Aster accepts his hand, clinging to it life a lifeline. Remembering what happened, confronting the choice he made and its potential consequences are far from easy. And as much as he wants to hide away and keep his current life safe, he knows the man’s parents deserve closure. Deserve a say in what is done with their son’s body, the only thing they have left of him…
“They’re going to ask a lot of questions,” he notes with a shaky sigh. “They’re gonna want to know where and when I found him. They’re gonna want to know everything. Sharing everything, remembering everything is gonna hurt. He didn’t last long but I was able to talk with him. I heard his last words and there are memories so deep that they remain even though he’s gone. How would I explain that to them? ‘Oh hi I had enough time to talk to your son but I couldn’t save him then took his body for myself? By the way your son was kidnapped by aliens and treated like an object to be bought and sold. And I’m sorta treating him as an object too by using his body.’ Do I tell them that?”
Gaze downcast, he holds Ryan’s hand a little tighter. “He was so smart, Ryan. So perceptive. He said to me, ‘you’re trapped too, aren’t you? Let’s set each other free. We don’t both have to die. Set me free and tell my parents I love them.”
With a loud sniffle, he adds, “he never told me is name or anything. And I didn’t look. I got just so caught up in the war that I forgot. Then I was scared to try. But scared or not I have to do it. When he lost his life I gained mine. I owe him everything.”
The hold was tighter, but Ryan did not mind it. He let it happen. He wanted
Aster feel better, to know that he was here for him, and that he was not going
to leave anywhere until he was ready. Ryan had come to care for this other. He
was there for him and Ryan was there for him. They helped each other. They
were friends. Close friends. He knew he could trust Aster with anything.
His head tilted to the side as as he spoke. As he heard the story of how he
came to be, a small frown formed on his lips. It wasn’t out of anger or disgust,
but just out pure...empathy? He could not image, but he could also feel the
other’s hurt. The struggle. It was a little overpowering.
“ You two were helping one another out. That’s what you can tell them. It’s
not a lie, you know, ” his voice quiet as he spoke, “ You two wanted to live, and
this was the way to do it. The man you helped knew what he was getting into.
He just wanted to help out. He wanted to help you just as much as he wanted
to help himself. ”
Ryan wasn’t so sure what else to say. He knew there wouldn’t be anything he
said to make him feel better. As much as he wanted to, he knew nothing would.
That was the way it was, wasn’t it? All he could do was stand there. Squeeze
his hand tightly, a soft reassurance. The other hand of his lifted to rest on his
shoulder. He offered Aster another smile, a smile that said everything was
going to be okay.