E.L.E. - Page 5

“What are you smiling at?” she asked him. He shook his head, and started laughing. She looked at him even more strangely than when she’d arrived earlier, and started to pull away. Roy held her tighter, and with both hands. He shook his head, and laughed even harder, in the way that trying to calm down can send one into hysterics. This had been a long time coming, but Susan began to look trapped, eyes darting each way, seeking help that would not be there.

“No, you don’t understand.” he wheezed when he’d calmed down. “Everything in my life, your life, bringing us here, to this spot, to find each other. I should be angry at how unfair this all is, finding love at the end of the world!” Roy rubbed the back of her hand with his, eyes on hers, staring with sincerity and truth. “But I’m not! I’m not angry! I’m just … happy ….” he giggled once more and caught his breath. Susan relaxed and gripped his hand once more, needing the intimacy as much as he. The touch was electric to him.

The sharp smell of ozone filled the air, and a loud whine erupted around them. Roy looked up at the ship, but Susan kept her eyes on Roy. The lights on the bottom of the ship began to flash faster now and now faster, until they became solid. Roy and Susan looked at each other, fearful, but resigned. “I hope it doesn’t hurt.”

The white beam erupted from the bottom of the ship as the church bells pealed midnight. They held hands, and Susan closed her eyes.

“Do you truly love me?” she asked.

“Yes.” said Roy, and he meant it. “Do you?”

“Yes.” Susan lied kindly, and Roy smiled.

He was still smiling as their bodies were hit by the strange white light, disassembling them atom by atom, and blowing the dust into space, where humanity could finally mingle with the stars for eternity.

-- Corby Kennard