Hello from *No* Side

The air caught in her throat. How can anyone explain this? How can you possibly think through this? Not only was everything Alexa was taught (her whole life) wrong… but, on top of that, she was being offered a chance to see the truth no one else knew.

Glavvax sat there with a calm, comforting smile. She knew he was offering her something no one else would have. At least not as far as anyone she knew, knew. Not as far as the rest of humanity knew.

His silent smile was enough for her to be assured he knew what a big decision is that she was making. At least he would be patient as she mulled it over.

Four days ago, Alexa Bralenya was an ordinary young woman struggling to find her place in the world. She tried consulting, telling well-connected clients what they wanted to hear while nudging them onto the best path for their business. She was good at the connections, at the communication… but she didn’t have the stern hand it required once push came to shove.

She tried publicity then, showcasing the client and their business in the best light for the masses. She was almost impeccable with that. Almost… but more than enough to fall short.

So there she was one night, trying to figure out where her potential third path might take her.

Stuck in-between worlds… in-between decisions. In-between those “big choices” in life that we’re told are the be-all, end-all. Those choices that determine the course of your life, your success.

She had been drinking at a swanky bar, perhaps hoping to get inspiration from the same place she did before. But it was hallow now. So hollow. So passé. So… almost stupid.

Didn’t those two words perfectly paint the truth behind what we’re supposed to achieve in life, actually? The truth of our supposedly “purpose-driven” life. Chasing something. Chasing the only thing. The thing that will make everything else meaningful.

Only to find that it’s all… almost stupid.

So — in a real moment of purpose — she walked out.

She walked and walked, walked like nothing else in her life mattered. Because it didn’t.

She walked until she realized what she was walking toward. She wanted to find somewhere untouched by artificial light. Untouched by the artificial light, of happy dreams.

Somewhere around midnight, she finally found it. She found her naturally dark refuge.

Within five minutes, however, a spinning light sliced open the darkness again. Something strange was happening. What was it?!

Before she knew it, a gleaming figure was before her. What could only be described as his vehicle behind him had an open door, emitting another sliver of light.

In a strange voice, he introduced himself as Glavvax. He claimed to be an “intergalactic traveler” who was called to Earth for some elusive reason all his advanced technology couldn’t unlock.

“And so it brought me here,” he explained. “Right here to you, Alexa.” She bristled.

“How do you know my name?” she demanded.

“Well…” he stammered for the first time since the introduction began minutes ago. “One of the screens in there told me.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or not.

“But that’s beside the point. Alexa… don’t you see? Don’t you see?!” She looked around, perplexed.

“It’s shown me that maybe I can finally have a companion.” Her eyes shot open.

“A… companion?!” They both stood stock still for a moment. “I don’t… know who in the world you are…”

“Not in the world.”

“But… a companion? On your what?! Inter…galactic traveling?”

“Yes, actually.”

“No!” She stopped and looked him over. For the first time, she stepped closer to him. “I mean, come on… you’re really…?!”

“Not of this Earth.”

“I’m sorry… I… no. And if so, you’re just revealing yourself to me now?”

“Yes, it’s breaking protocol…”

“Protocol?!”

“But… you are here alone. You wanted to be apart from all humanity tonight.”

“What? Who told you that? I didn’t even… I didn’t…. How could you possibly know that?!”

“My machine found you, ok?” They both stopped short. “It’s found many locations before… too many locations to name. Locations out the wazoo, as you would say? You wouldn’t even believe it.” Her eyes rose, but struggled massively to meet his. “Yes…. But it’s never found me someone.”

“What… what are you saying?”

“I think you know.”

“No.”

So, here was the moment. The moment where it all began. And where… perhaps… it was all going to end.

“You’re offering me…” she began.

“A chance to wander the galaxy,” he concluded. “The multiple galaxies! There are others worlds, more than you could imagine.” He paused for a moment. “There’s a reason you’re still in the dark, though. Why humanity is.” Her eyes went wide again. “No, I can’t tell you why. I can’t tell you much else. Except… you can come with me.”

“I… can come with you,” she repeated.

“Yes, but you have to choose. You have to chose… unfortunately, right now.”

“Right… now?”

“Yes. It’s too complicated otherwise. Too many factors.”

“But…?”

“Like your culture is somehow accustomed to, I’ll give you one call, ok?” She looked at him, lost. “One final call… to whoever you choose.”

“What?!”

“One call to one person, ok? To say goodbye.”

“Goodbye? But why—?”

“Too many factors! You have to trust me on this… otherwise it’s too many factors at play.”

“So…?”

“So if you choose to come with me… you must also choose the one person to say goodbye to.”

This was too much. It was all too much! How could she choose? How could anyone possibly make such a choice?!

Answers flashed before her: stay on Earth, try to pretend not knowing what she now does; call her boyfriend (on again, off again boyfriend); call her mom, call her sister; call her boss, call… whoever else. How would she know if she ever made the right choice?

But then, in the same flash-of-clarity moment that drove her out of the bar… she knew.

It came to her clear as day, because it was her true self choosing.

She motioned for him to bring something, and he nodded.

Reaching into that sliver of light from the door, he brought forth a classic corded telephone receiver.

She nodded in return, no longer questioning the absurdity. She clutched the receiver tightly as the dangling cord fell on her arm, and told him who to dial.