. Haĝiēn wasn't over-excited about the encounter. Instead, he approached her with caution and evident concern for her well-being, not his need to get to know her.

"No, I--" 

Her aura glowed mostly yellow with streaks of red. It was the first time she received him with a smile like the one gracing her face and he stared flabbergasted unsure of what to say. She had not been friendly nor warm towards him before. Surprisingly, it stumped him. 

"I-I am not. I'm--" he swallowed. "I'm Haĝiēn," he said quickly in an attempt to catch her name.

"I'm Bree." She smiled and cocked her head. "Are you jogging?"

Wordlessly he gazed back at her.

"Um, working out? Or need help with something?"

Working out?!

"Am I what?" 

Pretending not to hear, he bought time.

What does she mean? Certainly, I am. I am outside in this atmosphere and working, but how would she know this and why would she so blatantly ask?

That's an activity requiring physical effort to improve health, he heard Qûarzar intervene.

Confused, Haĝiēn lifted his shoulder. Who would freely do that?  He questioned her about the word and its meaning.

Evidently, humans, she retorted.

"Um, I was wondering if you," Bree continued. " Nothing, never mind."

"No! Yes, yes. Yes, I--was?" He said hesitantly.

Haĝiēn disliked he had to lie to her but he had no idea what exercising meant until Qûarzar whirred it into his ear. He realized he should have used her help the night before but at that time he was still skeptical of her. However, he realized perhaps he would've been successful on his first try. 

Thank you, he acknowledged Qûarzar. He wasn't sure about her then but now, now he knew he could solemnly trust her.

Bree laughed. "I know why you would doubt yourself." She nodded flipping her hand in the air. "You go out for a jog but end up walking along the greenbelt. Don't worry, happens all the time. At least you're out doing something, right? I haven't felt like working out much since the lockdown but one's gotta push themselves, you know? Like you are doing."

He nodded and grinned uncertainly at what the human meant by at least you're out doing something and pushing themselves. something about what? And, was there genuine pushing involved. Humans were savagely strange.

"Kinda late though, isn't it?" 

She turned her wrist and glanced at something latched to her skin. Haĝiēn understood it to be an archaic, time-telling type of technology strapped to her wrist.

"Oh, sorry. I must have lost track of time. I didn't mean to startle you. I find the solitude and the peace the evenings bring to me, comforting."