SisterSuns

The alien transports fell through thick scattered clouds towards the autumnal surface of a forested continent. As the planet rushed up and the transports began to swoop, thick raindrops streaked across the transparent viewing portals and were transformed into brilliant diamonds by the thick orange rays of sister suns. The two transport shuttles landed near a densely wooded alien base camp.

With a show of gentleness and dignity, two human captives, a man and a woman, were taken from the shuttles and escorted into the base. The woman arrived on a stretcher and the man arrived unshackled and quietly. They were taken to a large wood paneled room with wide doors at one end that opened into a tranquil deciduous forest. The aliens moved the woman to a bed and quietly left the room. After a while the man lifted the woman and placed her into a wheeled chair. With what seemed to take all of her determination the woman pushed her chair through the doors and onto a covered veranda. The breeze was cool and as she breathed deeply the woman looked tired.

The woman and man remained outside, still and breathing. The air of this planet was good and a luxury not available for the last several torturous months aboard the alien spacecraft. They watched the sister suns take turns illuminating the brilliant colors of the falling leaves, alternately sharing their rays with large scattered clouds. When the youngest of the sister stars faded beyond the trees the man took the woman inside and placed her back into her bed. He sat beside her until he slept.

When they awoke a steady rain sang through the trees. The woman was peaceful and intent. The man was practical and heavy. As the morning hours passed the woman became quieter, laying on her back with her eyes closed. When the man would bring a straw to her mouth she would open her lips and drink. She would gently nod when he whispered into her ear. The rain kept on all day.

Overnight a chilly wind began to creep into the forest. In the morning the sister suns walked across the blue sky and the man watched the woman leave his side and join them.