A Human Element (31 page)

He was glad to be alive.

Ben and Laura found a cozy bungalow to rent down near the ocean and moved in a few days later. There were tears of happiness as Likini and Laura hugged goodbye.

"We want you to be Aunt Laura soon. Won't you?"

"I'd be honored."

"Likini, they're only a couple of miles away," Andy reassured her. And that night, when Ben and Laura snuggled in their first bed together, they got the call baby Joseph was born.

"After my real dad," Andy boasted on the phone. "I wished he had lived to see the day." The mother was doing well and after many congratulations, well wishes, and promises to come see the baby they hung up and lay back in bed.

"It's so amazing, isn't it?" Laura stroked Ben's chest.

"What?"

"This creating of life. No matter how it happens."

"Yes. But that's the easy part. The hard part is making something worthwhile with your life."

"I remember Felix once said events can change in a second, re-directing your course. Sometimes unluckily so."

"Sometimes luckily, too."

Laura nodded then sighed. "There's something I've been wanting to do but was afraid to do it alone." She looked at Ben. He turned on his side to look at her, waiting, so she continued. "I want to see if I can transmit myself to Elyon with Felix's belt to see where I come from. Felix said the planet is dying. Do you think it's still there now?"

"I don't know. But it's worth a try. I'll be right beside you. Is there any danger in using the belt?"

"I don't know, honestly. I hadn't thought about it when using it to seek you out."

Laura went to the bedroom closet and from deep in the back, she pulled out a box. She opened it and drew out the belt. She touched its smooth texture. It rippled beneath her fingers, as if it were alive. It hung wide and heavy, created of metal she had never seen before. Its burnished gray steel shone in the soft lamplight. It moved from darker to lighter shades of gray in a fluid movement.

"Here it is." She handed it to Ben. "Once I wear it and push this series of buttons and envision where I want to go, it transmits me there. When I blink and open my eyes, I am in the place I want to go. But my body stays here. And see this green button here? If you push it, once I've been transmitted, it will send me back here."

"What happens to you here while you're transmitting yourself there?"

"I don't know. You'll have to tell me. Maybe I'm in a sleep-like state. I just know you can't be conscious as the same person in two places though."

"A paradox."

"Yes."

Ben looked at the belt and back at her. "Okay, let's do it. But if I see you in any distress I'm bringing you back here."

Laura nodded. "I'm scared to do it, yet need to, you know?"

Ben took her hand and pulled her to him on the bed. "I understand. I'm just worried for you and the baby if something goes wrong."

"I was fine the times I sought you out and you're here now." Laura smiled, rubbing her belly.

"What are you hoping to discover?"

"I'm not sure. Answers, maybe. To see the people I come from and communicate with them. But I'm afraid to do it as well because once I open up that door, if there is a door remaining, it could change everything."

Ben smiled. "You told me a long time ago that in finding out who you are and where you came from changed everything."

"And it did."

"And yet, here we are."

Laura smiled back at him. "Yes."

"So what else is there you couldn't face?"

"Nothing."

"And whatever it is, we'll face it together."

She stood up and put the belt on. It fit her now on the second to last loop. When she first tried it on months ago, it fit loose on the smallest belt hole. She eased into the wingback chair in the corner of the bedroom and Ben pulled up the ottoman to sit beside her. They looked at one another and he took her hand.

"I'm right here, always."

She nodded, biting her lip.
I want to go to Elyon.
She envisioned herself standing on the faraway planet. Then she pressed the buttons on the belt. The sound of traffic and the wind rushing through the trees around their bungalow disappeared. It was replaced with utter silence. It was so quiet it felt unbearable. She opened her eyes.

Light, soft and rose-colored, warmed the world around her. She stood on smooth, gray rock that spread outward in all directions and disappeared into whiteness. Mist and snow blew around her. It was hard to see more than a hundred feet in front of her. A humming grew inside her head, soft at first, and then it rose in urgency. Something moved through the mist. She clutched her belly and looked down. She shimmered, as Felix had. Her fingers moved through her belly like an apparition. Her baby was safe at home, next to Ben.

And you are safe with us, Laura. We've been expecting you.

She gasped as figures moved out of the mist and walked toward her bundled in gray robes. They looked like Feo, with tufts of white hair, opal skin, and yellow eyes. At first only a few came, then more came walking forward through the blowing snow. Different ones appeared. Some were massive with green eyes, like Felix. They stared at her and she sensed peace and great sadness. They were a people barely etching out existence on a dying planet. She tried to speak, but no words came out and so she spoke to them from her mind as they did.

I had to know where I came from. Feo was my father.

We know. We are glad he reached your planet and created life. It means we will carry on, not here on our planet but another. We are glad you survived.

My brother didn't.

We know. He was a tormented being, a Destroyer who gave into his darkness.

And Felix, he helped us. He was created from your visit before.

We know. We seek you out on Earth too and have been watching.

She wasn't sure which of the Elyon beings was speaking to her as they all stood, staring at her. They seemed to speak to her in a collective group. Then one stepped forward and reached out his pod fingers. Laura reached for them and her fingers spun in webs around his.

Felix was a good soul. He had a big heart, like you have, Laura. And like Feo did, your father. My name is Adrian and Feo was my brother.

Will you survive here…Adrian?

We have little time left here on Elyon. The cold, droughts, and famine are too great for us to continue much longer. Our planet is dying. Our people are dying. Our sun has nearly gone out. But we're preparing a final ship to reach Earth. It may take many months to get it ready as our resources become more limited. But we hope for all survivors this time. We have drawn a lottery to see who will go.

I'm glad. I wish it could be all of you.

The Elyon being nodded and smiled at her.

Take care of your child. He is a part of all of us and he connects our two worlds. Your name is fitting, Laura Armstrong. You have held much weight in your lifetime yet still remain strong. You may now be our only hope, if our journey does not succeed. Will your people welcome us this time?

I don't know. But I will, and I will try to convince others as well.

Then that is all we can hope for.

He moved back toward the others and they returned to the mist they came from. Laura felt a great sadness lift from her. Hope grew in her for the people of Elyon and for contact with Earth. She held her hands up to the mist. Snow fell gentle now. She looked one last time around her then pressed the green button on her belt. She opened her eyes to find Ben leaning forward with an anxious look on his face.

She held her belly now, to reassure herself she was indeed back on Earth and here with the man she loved. "They are coming. It may be many months, but they are coming again."

"We have all the time in the world, Laura."

"Yes, we do."

Two bright spots flooded her cheeks from excitement. Ben took her hand. She thought of the possibilities ahead for them—for Elyon, for the human race, for other planets out there with life that someday may come as well.

Laura's anxiety grew as her due date grew closer. Ben knew she hid it from Likini when they visited her, Andy, and baby Joseph. Their baby looked normal in every way. When Likini took him to her breast, Laura gripped Ben's hand. He thought too what she must be thinking. Would their baby look normal? Would he act normal?

They went to their first ultrasound to find out. Laura pulled on his fingers, twisting them in hers waiting for the screen to come alive with a picture. Ben bit his lip and said a prayer. Then, at last, they saw a perfect baby boy growing inside her. He turned, sucking his thumb like any baby. A boy, just like Felix predicted.

"Your son is a big boy," the doctor told them. "But not abnormally so, he could be a good nine pounds."

"Is that okay?" Ben felt fear snake inside him.

"Yes, we will monitor Laura and we can always do a caesarean section if need be. We will take care of both of you. He is looking normal in every way, Mr. and Mrs. Fieldstone."

Laura cried and Ben squeezed her hand in reassurance. All will be okay, he thought. He hoped he was right. And it was funny everyone considered them married, but Ben wanted to give her his name. It worried him her due date drew close and they weren't bound together as husband and wife. He wanted them all to have the same name, and then would they truly be a family.

So when Ben got down on one knee in the sand on an evening beach walk and pushed a ring onto Laura's hand, it felt right. He had to put it on her pinkie finger as her hands were so swollen, but she said she didn't mind.

"Will you marry me, Laura Armstrong?"

"Only if you want children, Ben Fieldstone," she quipped. He embraced her enormous belly on his knees and they remained like that for a long while as the waves washed ashore and the moon shone down with its blessing. They walked along the beach afterwards, hand in hand, unhurried. Laura looked up at the stars and Ben followed her gaze.

"What do you see, Laura?"

"I see somewhere up there is home."

"Here too."

"My dad used to say I had two mommies, one in Heaven watching over me, and one on Earth watching over me." Her voice trembled. "Now I have a home up there watching over me and a home here too."

Ben put his arms around her. "And I'm here watching over you too. We're home to each other now. A family."

"I would say that's the desired outcome." Laura smiled up at him.

"Destiny."

"Fate."

"Forever."

And so they had a quick ceremony with Likini, baby Joseph, and Andy in attendance followed by brunch. Laura glowed in a cream-colored high-waist princess dress. The material flowed gracefully over her pregnancy, now pushing out everywhere in front of her.

"Here's a toast, to the two most meant-for people ever!" Andy held up his glass.

"A family now, you are." Likini smiled at Laura and then down at Joseph.

"We all are," Laura said. And it was true. He and Laura had both lost a family but were creating a new one now, together.

And when her water broke a few days later and the pains came, fast and intense, Ben held her hand all the way to the hospital. She squeezed his fingers so hard with a contraction he slammed on the brakes at a green light and recovered just in time to avoid a rear-end accident.

"It's happening so fast." Laura moaned. "Is it supposed to be like this?"

"I don't know." Ben sighed with relief when they reached the hospital.

"She's nearly at ten centimeters," the nurse said. "Your first child is coming fast. The doctor will be here soon. Everything looks good."

There was no time for an epidural. Laura held onto the hospital bed rail with her eyes closed. The pain must be unbearable, but he could only hold her hand feeling helpless and frustrated. He prayed it wouldn't be long. Her screams wrenched inside his gut, knowing he did this to her. All the pleasure they felt together to create such pain now. It was cruel.

The nurse had Ben help move Laura into a better birthing position. She was curled up on her side and they moved her onto her back so she was semi-reclined. The nurse pushed her hand deep up into Laura, who shrieked in agony. Ben bit his lips, willing her pain away. Let this be over.

"Please help her," he pleaded. "Can't you give her something for the pain?"

"It's too late, the baby is coming. I'm sorry. It will be over soon. She's doing a good job." The nurse soothed him, and pushed Laura's legs up and outward. She directed Ben to hold one of her legs up. "We've got to spread her as wide open as possible to help her push this baby out."

Ben was terrified. Laura tossed her head from side to side, spewing out staccato screams.

"Is she okay? And the baby…is he too big?"

"Your wife is doing fine and your son is too. He is in perfect position. I feel his head. Look, Mr. Fieldstone."

Ben, captivated by what Laura had created and now pushed out, stared at the top of his son's head.