Half Truths

I didn’t know what to make of my behavior. She had me twisted up in knots. For some reason, I cared about what she thought of me, and I didn’t want to lie to her. These were things I never experienced before and things I hated about humanity.

“And what is it you think I need to know?” she asked skeptically, folding her arms.

Her actions forced me to smirk. She didn’t like my reaction and furrowed her brow in an attempt to urge me to answer her question.

“Is something funny?” she added.

“No, sorry, I didn’t mean to make you—”

“Spill it,” she interrupted. “What do I need to know?”

“She’s bossy,” Jealousy said.

“And weak,” Hatred added.

My eyes darted over at them. I glared, ordering them to keep quiet while I interacted with her. They complied, looking down and away from my gaze. The woman dipped her head down to gain my attention.

“Let’s just say there are things about life that are impossible to accept but are greater than reality,” I explained.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means there’s more to life than what you think, and I don’t mean to direct that at you. It’s more of an entire human, well mortal thing…”

I paused to gather myself and found my mind racing as I tried not to offend her. I didn’t want to upset her any more than she already was, and I didn’t want her to feel as though I was being derogatory.

“Have you ever seen him like this?” Hatred asked Jealousy.

“Never,” he answered.

“I’m not what I seem to be,” I said, after pausing to grab the correct words.

“What is it that you think I see you as? A criminal? A degenerate? A lying piece of sh—”

“You made your point,” I interrupted.

“What happened?” she barked, stepping closer to me. “What happened to me after that truck hit us? What did you do? How am I not dead?”

I took a drag from my cigarette. I wanted to buy myself a little time before I answered any of her questions. They were all valid questions, and there was an answer to all of them, but there was no way I could tell her what I was.

“The truck hit us, and we rolled many times,” I said with smoke pouring from my mouth on every word. “I was thrown from the car before it came to a stop. You were out cold, and the car caught fire. I pulled you out and came here. That’s the truth.”

“But it’s not the whole story,” she interjected.

“There’s not much else to tell,” I said.

“Liar!” she shouted. “I don’t believe we get hit, roll around, you’re thrown from the vehicle, and neither one of us has a scratch on us. Where did all this dried blood come from?”

She scrubbed the crust from her face and yanked her shirt out for dramatic effect. There was no way she would accept what I said to her without giving her something that explained how it was possible. I just had to figure out what piece of that puzzle I would reveal.

“Don’t do it, Din,” Jealousy advised. “You can’t tell her what you are.”

“She can’t handle it,” Hatred said. “You really think you can say, ‘Hey, I’m a God, I healed you because I can, and I have a couple invisible beings that aid me in my power.’ Wake up!”

They were right, but they also weren’t giving me solutions to the problem. That’s what I needed most. There was nothing to say that didn’t make me look like a liar, crazy person, or criminal she was used to dealing with on a daily basis.

“I’m not from here,” I blurted out.

“You don’t say,” she said with an eyebrow raised.

“What was that?” Hatred groaned.

“You’re not from here?” Jealousy joked, laughing as he arched his back away from the couch.

“I don’t mean here as in this town,” I explained. “I mean here as in the planet…here.” 

“So, you’re an alien?”

“No, I’m not explaining myself well,” I said, irritated by the corner she had backed me into. “Is there any way you can just accept what I’m telling you and leave it be?”

“Not a chance,” she replied, twisting her head side to side.

“There are things about me that won’t make sense to you and couldn’t even if I showed you.  That much is true. Where I’m from, who we are, it’s not something to advertise.”

“You’re saying if you were to tell me who you are or what you are, you would be in danger or something?”

“Not exactly, but sort of,” I replied.

I didn’t know what to make of my behavior. She had me twisted up in knots. For some reason, I cared about what she thought of me, and I didn’t want to lie to her. These were things I never experienced before and things I hated about humanity.

“You are making absolutely no sense,” she snarled. “Nothing about this night has made any sense. It’s like a weird dream or nightmare that feels so real, but then you wake up to realize it wasn’t.”

“Look, here’s what you need to know,” I said after I gathered my thoughts and landed on a solution. “I’m different from you and everyone else you know. I’m not what you think I am. I’m more than that, a lot more. I have gifts and talents that help me exist, and sometimes I’m able to use them for good. Your situation is a perfect example of that.”

That was the most honest explanation I could give her. I believe she could see that, and her appearance softened. She unfolded her arms, keeping her gaze on me, and took a deep breath.

“At least that was honest,” she said. “Which is a first since I crossed paths with you. I suppose it’s not important how I got here or what happened. What’s important is that I’m okay, and you’re okay. This doesn’t change anything. I’m still bringing you into the station for questioning.”

“In what, genius?” Jealousy joked.

“Maybe she thinks we’re walking,” Hatred said.

“I’m not trying to prevent you from doing your job,” I said. “But as you can see, it’s very cold outside, and you don’t have a car. Now, I intend on cooperating and will. You can ask anything you want. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability.”

“No lies?” she asked.

“None.”

“If I feel at any point that you’re lying to me, I will stop this and call someone to pick us up and take you in,” she advised. “Is that clear?”

I nodded in compliance with a grin. I couldn’t help it, and I could see my minions scowling at me with contempt from the ugly patterned couch.

“Why are you chasing after that woman?” she asked.

Dinlas (Justin Brimhall)
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