Page 69 of I Think I’m in Love with an Alien

Seeker: Yes. You also?

Jeneticist: 100%. In school, I was the girl with the alien lunchbox. Literally.

Seeker: Anyone who doesn’t understand how wonderful you are…well, it’s their loss.

Jeneticist: That’s sweet of you to say, but today, I found out that all the professors have been getting together for drinks for years.

Jeneticist: I’ve never once been invited.

Jeneticist: I’m just feeling kind of sad today. 😢

Jeneticist: It shouldn’t be this tough to make friends.

Jeneticist: It was supposed to get easier as we get older, right? But if not for our group chat…

Seeker: I’d be really lonely too.

Seeker: If it helps at all, I’m so glad I “met” you.

Seeker: You’ve brightened my world immeasurably.

Jeneticist: Wow, really?

Jeneticist: Just call me sunshine. ☀️

Seeker: Okay, sunshine.

Jeneticist: You’re so silly. I meant figuratively. But I guess I’m not opposed to that nickname. Or endearment. Whichever.

Seeker: I have always been looking for something else. An escape hatch.

Seeker: And it’s not like my life was dreadful. Or even difficult. I just had…

Jeneticist: Wanderlust?

Seeker: That word is sufficient.

Seeker: Maybe we’re just tuned into a different frequency than most.

Jeneticist: I like that explanation. It’s way better than “too weird to get invited to parties.”

Seeker: I find your passion inspiring. It’s one of your many admirable qualities.

Jeneticist: Yeah? Wow.

Jeneticist: Okay, see, this is why I messaged you. I’m always smiling when we talk. 😊

Seeker: I’m happy too. ❤️

25

Jennette

It takes me longer than I expected to fall asleep.

And when I wake, it’s with Seeker’s words still burning like embers in my mind. I don’t think I have any choice in the matter. That makes me inexpressibly sad—both for him and for me. Because I adore spending time with him. In fact, I probably should be alarmed at how much I’ve come to care for him.

Sure, we’ve been talking online for a while, and I had that crush. But now he’s a person to me on a deeper level, one with complicated problems I never could’ve envisioned. But any connection I pursue with him with always be shadowed by the fact that he doesn’t have that many choices.