Out of This World

Out of This World

by Miasha Banks

I’m not from here, but as I come crashing and crumbling down into this world, it consumes me like I’m engulfed in flames. The breath of fresh air I needed. It’s finally here away from all the chaos of home. Finally a place where I can see that trees are actually green and vibrant and full of life; a place where I can actually stop to smell the roses.

Ok, I’m ranting, but that’s because you’ve lived here your whole life. This is very new to me, don’t judge. But this is not what you came here for. I get it, so let’s start. My name is Eliza. People from my planet call me Princess Venture because my father is King Venture. I didn’t ask to be born a royal, but I was. All the mics in the world, (yes, we call our money mics, I don’t judge your word “money”; plus you call us “aliens” so I think we’re even) I loved it.

Don’t get me wrong, it was great. But, at the end of the day, all I wanted was my freedom. And I was constantly under surveillance like some type of criminal, which is funny because now I am. The crime, you ask, is very simple—I am gay. I like girls and on Jupiter that crime is punishable by death.

My own father was going to sit there and watch me get killed.

The thought of hearing him tell me, in his arrogant, cocky king voice, “I’m disappointed in you, you’re a disgrace to this family.” Horns pointed up and everything.

But this was years ago. We’ve moved past that and now I have my beautiful wife Kaelyn, who is bearing our child. And there is nothing compared to the day when I saw her face.

Her brunette hair glowing through the wind, her lips with a faint touch of lip gloss, her eyes shining bright as the early morning sky. From the day I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one I needed. And, given the circumstances, I hate the fact that I have to leave her and our beautiful unborn child.

“Babe,” I said frantically. I started packing my bag as fast as I did on Jupiter.

“I’m so sorry that this has to happen, but I have to leave. My father is coming for me. He has found me, and I’m afraid of what he

will do if he finds the people I love,” I say as I go to lay one last kiss on her lips.

My eyes start to tear. I can’t believe I’m leaving. I never wanted this to happen.

“Bae, I feel like you are exaggerating a bit. It’s not that serious that you’re gay, and if he doesn’t want to accept it, he doesn’t have to,” she says, almost sarcastically.

She runs over when she sees me drop to my knees in tears almost toppling and folding into myself. She tells me, “It’s not that serious,” that “she’ll be by my side every step of the way.”

But I can’t burden her with that, so, almost hesitantly, I say “Babe I . . . ” almost hesitantly.

“I escaped from my father. He was going to kill me . . . and I’m sorry, but if he finds out that I was settled here, he will kill you and our baby. So yes, I’m leaving.”

Before I could even finish my sentence I heard the trumpets and dropped to my knees. I know that he has found me.