Space-Shipped (One-Shot Meet-Cute IN SPACE!)

Where did love begin?

How long would it last?

I pondered these questions as I fell to sleep for what might be the last time. I was forty-eight, highly brilliant, in mourning and leaving the graves of my life mate, and children behind me.

My ship was on an endless journey to find the source of love. And I was it’s test subject. Sent out into the void… searching for others. For more, for someday…for love. I was meant to save something broken on my corrupt, war-ravaged planet. To save humanity. To save our futures

But who would save me?

“Maybe it will never matter.” A deeply soft voice answered me.

“You matter, Fred. Forever. No matter how far you travel. You will matter.”

“Heh, thank you, Min Ho. I’m grateful and relieved,” I laughed once, “that you’re on mic for me. I was worried it would be Thurston. I dont know how he still isn’t in jail. He thinks teens should have babies. That children-“ i shook my head, disgusted and queasy. “What a total twat. He’s fricking creepy and evil as frak. I can’t stand that guy.”

“Gosh no! He’s not at all a sane voice to send you away with. And actually, um Fred- he’s been convicted of terrible crimes against- well. Against humanity. He was terminated last night.”

“Hmm, oh.” I sighed. “At least there’s one less monster on the planet.”

“Indeed. More will be punished very soon. Their corrupt network is crumbling and they are turning on each other.”

“What a relief. I worried that in leaving- that I couldn’t try to protect the children anymore. Which made me feel sick. I feel a weight has lifted, if only just a little.”

“Good people will stop them, I know it. I’m happy to be here with you, for this, Fred.”

“Me too Min…wish you were going. At least I wouldn’t feel so alone.”

“You aren’t alone,” he sighed out a breath, “Fred, you will never be alone. Okay?”

“I suppose the ship is company enough for a while. You’re right.”

“For a little while, yes, but someday, you will be with one you love. Fred. And your forever. I know it.”

“Min Ho, that’s sweet of you to say. I sure hope so.” I caressed below my clavicles where I felt the pressure most, “The endless drifting weighs heavy on my mind, my body,” fluttering my fingers outward, reaching my Cryo Pod’s clear lid, as though I could already see stars and forever through there, up there, “the infinite deep stretching out…” I took a shaky breath, “I just- I feel homesick- already.” Resting both of my palms on my upper chest, touching skin to skin, cool fingers to my core warmth.

“Alright, Fred, listen to me- I’ve got all the audio files and movies and books uploaded for you, and if you like, your favorite one will be on as you go to sleep and pick up again as you fin- as you wake again. What do you think?”

“That would be amazing! And comforting. You’re very thoughtful.” I fidgeted with my pocket seam, wondering if he knew my favorite. “Min Ho, I don’t know… if I specified my most favorite but it’s “Certifiably-“

“True.” He said near simultaneously, as I laughed in relief. At least I would still have something familiar with me. Certifiably True. Bit of home planet angst amid a slow burn romance.

I sighed out a breath, staring down at my chest as it moved under my stretchy square neck, three-quarter sleeve, black t-shirt and white and blue striped overalls. Stretchy as well, because who wouldn’t want to be as comfortable as possible while hurtling through space and time? I knew I was happy to at least not feel overwhelmed by sensory issues. I wiggled my toes and flexed my fingers, wondering when the sleeping would happen. When I would be less aware of the loneliness seeping into my soul. My body could feel it, as I held my own hand, until it wasn’t enough and I wrapped myself up in a hug. A voice clicked on, my favorite author’s voice so soothing in tone, engaging and lovely in her boldness as she read her book to me.

“MOON!” I gasp in a lungful of creepy prickles and meadow air. His eyes spark, warm brown and familiar.

Whoa, whoa... WHOA!

Why did I just say, ‘Moon’ like I know him?

I can’t!

That’s crazy!

Breathe slower, breathe deeper.

Just- keep- breathing Lenora!” My eyes grew heavy as I mumbled to myself,

“Yeah, Fred. Just…keep… breathing…”

And a chill settled all around me as a deeper, cozy-calm warmth infused my heart. Everything was going to be okay.

Somehow, I just knew.

Four Years Later

Alien spacecraft detected.

Adjusting docking clamps…

Mechanism locked.

Approach determined safe.

“They don’t eclipse… my loooove?” I spoke myself awake. Cryo Pod! In! Space! Oh myyy… breathe breathe!

“NO. A woman’s voice growls near me, around me, insistent, anxious. RUN!”

It’s my favorite author again, or still…? Talking- er- reading to me. But she barely read me anything! That means I fell asleep flipping quicking!

What in helk?

“There is definitely something wrong with the meadow because hearing voices- it’s never a good sign.

The guy crouches in the grass beside me, all lethal and swift wrapped up in obsidian hair and bronze skin. He seems super dangerous, so whether the voice talking to me is mine or not, I really want to listen. I want to run. I just can’t seem to make my body cooperate.

And then he brushes his thumb- one stupid finger- over my right eyebrow, and I’m burning. Images spin and twist from somewhere forgotten.

I remember his face...”

“His face… wow. What? Only on the first CHAPTER! Seriously?” I fumed, frustrated and feeling grumbly, slightly crumbly too, searching around me, “Min Ho?” I call out, hopeful. No one answered. Which, I knew they wouldn’t. I knew.

But I had so desperately, heart brokenly hopefully… well, hoped. I laughed nervously, on the verge of tears. Oh well. Why would it matter if I cried? I was human. I was meant to feel all the feelings. I was alone and lost, a flutter amid the glimmer. A mere moment of breath in the vacuum. And unless someone showed up soon, I might always be so. It was okay to feel it. To mourn. For snoty nose and puffy eyes.

Min… Ho…?” I shuddered out my breath, trying to breathe like I remembered how, when it was more than a foggy survival instinct. My heart cried out for him. For Min Ho. As though he had been mine and I had been his…

I had really hoped we could have a chance… our chance… but I was foolish to hold my hopes so tightly. I could only hold my breath. Hold myself, hugging me, holding my layering worries within me. Not shatter. Not absolutely shatter now that I was far away and who knew where.

Min Ho and I had never even met. Not in person. He was really only a voice in my world. Not huggable at all. “Not a gand to hold. Wait- what? I mean- hand. A hand to hold.” I tired to pronounce my words like I remembered hearing them in my mind. He wasn’t a hand or even a shoulder to lean against when I was tired or sad. I really needed a shoulder.

I was sad and so tired. Why wasn’t my body waking like I did on Earth?

I blew out a breath and a tear plummeted onto my upper chest, stinging with a frozen feeling making me realize how cold I was. And I was starving!

“Snack! Snack… snack.” I chanted to no one as I tried to recall where everything was stored. I needed a yogurt or a chocolate chip granola bar so badly. Or a watermelon flavored peach ring. Candy. Glucose! So much Glucose!

“Hey, Fred?”

“Huh?” I froze, startled, when a hand not my own suddenly held out a juice with a weird mechanical straw and a tissue for my weeping nose-snot issue. I looked up into the most gorgeous brown eyes I’d ever seen. Into the magnificent face of a man I was pretty certain I knew. From a terribly blurry photo I found in a printed book cover jacket back on Earth.

“Do you feel Crumbly and Grumbly?”

“Not anymore!” I squeaked with pure, utter unexpected joy. And joyness. And joyfulness! “Min!” I reached up without any hesitation in my soul and I pulled Min Ho to me. My arms wrapping around him like he was my gravity. My whole world. “You’re here!”

“Where else would I be?”

“Well, not… here?”

“Never! I will always run to you. Fred, sweet Frederika, you are my forever.”

“For always.” I whispered back, pressing my mouth against his, his lips warm and welcoming, as I trembled with relief and contentment. And a building heat accompanied by frisky ideas. But there was time. Nothing but time. I nuzzled into his neck, breathing him in and smiling.

I was never alone, never. Even when it felt that way.

There is always love just past our next breath.

Love worth leaving your world for.

“Always and forevers. Fred Mine.”

“Min Mine.”

“I love how that sounds. Shall we snack and figure out where to go from here?”

“Yes, please! I’m so ready!” And I finally was ready, to feel my forever every day. In every smile and tear, in every hug and snore. Every time his hand held mine, and in every breath we would dare take out beyond our beginnings.

Space was for finding love, after all.

I found mine.

“So, there’s a ship docked with us.”

“Oh my! I thought that was just in my dream!”

“Nope, T’was real.”

“I wonder who they could be?” As though they had merely knocked on my front door. As opposed to understanding space travel.

“Let’s go see. What’s the best that vould happen?”

“Don’t you mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“No, not anymore. I have you and I barely dared hope for you. This has to be something wonderful. To meet us here at this exact time in this exact place. This moment… only good can happen.”

“Then let’s go meet our neighbors.”