A Gate Is Only A Manifestation

 In honor all becomings.  April 8, 2024, at these coordinates. 

    James led Martha away from the group gathered in front of building where Delores was holding court. They were deep in thought and not speaking of it all yet. It was midday. Time for lunch, but neither felt like eating.

    “James,” said Martha, “is this better than Earth?”

    “Well, in ways it might be. But I don’t know. It’s not uninhabited like Alice said,” said James to Martha.

    “I feel like I know nothing about Earth. I lived my whole life in that girl’s facility, then we landed here,” said Martha.

    They walked slowly toward the wooden platform that was like a primitive stage where the Slip Chute had stood. All the detritus had been cleared away. There was nothing left but the bare clean boards that it had sat upon. There were three steps up to the platform.

    Like actors in a play, James and Martha stepped up those three steps. They moved to center stage and faced each other.

    “James, I wish we had not come here,” said Martha, closing her eyes. He put his arms around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

    “I’m sorry we did, Martha. But I wish to be together wherever we are in space or time or anywhere in this universe.”

    There was a kiss. Just a simple little kiss, to seal it all.

    There was an indistinct moment. But maybe kisses are like that anyhow? A bit of a disconnect from the space we normally inhabit. They hardly noticed it.


    They smiled at each other, and he took her hand again and they started walking down the road away from the Pod Stacks. It was a nice day for a walk. They looked forward to something good coming, they knew it would! James had heard that there were free people living further down the road, and he thought they could find them. He had supplies for a day or two on the road in his pockets.

    A bit further down the road they saw an old unused bus stop shelter. A lady was sitting in it knitting what looked like a red sock. As they came up even with her, she looked up and smiled.

    She winked at them and looked back down at her knitting and continued her work.

    James and Martha kept on walking until they were out of earshot of the lady, looked at each other and burst out laughing.

    “I wonder what that was about,” said James.

James and Martha.docx