Bedelia's Dilemma

In a world where Earth has made First Contact with alien species, ambitious student Bedelia's life is turned upside down when Keiley appears with a shocking revelation: they once shared a profound love, and he died in her arms—twice. Keiley reveals that their tragic future can be altered, but he cannot survive on Earth. They must journey to his new world, a place that is safe but fraught with fear and uncertainty. As Bedelia grapples with her ambitions and the haunting memories of her future with Keiley, she must navigate the complexities of a new world where the Zheien and other species are sick with fear of their unfamiliar surroundings. Together, Bedelia and Keiley must confront their deepest fears and the powerful forces that threaten to tear them apart. Bedelia's Dilemma is a gripping tale of love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of a better future. It explores the complexities of human emotions and the enduring power of hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Will Bedelia and Keiley find a way to change their fate, or are they doomed to repeat the same tragic cycle? Memories kept coming. I felt Keiley's gentle thoughts near me, and clung to them. I love him, as if I lived it. I was on that ship with Nespa for two days. Healers saved him, but I wanted to see Keiley. When we landed, he got sick and we had to get married. But, they carried us to a room alone and—he—died again. The healer said his heart was too weak. How long were we there? Days just ran together. I'm too upset to concentrate! Becky and Tom were there, but they couldn't see me. Before long, they died, too. So it was like losing Becky twice. I lost Keiley twice. Elsie worked at a job I got her in one of Atherton's companies, and she vanished, one day at work. The guilt just—I couldn't handle it—and Wulai. I encouraged him to share one memory and cry with me, and it killed him! Pas gently touched Becky's head across her forehead, then back a bit, and further. Then, he sang her to sleep. She's pale. Tom wept. Keiley held his shoulder with his other hand. "Tom?" Pas helped me sit down and I just felt despair. "Your friend is ne to die." "She d-died in Rainbow." I held Keiley's cold hand against my cheek. "Keiley died twice." My lips trembled. "Nobody's dying, are they?" Elsie shook my shoulder. "You okay, and dey okay! Becky'll be all right, won't she?" Elsie smiled at me. I couldn't. I felt all that weight of all that grief pushing down! "I saw her well. She needs but rest. I gave her anti-virals for COVID. Is misery, but we have comforts. Ne fear for her." "She died of cancer." "Cancer? But she runs! She couldn't run if she had cancer, could she?" "Miss Elsie, she has ne cancer. Ne unwell but for COVID, and her health is well. We have a gift for all of you, to prevent unwells such as COVID." He explained aandats. They're a colony of single-celled animals worn as a second skin. It covers like my T-shirt and a pair of shorts. I nodded. The old healer waved and I felt weight on my tennis shoes. I'd gotten dressed so I could run to the drugstore if Becky wanted something. Elsie still had her bunny slippers. I waved and she had a soft brown dress to her ankles, with geometric patterns. We'd seen one like that at a corner market in a parking lot, and she didn't have enough money to get it. I also got her a big necklace with black beads and black earrings with an African motif. She smiled. "Oh, Bedelia! Thanks! Where'd this come from?" Someone came to show her how to work her clothing former. Becky did the finances. We just paid her and she took care of the bills. Organized, responsible Becky.