Starman

it can be cold out there in space, alone

Everyone said it couldn’t be done. Space travel, that is. The talking heads had a myriad of reasons, ranging from a simple conclusion that it was impossible to more thoughtful explanations why all the theories of faster than light travel were the stuff of movies. Pure fiction, they’d say. Simply not based on reality here on Earth. But Tyler knew different. Tyler was a Starman. He not only knew it was possible, he did it every day. In fact, he’d just gotten done doing it and was ready to do it again. Still, it could be cold out there in space all alone, and that always brought him back home.

When he wasn’t traveling in space, he was a barista at the local Starbucks. They had good perks like money for college and a free coffee drink during each shift. He liked the coconut milk latte, no sugar. Next year, he was thinking about going to college to become something. He wasn’t sure what that something was yet–he’d figure that out later. With his feet firmly on the ground, he left for work, his mind wandering upward. It always amazed him he could space travel in his clothes. Even in his green work apron, which he had done on many occasions, slipping away before or after a shift. One time, he actually did it during a shift, but almost didn’t make it back. That’s when he decided break time wasn’t the best time for space traveling.

The people at work were friendly, but not really friends, except for Trish, that is. She seemed different. Not like him different, but different from the others. More willing to explore, but more grounded at the same time. She always said smart, common sense things like, “if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’ll never find it” and “what would the world look like if more people behaved like you?” See, she was smart, insightful. She was nice too, and he liked her, in a friend sort of way.

Tyler was excited because they were working the opening shift together today and it was always a good time to banter and hear more of her witty sayings. She was pretty much the same age as him, so what she said all made sense, too. Unlike when older people at work talked about their kids, weird stuff from their past, or gave Tyler unsolicited advice about things he shouldn’t do. Being a nice young man, Tyler would just chuckle and say “yeah, right” before moving on to the next order. Older people were weird like that, always looking for reasons why something couldn’t be done. Like space travel. He knew things they didn’t, he’d been places they hadn’t, and seen things they wouldn’t believe–mostly because they’re weird that way.

He was a bit more excited than normal to open with Trish today because he’d decided today was the day. He was going to tell Trish about space travel. Of anyone he’d ever met, his parents included, he thought she’d understand. Not only understand, she might believe it, since she always seemed open to new stuff. Maybe she’d even let him take her for a ride–you know, in a friend kind of way, if she was interested. They arrived at the same time, starting the monotonous work of getting the cafe ready for the morning zombies to arrive. That was how they always talked about the morning crowd. After the cafe was all ready, it wasn’t time to open yet, and they sat behind the counter.

 “You ever think about going somewhere else, doing stuff? Incredible stuff?” Tyler asked, sipping his coconut milk latte.

“Yeah, but it’s hard, you know, with school and work–all these things that steal our time from us. Literally, I feel like I’m always on the run from things trying to take up my time.” She paused, looking out at the morning sunrise, tilting her eyes upward to the sky. “Have you ever thought about what it would be like to go up there?”

“You mean in a plane?”

“No higher.”

“You mean in space?” Tyler asked, hardly able to hold his growing intrigue. Her questions were the most serendipitous, and a smile touched the edges of his lips.

“Yeah, in space, you know, like Star Wars. Pew! Pew!” she said chuckling as she reached out touching Tyler’s hand. “I like you Tyler,” she started.

In that moment, Tyler realized a couple of things as something stirred inside of him. He liked her too, and not in a friend kind of way. Perhaps life here on Earth wasn’t that bad after all. Maybe the old people with their marriages and their kids had found something he was looking for–a purpose, a meaning. Tyler welcomed her touch as she took his hand in hers continuing.

“I’d like to share something with you, something special. A secret that I’ve never told another soul.” She stumbled on her words as she spoke, her eyes joined with his. He could feel the warmth of her skin, sweat collecting between their palms.

“I’m a space traveler, a Stargal. I mean, I like lattes too, but I can travel in space.” She paused, gazing at Tyler, waiting.

“What?” Tyler said, leaning forward, his eyes wide.

“I know, I know, it sounds crazy.” She said, diverting her eyes.

“This is crazy!” Tyler said, still holding her hand, now with an enormous grin on his face.

“You’re right, it’s crazy,” she said nervously, feigning a laugh. “I was just kidding about the space travel, but not about you.” She reached out for Tyler’s other hand, looking back at him, but before she could say another word, Tyler leaned forward and they shared a kiss.

“It’s not crazy. I’m one too, a Starman. I can travel in space too and I like lattes and I like you. But how? Why are we both here? How did we find each other? I knew you were different, but–” A million questions raced through his mind. Were his parents really his parents? Who were her parents? Are they aliens? Are there more of us? What do they do now?

She put a finger to his lips. “Shh. I’ve got all the same questions. There’s time to figure that out later, together. But right now, let’s serve the zombies.”

He nodded as she unlocked the door, turning back to him with a smile. One thing was abundantly clear, he didn’t need to go to college to become something. He already was something and Trish was the same something. They were something together, which is good because it can be cold out there alone, in space.

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