“Why even ask? Why don’t you just beam yourself in here? You could be in here right now for all I know.”
I turned the knob slowly and opened the door. Walking toward Evey as she lay on the bed, I noticed her eyes were closed, her arms crossed, and she was breathing heavily through her nose. She was very mad. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I took her hand. She resisted at first, but then finally gave in. She kept her eyes shut.
“First, no name-calling, and second, come here. I want to hold you, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“I don’t want to fight with you,” she said with her eyes still closed.
“I don’t want to fight either.”
She finally looked at me, a little reluctantly at first, but it didn’t take long for Evey’s genuine kindness to come through. She crawled onto my lap, wrapping her legs around my body. I held her head to my chest.
“I’m as scared as you are,” I said. She sniffled. “Please don’t cry. I want to tell you that everything will be okay, but I just don’t know anymore. I can’t give you that comfort, and I feel terrible because of it.” She kissed my neck while I tried to soothe her. “I’m going to leave you alone for a while. I’m going to try to do that more and trust that you’ll be okay, that you’ll watch out for yourself.” She nodded into my shoulder. “Take a nap, my love. I’ll be back in a few hours. Text me if you need anything.”
We had exchanged numbers a week before our wedding, which we both found hysterical. Evey thought it was so funny to text me from the other room. I guess we were becoming sort of normal. I knew I had to get a job and find a way to still protect Evey but also be a person, a member of society… her husband.
I found a billboard off the 1 freeway to sit on and watch the traffic. I sat there for two hours, tempted to text Evey and see how she was doing, but I stayed strong. I blinked once, and Zack was sitting next to me. He looked back at the billboard. “Very apropos, man,” he said. It was a photo of some shiny-haired dude next to the wordsJesus is watching you.“Why do humans think Jesus was a white surfer from Southern California?”
I shrugged. “That’s not even the best part. Look behind you.” I directed Zack’s attention the XXX porn shop that sat just to the right of the billboard.
“It’s intentional… the billboard?”
“Yeah.” I laughed through my nose. “Humans are always so willing to judge, but they know nothing.”
“Neither do we,” he said.
“Exactly, so what’s the point of the fake Jesus billboard? It says Jesus is watching, but pseudo-Jesus is smiling. I guess he’s happy that you’re in the porn shop?” Zack laughed and held his hand to his stomach. I was so happy to see him, and I knew he was happy to be there. I ruffled his hair. “I thought you weren’t allowed to talk to me anymore?”
He shrugged and pointed at the billboard. “I’m sure he has bigger fish to fry, and anyway, Mona’s been really cool.”
“Didn’t they assign Mona to another group?”
“Nah, they let her keep me. My good behavior, I guess. She was in hot water for a while, but that blew over. I also got my couple back, so I’ve been watching you and Evey from across the street. I followed you here. Why’d you take a cab, Lucian? And why aren’t you with her, man? You guys fighting already?”
My hair was getting long. I tucked a strand behind my ear and thought idly that it was strange that my hair was growing. I had been exactly the same for two thousand years. “Now that Evey and I are married, I’m trying to make things seem more normal for her.”
“But it’s not ever going to be normal because of what she knows and what you are.”
“It has to be though. We have to figure out a way. All we’re doing is loving each other. There can’t be anything wrong with that. We should get an award for that. How can it be wrong?”
“Big guy works in mysterious ways.”
I sighed. “I wish people would stop saying that.”
“Lucian, I know it’s getting under your skin—all of those self-righteous angels who scoff at the two you as you walk down the street holding hands. Fuck them. You’re in love with Evey, and that’s all that matters.”
“She’s pregnant,” I said.
He jerked his head back. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, pregnant? Wow. Pregnant?”
“Yes. The doctor confirmed it.”
He was quiet for a minute. “What if it’s like an alien baby?”
“You know there’s no such thing as aliens, but thanks for the heartfelt congratulations, friend.”
“How is it even possible? I’ve never heard of that.”
“Maybe I’m becoming human,” I said, hoping he’d agree.
