Home Sweet Home

A "Captured by Aliens" story

By Thelma Mary Caroline

We did get out.  No one really knew how.  They just loaded us all up in a spaceship.

We thought maybe there was some disagreement about using humans to power their city.  They'd realized it's immoral.  That even lowly humans have rights.

I disagreed.  That wasn't not what happened.  I figured that they'd found some new, better race.  Better at digging, better at creating energy.  A race that consumed less.  That wasn't motived by money.

I wanted to say that.  But I would't.  I never would if I could help it.

Most of us had no money, since we left so suddenly.  I was no exception.

Not so smart after all.

Most of us would have to settle into some kind of a normal life again.  Office jobs, money problems, rent and family.

Not me.  I didn't want to reappear after years of being away.

None of us would ever be able to say what had happened.  Even if we did, they'd call us crazy.

But what other choice did we have?  Most of us didn't know that going home would be Hell.  That we wouldn't readapt.  Life would have no meaning.

I knew.  It would be like shell shock after a war.

Me?  I wandered, finding jobs were I could.

For six months, I pretended to be a fisher in Canda.  I loved every moment of it.

Sometimes I see their faces.  Late at night, while I'm asleep.

I wish I could go back.

I pray this is a dream.

I want so much to wake up and find I have to get up and dig.

I want to go home.