He Fell UP
M. Demetrice
Copyright © 2015 M. Demetrice
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He Fell UP
THEN
It’s hard to be human when you’re not. Pretending to be less than you truly are is exhausting, however, I do it for them. The Human’s Love is a great and powerful emotion. On my world of Up, love is an emotion unknown and I think is impossible to comprehend. There is no hugging, smiling, touching or other physical emotions. With that said, there are no wars, hate, envy or others things that are the opposite of Love. My species are a unified peaceful race. We do not judge or take each other for granted – we simply are who we are.
There is no need for work or education. We are born with all the knowledge that is needed – it’s a natural ability that is embedded deep in our cells. If there is something that is to be known when not born, then it is unlocked at that given time from deep within our memory cells. Because we do not need to further our education as humans do or work as humans work, we are afforded the luxury to truly live life. We only have a few thousand years to enjoy it so we do not waste it on frivolous things.
Being here on this blue world where love can be given and taken away, abused, and used as a bargaining chip is one luxury I afforded myself. One day, I simply woke and wanted to travel. I stepped onto the portal and let it choose my location. Inside my head, I heard my brethren give me a gentle goodbye in their nonchalant, unworried way, bidding me farewell knowing the portal would not open for me until it had completed its twenty-three cycle rotation. Wherever I went, I would be stuck until the cycle completed itself. I was fine with this. This adventure. The knowledge that I was stepping into the unknown made my hearts flutter and it was a new emotion I did not want to forget. With eagerness, I stepped onto the portal and was suddenly thrown into this blue world.
Earth.
Earth where I met Barbara and fell in love. Earth where I consummated my love and created a child that should not have been.
I met my wife during the seventeenth cycle rotation of my sabbatical – we made love for twenty-three minutes. Our body wrapped around each other in coitus made my body sing, relishing in this new experience.
This and her love is what kept me here.
Then Samantha was born.
February 23rd at 2:23 a.m.
Night of the Fireflies.
Seem Up was letting me know that her birth was blessed. My home was also telling me that in 2300 days, my baby girl must depart Earth and come to the home of her father.
I shiver at the thought of departing with only my daughter and leaving my wife behind. She will never understand or believe my words and if I simply disappeared with Samantha, my wife will be understandably distraught.
My love refuses to do such a terrible thing!
I must return to Up alone. I must make a way for my entire family to live among my peaceful race but how can that be when my planet’s atmosphere shields my people from the presence of others. Entering our atmosphere, those not part of Up will disintegrate into nothing, their cells scattering in the heavy oxygenated air. Not even a bio suit is protection from this foolproof security that is a natural occurrence.
Many Earthlings perished attempting to follow their mates back home to Up. Only after the human’s death, did the knowledge of why this tragedy occur surface within our minds. With that said, only my daughter carries the cells possible to enter Up. If I try to bring my wife, her cells will scatter then dissipate into nothing. She will be wiped from existence, never to be remembered or ever known by her human counterparts. I must not let this happen but I know in 2300 days, my daughter must go to Up whether my wife is allowed or not. Earth is too small for my daughter. She will become nothing but a hollow, unspoken shell. Thoughtless, unsocial and incapable of functioning normally.
Already she is showing signs of social distress. She is not comfortable with human touch and emotion. She turns away from everyone, even her mother. Only me she is comfortable with being herself. Her thoughts and senses are indeed those of her Up’Tarian ancestors. We share so much of our mind now – barely having to speak out loud to communicate.
NOW
Damn building is calling to me. For over twenty-three cycles I have managed to avoid it – the portal that brought me here.
The security guard stares at me with concern. I frown, taking in the height of Felipe Hotel whose importance is hidden in plain view. Various shades and sizes of humans - Up’Tarians feigning human – standing around having always been there. They are a permanent fixture – just as the nineteenth century furniture and dimly illuminated lamps are. Only the guard is not from Up. One must have an aging mortal to show face. As he turns his back to me, I walk past him. A few feet closer and I will Fall Up.
Already I feel the pull of my species telling me it is not time. I must only return when the cycle is complete or face annihilation. For them, they are content to stand around this hotel and let the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, and centuries go by stuck in the moment. Unlike me, they have never ventured past Timberland Avenue. Never have they sat with a human and discussed life. Never have they laid on the grass with their littler girl, shoulders touching, looking up at the clouds wondering what shape the sky will create next. Never have they stood in the rain and let the cool, wet sensation of tears run down their head, hit their shoulders, cascade down their back and completely saturate their favorite pair of walking shoes.
They do not know what it’s like to be Human. They would not give their life for another. Up’Tarians would think it foolish to do so.
But if I’m foolish, so be it. Living twenty-three cycles here among the single hearts that breathe polluted air has made me realize that giving up one’s self for another is the greatest emotion of all. It is why I will Fall Up today. I just hope my death will not be in vain.