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“The Odessey,” he reads aloud as I watch him. Vin, under my influence, has also learned some human languages. “Thank you.”
I touch his shoulder in recognition that I was still thinking about his welfare even though I was away. “I won’t need you until after the evening meal. Walk in the goddesses’ light.”
Vin bows and leaves.
I go into the bathroom and look at my reflection. It’s been a week since I’ve seen my own skin color. Why it should make such a difference is ridiculous, but it does, not only on planet Earth but in the galaxy. Alliance people have grey skin, and we are respected. Any human shade and, well, someone might put a leash on you.
I start the shower and relax into the hot water and the familiar smell of petrichor soap. My mind wanders, and I think about Ivy. It’s strange how much I miss her and wish I would’ve told her everything and maybe she would’ve come with me now. I fantasize about this for a few minutes before the computer lets me know there’s someone at my door.
“Enter,” I say as I walk out dripping wet.
Caroline walks in. “Please dress so that we can talk.”
“I don’t mind being naked.”
“I mind you being naked.”
I quickly find my uniform and put it on. Then I return to where Caroline is standing with her back to me. “You’ve seen every man on this base naked hundreds of times. I don’t understand why this is any different. Regardless, I’m dressed for you.”
“Much better,” she says, turning around. “Now we can talk.”
I extend my hand, indicating my small sitting area with black sofas and a grey table.
She sits, and I sit across from her.
“Tell me how your Greek trip went.”
“It went well.”
“I don’t want to pry too much, but did she suspect you weren’t from Earth?”
“I made a few mistakes, but I blamed that on English not being my first language. She knows nothing about Sweden, so that I could get away with a lot.”
“Until she finds out that these oddities don’t match up with Swedish culture.”
“When is she going to meet someone from Sweden? It’s highly unlikely. There aren’t that many on Earth, and the information she has available to her in English is spotty at best,” I pause, trying to explain myself without sounding like a coward. “It just never felt like the right time to tell her the truth. The entire holiday felt like we were in the goddesses’ time.”
“So you think the goddesses condoned not telling her?”
I purposely don’t answer the question because neither of us wants to hear the truth we know out loud. “As soon as I returned to the base, I went to the shrine to ask for understanding and forgiveness. I even made a small blood sacrifice.” I move to unbutton my uniform to show her my wounds, but she holds up her hands.
“I trust you did. I don’t need to see the bloody evidence. When are you planning on telling her?”
“I wanted to get your opinion on the matter.” I recognize that it’s difficult for me to make good decisions. All I can see, hear, and breathe is tainted with my passion for Ivy.
Caroline replies, “I would meet her at her house and tell her the truth in the next week before this goes any further.”
“And if she won’t have me?”
“Then, unfortunately, you know what to do.”
“I don’t want to erase her memory again.”
“It’s the chance you take. That’s why the sooner you tell her, the better. There’ll be less to change. Is there anything else?”
I cross the room to my bag. “Just one more thing.” I take out a large glass bottle of Greek honey and give it to Caroline with my head bowed. “I bought this for you to add to our breakfast porridge. I know you think it is tasteless.”
“The Alliance goddesses may not approve,” she says, taking the honey from me.
