All at once, the contraptions start moving towards us. At first it seems impossible they will gain enough speed to take off before causing a major disaster. I start to worry when they’re over halfway to us and I can see the strained expression as they push and pull the handlebars like oars, making their wings flap faster and faster. One near the edge tips up almost imperceptibly, then all the sudden it’s in the air and the rest follow quickly. Their flower trains trail behind them, creating corporeal rainbows. The artificial sunlight streams through semi-transparent petals, covering us in colorful crepuscular rays.
They sail just a few yards above our head and I gasp in awe along with the rest of the crowd. The flower trains brush the top of my head and I lift my hands to the sky, wiggling a little dance and reveling in the feelings of soft petals tickling my forearms. Next to us, Meshi flaps his wings sharply and then he’s up there with him. Soon, other Winged-Ones join him and their black wings against the rainbow of flower trains are stark but somehow adds to the beauty even more.
“Surprise,” a low growl whispers in my ear, and I feel it from my earlobe all the way to my toes, but especially between my legs.
Flowers that just brushed the top of my head have completely engulfed Khur from the shoulders up. He has bits of colorful petals all over the fur on his head and shoulders, and his horns have managed to snag long threads from the flower trains and now hang down his back like his own crown of wildflowers. His posture is relaxed and this is the most I’ve ever seen him smiling.
“This is perfect, Khur. It’s the best surprise I’ve ever been given. Thank you,” I tell him. No one has ever gone tothe lengths Khur has today to make me happy. I’m no virgin, but real relationships have been few and fleeting. Like a physical force, I can feel my walls crumble even more. Alien or not, he sure knows how to treat a woman.
“You’re welcome. I am glad I could share it with you. I have not been here in many years. Not since Gunnvall first brought us here.”
“Why not?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Too busy, I suppose. Too wrapped up in work.”
“Funny how the one place in the galaxy where you don’t have to have a job and people still get lost in their work.”
“You know, I have been taking more time off lately,” he tells me, reaching for my hand, “I had forgotten how amazing this station can be. You’re helping me remember though. Thank you.”
Then he leans down and captures my lips in a searing kiss, rubbing the tip of his claw against the back of my hand. It doesn’t scratch as much as it tickles, and sends a shiver up my arms. Then he pulls away and I realize we have an audience. There are a bunch of aliens staring at us instead of the air show. I have a brief moment of panic, but no one looks upset, just curious, so I try to relax. Perhaps my fears of being alienated are unfounded.
Khur must sense my anxiety, though, because he squeezes my hand and says, “I should have asked first, but I couldn’t resist. I want everyone to know where my affections lie.”
“It’s okay. I was worried what people would think, but when did that ever stop me?”
As I say it, I realize how true it is. I’ve never cared what people thought of me. I won’t start now when I’m in a place that seems to be filled with accepting, loving people from all over the galaxy. Hell, maybe seeing us together will make other people abandon theirreservations and find love outside their species, too. I’m not ready to say theL wordis what’s going on here, but I will say, everyone on Sanctuary Station has been through so much, and a little more love may be just what we all need.
Eventually, the flyers all come down and land gracefully on the far side of the field, the Winged-Ones settling a short distance from the gliding Silfans. As a group, we make our way over to congratulate them on such a superb flight. Most of the flowers have fallen from their trains by now and I wonder if this is purposeful. Perhaps they are reseeding or fertilizing with them.
I see the human woman among the Silfans, still smiling but standing by herself. She nods and speaks a few words as others speak to her but doesn’t seem inclined to participate in the larger groups of people. I make a beeline for her, excited to speak to another human.
“Wow, that was amazing! I have to try that someday,” I say to her as we get close.
She looks so familiar but I can’t put my finger on where I know her from.
“Hey! Pink sneakers! I know you. I’ve put your camera to good use!” She waves the object in question, hanging from a black strap around here neck.
Only then do I realize, she was the one who traded me my instant camera for her shoes. What are the odds we were both selected for Sanctuary Station?
“Maybe next week you can ride along with me. I’ve been trying to figure out how I can shoot from the sky, but flying takes both hands,” she says with a smile, looking pointedly at where my hand holds tightly to Khur’s.
I squeeze his fist then drop it to hug her.
“That sounds amazing. I’m Destiny by the way and,”phew, here goes nothing, “this is my boyfriend, Khur.”
She gives us both an appraising look, then nods like she approves. I wasn’t looking for her approval, but it feels good anyways.
“I’m Hope, and good for you. I haven’t seen any interspecies couples yet, but humans are a bit freakier than most.”
I can only laugh at that. I wouldn’t have called myself a freak back on Earth, but I guess here the shoe really does fit. Behind me I hear a sputtering, stuttering sound that draws my attention. I glance over my shoulder and see poor Meshi with his jaw hanging open.
Khur takes pity on him because he waves him forward and says, “This is our boyfriend, too, Meshi.”
“Oh, honey, no,” I say quickly as the other girls eyebrows fly up, “That is a term of endearment between people who are courting. Meishi is just ourfriend.”
Khurs gets what I'm starting to think of as his embarrassed-blushing expression, but luckily Meshi seems to be recovered from his shock and is holding a hand out to shake Hope’s.
“It is a true pleasure to meet you, beautiful Hope. When you flew, your radiance dimmed the light of the sun.”
