The Elder

“Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.

This I don’t know about; but no one can hear you scream in your own existential crisis,” the Elder spoke to the gathered children, “especially when it was my choice to be part of their experiment? Their plans? Their grand design on how the future of our species was to play out in their cosmic game? I have been alive for millennia now. How many? I’m not sure. I stopped keeping track after the first 5000 years. That is quite impressive for an advanced hominid from a galactic backwater.”

“Why did they choose our planet and species Elder?,” asked one of the children.

“After all this time, I still do not know. I do have my theories though. One day before I choose to move onto the next journey, may even write them down.” The Elder noticed the puzzled looks. “Sorry. That is an old expression from my youth on what was called Earth. I will try not to do that.” As soon as he said that the Elder started laughing. Not a chuckle; but a full body laugh. The children started laughing because he was.

“Try’” he tried to speak while still laughing. The children were amazed at how long he laughed. Some still laughed while the others calmed down and awaited an explanation.

The Elder chuckled to himself as those of advanced wisdom are wont to do.

“It is from a story from my original time.”

“Do or do not. There is no try”

“That was an important lesson the wizened master was trying to teach his very last and most important student. I will heed that advice and I will do. I will also tell you how I first started on the path to where we are today. If you all are ready?”

Silence.

He looked at them. Some of the children would later say that it felt as though the Elder was staring into their very being. Maybe he was. It is something that wizened among us do, that the pupil feels is directed solely at them. In this instance, that was not the intent. The Elder was waiting for an acknowledgement.

He asked again, “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Some of them said.

“I will need a little more enthusiasm.”

“YES!” They yelled together.

“One more time please. Humor an old man”

“YESSS!!!! They screamed and giggled.

“Excellent!! Let’s begin”

“My thirtieth birthday was on October 12, 2008. I wasn’t much of anything at that moment. An occupation that provided shelter, nourishment, clothing, and some entertainment. My parents had already died, and I was an only child. I had a few friends; but no one particularly close. My spouse had left me and taken our cats with her. They weren’t even her cats; they were my cats. It still hurts after all this time.

My life as was said, was going nowhere fast.

Normally on birthdays I was never alone. This day I was. I felt no desire to celebrate. I was sitting in my home waiting. Waiting for something. Anything to convince me not to end my life.

There was a brusque knock on my door. I opened it and there were two people. I don’t think they were people; but they appeared to be. A man and a woman. They looked like a perfect couple. Both seemed to be what we considered beautiful. Perfect features, and ideally proportional. They came in without being invited. They walked around and looked and touched my belongings. They were studying these objects as though they had never seen what were common items. In unison they sat on my couch.

“Are you happy in your life?” asked the woman

“Excuse me?”

“Are you happy with your life?” the man asked.

“Just who the hell are you, and why do you care if I’m happy or not? AND why do you think it is ok to come in uninvited and judge my life? Who the fuck are you!?”

“Your planet will be hit by an asteroid in 48 days.”’ she began “We think that “Earthlings” have something to offer the universe once it matures more. Your civilization has advanced at a remarkable pace. Considering your species was attributing sickness to gods and demons not so long ago. We are offering humans a chance to survive the coming extinction level event. We have a device that can transport you to a fourth dimension: time. It will suspend your aging to where you are that day. You will be given money to buy provisions for your stay. Do not buy too much. Whatever you run out of will be replaced by a replicator. You will be alone for a long time. If you accept our offer, plan wisely.”

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

Noticing a new program coming on the television the man read back “Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space. So they say. Where you are going, no one will your screams because of your existential crisis.”

“How do I begin?”