"So, why exactly do you think the human race deserves to live?"
I hesitate. That's a loaded question. I'm sure my visitor has asked it before, and certainly in more sophisticated circles. Instead of an answer I pick up the open bottle of red an pour two glasses. It's a cuvée 2015, I fondly remember that summer. It was the last year with Mara. A beautiful summer with my beautiful woman, the light of my life. Her cancer took her from me only weeks after the harvest. 2015 turned out to be the best red I ever made. And I drink every drop of it in her memory.
I hand one of the glasses to my alien guest. He takes it with a small smile. He looks so human. It's only these unnatural silvery veins in his eyes that give him away. He could cover them with sunglasses or contact lenses. That he doesn't seem to bother sends a shiver down my spine.
I lift my glass and he follows suit, well versed in human customs. We both sip our wine, me lost in my memories of better times, him with that disturbing smile playing on his lips.
I still owe him an answer and I bet he knows I'm stalling.
"Well, I'm sure there are lots of reasons why your people should let my people live. I'm also sure you heard them all. Why ask a stupid lonely old man like me?"
"Maybe your answer is different. Maybe it makes all the difference."
"Maybe."
I contemplate the dark red liquid in my glass before taking another sip. It tastes of summer, of flowers, of love and maybe a little bit of the bitterness of loss. I sigh.
"I don't have an answer for you. I lived a long and mostly happy life. When I was young I wanted to change the world, make it a better place. Then I met Mara. She was the perfect fit, I was sure that together, we were invincible and could reach the stars. But time got the better of our dreams. We struggled on. There were good times and bad. She was always at my side, when I was exasperated she helped me on and I did the same for her. So, I'd say our lives were mostly good. But why should that qualify me as a judge of humanity? I know what humans did to this planet. I know all about big plans gone awry and big hopes lost. Do I believe in humanity? Maybe, at least a bit. Have you ever watched ants collecting food or bees buzzing from flower to flower? Humans are like that, always busy, building, trading, trying to better their lives, moving around frantically even if it seems pointless from another ones view. It's our nature, just like its in the bee's nature to collect honey or in the vine's to grow towards the sun."
He watches me silently with this unsettling eyes. I feel obliged to add something.
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net