The Elementals

Chapter 1, Part 5

“So that’s how we met, Kylie,” Noah said, smiling.

“Hey! I know myself, kind of, and it was smart of me to hide my identity!”

“I know, love, I’m only teasing. I shouldn’t do that, we’re not used to each other, well, you’re not used to me, I guess.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I look down at my lap, embarrassed. I realize I just yelled at a complete stranger my husband. He slides down the bench up close to me, again, and puts his arm around me, again.

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault you lost your memory.” I don’t know how to tell him this makes me uncomfortable, because he is my husband, I just don’t know him. He stays in that position, and I can’t really get out of it.

“So do you know when we’re going to get to the other Elementals?” I ask. Hopefully, he will be a gentleman and get up to ask the guard guy, also whom I don’t know, but he doesn’t.

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll get there when we get there.” He moves closer to me, which I didn’t think was possible, and sighs. I sigh too, but not for the same reason. I sigh because I want him to get off of me. It’s not that I don’t find him attractive, but I don’t know him, and it’s extremely awkward.

“Noah, can I say-” I’m cut off by the guard. He rushes into the compartment frantically. He composes himself, and then sees us basically on top of  each other on the bench/

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?”
“No!” I say, quickly, and then I  stand up, finally having a reason to break up us cuddling, “What did you come in here for?” Noah looks a little hurt that I stood up so quickly, I can’t believe that he doesn’t understand what’s going through my brain, we are married, after all. It’s hard to believe that he would expect me to be all lovey-dovey with him after I just lost my memory.

“We’ll be there shortly. I would prepare yourself for landing.”

“Okay. We will,” says Noah. I sit back down, this time about a foot away from Noah. I don’t look at him, I look directly out the window. I hear him sliding towards me. I immediately stand up.

“Look,” I say, “I know we’re married and all that, but I don’t know who you are. I lost my memory, obviously, and you are just making me uncomfortable and confused. I’m sorry, but for now I need my space so I can think.” He looks really hurt. Like really. I hurt his feelings. I feel like a bad person, but it’s what needed to be done. “I’m sorry.” I add, hopefully making things better.

We start to land, I’m now sitting on the bench on the opposite side of the bench Noah’s sitting on. I’m by the exit, looking thoughtlessly out the window, and he’s bunched up in the corner, by the door to the cockpit. The landing goes smoothly, we just land on the ground, there is a little bit of a thud, but it doesn’t seem to affect either of us.  He stands up, looking at me, but he seems distant.

“It’s time to go.” He says. His voice sounds cold. I really hurt his feelings.

“Okay.” I say, hushed. The guard and pilot come into the compartment, and see Noah’s hurt face, and my sad face.

“Well, let’s go!” said the Pilot. And we do.