Page 255 of Destined For Her Alien Daddy
“And now?”
I look toward the viewport. A cargo skiff drifts past with blue running lights blinking along its hull. Somewhere inside it, people are moving supplies, arguing about schedules, thinking of lunch, complaining about docking fees. None of them know that the universe once surprised its makers by continuing. They live anyway.
“Now I think meaning was never guaranteed by cosmic design,” I say. “Not even before I knew the truth. I only believed it was guaranteed. That belief comforted me, but it also allowed others to manipulate me. If meaning exists, it was always something we had to make, honor, and defend.”
Anita nods slowly. “That sounds healthier.”
“It is less comfortable.”
“Most healthy things are. Exercise, honest communication, vegetables, oversight boards.”
I look at the pancake. “Cooking?”
“Do not bring breakfast into this.”
“I am trying to understand your philosophy.”
“My philosophy is that you are overthinking before noon.”
“I am reflecting.”
“You are brooding with citations.”
I stare at her.
She stares back.
Then she leans across the table and pokes my chest lightly, far from the healing burns. “You survived the cosmic truth meat grinder. You got your first real laugh in weeks. You are sitting here with your girlfriend, horrifying breakfast, and tea that tastes like arson. Maybe enjoy being alive for five minutes before rebuilding moral philosophy from scratch.”
The word girlfriend lands in the middle of my chest with unexpected warmth.
“Girlfriend?” I ask.
She freezes.
Color rises in her cheeks. “Is that too juvenile? Human terminology gets weird because there are dating stages and relationship categories and several of them sound like they were invented by teenagers avoiding commitment.”
“I like it.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” She looks briefly delighted, then tries to cover it by taking another brave sip of tea. Her eyes water immediately. “Great. Wonderful. I am your girlfriend and your tea is still a hate crime.”
I squeeze her hand. “Then I will enjoy being alive for five minutes.”
“Excellent.”
“What should I do?”
She blinks. “You need instructions?”
“I have been a soldier for a long time.”
“Fair. First, eat fruit instead of pretending the pancake is good.”
I obey.
