Alien Holiday by Tracy Lauren
Chapter 19
Resa
I sit in a cave filled with wilting flowers. It’s quiet save for the rain. Just the way I like it. Yes, this is exactly the way I like it—the first bit of peace that I’ve had in days. It’s perfect, except for the mess. Lo left her decorations, Lo left her food, and she left the place far quieter than I ever knew it was.
It’s just like these aliens, I harumph. They act like they own the whole damn world and everything in it. The thought makes my anger rise and I stalk through my cave tearing flowers off the walls. Flower after flower, I gather them. Garbage.
I take them outside and throw them down the slope. When I come back into my cave there’s only one decoration left. Lo’s garland. This one I don’t take down, and while I quietly finish the tamales Lo and I made together, I stare at the colorful strand, wondering what her home is like and how cheerful she has made it for her holiday.
I am not like her. I care nothing for cheerfulness. That is not what life is about. Life is about necessities and quiet solitude, and these aliens have been a distraction from the beginning. Lo especially. No more of that, I promise myself—even when they do their exercises on the hill. I will simply go about my life as if they are not even here. If Lo comes back, she will have to accept that. I can’t have her captivating all of my attentions the way that she does.
Eventually, I turn my attention back to my cave to tidy up. Lo left many of her things behind: a pot, spices, herbs. She was trying to conquer my cave. I shake my head. Still…it is a nice pot—with swirls of blue set into it. It is art, like all things she does. I set it with my own rustic cooking supplies and again I wonder what her home must be like. It has been a long while since I visited the temple. I am sure the aliens have done much to change it, if judging only by Lo’s description of the bathing room.
It does not take long to clean my cave and yet I still need a distraction from the way I am feeling. Unfortunately, I am well prepared for the rainy season. My stores are well stocked. I need not repair my weapons for there will be no hunting today. All in all, there is not much to do and far too quickly my work comes to an end. After that, I find myself sitting in the rain, staring down at the temple. Smoke puffs from the chimneys. I can’t imagine what they must be doing in there. Exchanging gifts, sharing meals? Singing their terrible songs…or perhaps the ones Lo sang to me? Those were not so bad.
Most likely I think they are talking. Lo likes to talk. She’d talk even when I couldn’t understand. I don’t think she could stop talking if she tried. I chuckle to myself. She will be back. There has not been a single day she’s been absent since we met. The thought gives me peace. Eventually the sky grows dark and the rain picks up. I make myself a modest snack and drop down into my furs. They still smell like her and suddenly my bed feels cold and empty and the silence here is louder than it’s been in years.
Her garland hangs not far from my head, but I don’t pull a ring off. Not today. I’ll wait for Lo to come back. Then we can do it together. Her holiday traditions are important to her.
And…if she doesn’t come back…
I shake my head. Impossible. She won’t be able to stay away. I’ll hear her stomping up the mountain first thing in the morning, she’ll be talking before she even gets inside the cave.
The thought makes me smile and I hurry to get to sleep. I just want time to pass until she is here again. But the night is a restless one and, half asleep, I find myself reaching for her in the dark only to be disappointed.
Eventually morning comes, but Lo does not.