“I come from the moon. Luna. Up there it’s, well, it’s so crowded. People everywhere. My new brothers and sisters, we’re made and used to keep the peace.” He spoke softly and Jacie could hardly hear him. “I’m the first they could spare. The others are too vital, too important, and without them, our whole system would fall. But I was specially made, to come here. They’re hoping I succeed.”
“What do you mean? How bad is it?” She was now curious, she wanted answers.
“Bad. People don’t like the packed conditions, and there is precious little material and space to expand. That’s why I’m here. To manifest some destiny, as my new father put it.” He smiled as if he had just told a joke, but his eyes betrayed his cheerful demeanor. Inside, they showed only terror.
Jacie was shocked, “But we can’t help you. It’s just as bad here, I mean, we hardly have electricity and clean water.” She was confused, if a civilization that could create such perfect beings, such gods as Adam, could surely manage a small population being a bit unhappy. After all, just how many people lived on the moon? A thousand? A million? A hundred million? She just had so many questions, but a feeling inside her kept her silent.
“It’s beautiful here. Not like there. Here it’s so empty, so silent. There, it’s packed, you feel crushed no matter where you go, it’s a swallowing feeling. That’s why they give us all meds, to ward off claustrophobia. Before, when I was Adam and not Adam, I didn’t have much space, and I enjoyed it. No bedroom, just a bed, tucked away in something like a closet. Saves space, and I felt it kept me close to my family. Like they were a security blanket wrapped around me. Before, when I was already Adam, I slept standing. Saves even more space, but I didn’t feel as safe. Now, I don’t sleep. Saves the most space, not that I lack for it. And yet, I feel the safest here.” He gazed out onto the open plains with a sense of awe she had never seen before. “I have a mission here, and if I don’t complete it, they will send more like me. I have to secure land. Land that is northeast of here. And I have to get something to trade. It should be here soon.” He once more gazed onto the plains, then slowly lifted his vision to observe the sky. “It will fall from the sky, just as I did.” He looked back to Jacie, the same sad look in his eyes.
“You seem like you don’t want to do this.”
“I don’t.”
“But then why do you?”
“I have no choice. If I fail, I will die. And if I die, they send someone else. Someone less gracious. Someone less merciful. Someone more perfect. They sent me because, well, because they thought I might inspire people with my benevolence. Charm them with my kindness. But then that man, he just had to shoot me. He ruined it all. All my benevolence, for nothing. Now your village fears me. Perhaps the next settlement won’t. But, yours does.” He stood up, picked up a stone, and threw it up and caught it in his hand. Then he threw it. It landed too far for Jacie to see.
“Okay that’s fine, they’re scared of me too,” Adam seemed genuinely confused at this. He had expected them to welcome her back with open arms.
“But I intended for you to return-”
“Doesn’t matter. What I’m really wondering is: why are you so sad? I mean, you can’t die. You don’t have to sleep, life seems pretty good.” Adam took another silent moment to think. Jacie was starting to notice that he was a bit more dramatic than she’d have liked. It was starting to annoy her.
Finally, he spoke, “No, I would prefer my old life. I miss those things. Like pain. I miss thirst, hunger, I miss being tired. When you remove all the painful parts of life, there is no reason to enjoy the pleasant parts. I want to go back to being Adam.” Jacie nodded along as if she understood. She wasn’t sure which Adam he was talking about, or if there were more than one. “When I was Adam, I had a family. A family that didn’t understand me, and a family that drove me away. And then, finally, a family that gave me up. But I would have stayed if I had known the pain that comes with being Adam.” He gestured to himself, then checked the sky once again. He pointed to a small light that appeared as a pinprick compared to the other stars. “There. It’s early.” He laid down in the grass. “Luna, it’s an amazing place you know. If you can get past the crowding and all that. Truly, it contains wonders beyond what you could ever see, and what I could ever describe. I hope you see it someday, everyone should.” The bright light in the sky grew, it was getting closer. Around an hour later, it crashed into the field. It crashed around half a mile away, but Jacie could still feel the slight shockwave from the impact as it landed. Adam got up immediately after the landing, and at a steady pace advanced towards the site. Jacie followed.
When they arrived at the site, Jacie saw only a small metal cylinder. It was glowing red with heat. Adam picked it up, his hands blistering, walked over to a nearby creek, and dunked it in. He held it there as steam rose from the quickly evaporating water until he was sure it was at a more normal temperature. He then shook it off onto the grass and tore it open. Inside was a small note, and an empty syringe. He read the note, then tossed it downstream. He looked back up at the moon as if he was searching for answers there. He didn’t find any. He stormed off, placing the syringe in his pack. Jacie almost tried to chase after the discarded note, but she stopped herself. Instead, she silently followed Adam. Later she noted that it seemed like he was crying again.
Comments (0)
See all