An Anniversary Surprise

By Desirae Gracyn

Tears rush down my cheeks in a mighty downpour.

In my hands, I hold a frozen piece of metal. A useless remnant from the inside of my destroyed ship.

I throw it against the glowing startree. The fluid running up the bark ripples in agitation, just like my heart.

My crew back on Earth isn’t coming for me. My time is up since today marks one year since I crashed on Crystila, a planet we never knew existed. After an astronaut has gone missing for 365 days, my unit throws a farewell party.

All this time, my heart has been torn. I wanted them to find me and bring me back home, but I also didn’t. I’ve never felt so alive as I do here in Crystila. And I don’t want to say goodbye to everyone. But they’ll never accept me. I’m not one of them.

In their eyes, I’m an alien.

I leave my secluded sanctuary in search of Torvax. His overly joyous personality never fails to lift my spirits. I desperately need a dose of his positivity. But if I’m being honest with myself, it’s really just him I want.

“Vax, it’s been a year. I’m not going to keep waiting for you.” Varsha’s voice reaches my ears as I shuffle out of the neon purple bushes, their glitter coating my bare arms.

“I’m not asking you to.” Torvax rests his fuchsia three-fingered hand on Varsha’s shiny shoulder. “My affections don’t belong…”

Varsha slams her plump lips on his.

My heart breaks, and I rush through the bushes to my little hovel.

Leaning against my hammock made of glowing flowers, the rocking soothes me as I massage my temples. It’s stupid of me to be envious, to have believed him when he said he didn’t love her, to actually think he meant me. Even if he wasn’t betrothed to Varsha, Torvax and I are from two different worlds.

Where Torvax is seven feet tall, I’m five. He has fuchsia crystallized skin, wings, and a bald head with markings and three horns. I have human skin, no wings, no horns, five fingers, I’m the oddball here, the alien. Plus, not to forget, he’s in line to be chief of a planet, responsible for all the crystilans. I’m an ordinary human accountable for only myself.

Despite our visual differences, everything inside of us matches. Our personalities connect like two puzzle pieces. In fact, I fit in with everyone on this planet. This place is where I truly belong.

“Nadina, may I come in.” Torvax pulls the liquid-flowing curtain aside to peer into my hovel.

I shrug, and he shuffles toward me.

I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them as I stare at the purple sand. “What are you doing here, Torvax?”

He reaches for my chin with his soft hand and forces me to gaze into his amethyst eyes with crystals around the edges. “I’ve been looking for you all day.”

“Why?” I sniffle. The sweet scents of kryla waft to my nose. It didn’t seem like he was looking for me a few minutes ago.

“Nadina, I have something to show you. Please, come with me.”

What on Crystila could he want to show me?

“I don’t know if I want to see anything.” Now isn’t the best time for explorations of hidden wonders.

“Please, for me.” He caresses my cheeks.

Butterflies dance in my stomach. Why can’t he see what his touch does to me?

Biting the inside of my lip, I nod.

He takes my hand and leads me out of the hovel, past the sparkling green river, through the upside-down garden with glitter flowing from the flowers and caking my hair, all the way to the chief’s hut.

At the door, Torvax stops and turns me around to face him. “Do you trust me?”

Despite the confusion, hurt, and jealousy with Varsha, I trust him. At least more than any other soul in my life. “Yes.”

He covers my eyes with his hands.

The door creaks open, scents of lyna drift around me, and the rushing sound of the waterfall floods my ears.

Torvax shifts in front of me, his hands still covering my eyes. “You have options, Nadina. I can’t tell you which one to choose…” He pauses. I imagine him biting his lip like he loves to do. “This needs to be solely your decision.”

His hand slowly lifts from my eyes.

As my vision clears, my jaw drops.

Floating crystals scatter throughout the room. Pastries line a table with pastel juices. Upside-down flowers cover the roof. A few villagers stand in one corner with a blank banner stretched in front of them. Another corner has villagers blocking something that’s covered. In the middle, next to the glowing waterfall, is the current chief, Gardlia, his mother.

“I don’t understand.” Really, I don’t.

“We want to honor your year anniversary of being an alien. Celebrations always come with presents. These gifts represent your options.” Torvax keeps his eyes on me, and my breathing accelerates. “Make the reveal.”

The covering slips away to expose my destroyed ship now repaired, with all electronics on and working. A tear streams down my face. Now that I know I can go home, I don’t want to.

“Say something.” Torvax gulps and brushes the loose strands of hair behind my ear.

“You’re sending me away.” I sniffle, my lips trembling.

“I said you have options.” He gestures to the other side. The blank banner flashes with sparkling colors. Welcome home. “You can stay.”

I blink. “You all accept me?”

“More than that. I love you, Nadina.”

I clutch my chest. He loves me? “Why tell me this now?”

“I wanted to wait the year. One year for anyone to find you, one year for you to live life as an alien.” He smirks. “I don’t want you to choose to stay because of me. I want it to be because you feel like this is your home.”

“Wait. But like … you love me?”

“We all do.” Gardlia approaches.

“But you’re betrothed. Tradition.” I glance around, looking for Varsha. She isn’t here.

“Tradition is that he can’t become chief without a mate. We wanted it to be Varsha because it’s a perfect alliance. But my son won’t be happy with her. He wants you. We’ll find another way to make an alliance. Our planet thrives on love, so it’s about time our chiefs marry for love. If you want to stay, we want you to.”

I spin the crystal charm in my braid and walk to the newly assembled ship. I place my hand on the cold metal. It feels just like my life back at home, lifeless. This here with these people is living. I glide back to Torvax and cup his warm face. “Wherever you are, I will be.”

“Does this mean you’re staying?” He smiles.

“Of course. This is where I belong. It’s home. I love you.”

“And I you.”

His lips press against mine for the first time, and magic flows through my veins, waking every part of me. Sharing this kiss with my soul mate, I finally come alive.

The best one-year anniversary ever. I can’t wait for many more!

🩷🩷🩷

Desirae J. Gracyn works as a pediatric nurse and, in her free time, writes mostly stories with neurodivergent characters. She feels it’s important to include this in today’s literature, especially fantasy. Fairies go to therapy, too. She also tries to include games in every story.

When Desirae is not writing, working, or reading, she spends her time growing in her relationships, faith, and herself. Her greatest desire is to be as loving as she can. For without love, she is nothing.

Website: https://desiraejgracyn.com/

Twitter: @desiraejgracyn

Email: Desiraejgracyn@gmail.com