THE ALIEN

Loi looked around his surroundings and took in a deep breath, he did not see any traces of their
alien craft where it has been kept. He knew then that his people had left him behind. The earth was
nothing at all like he imagined intact they were more populated and less sophisticated unlike his
home Hozinoh.
Over the years few humans that have found it had come to like the space especially his home. It
was a far more sophisticated place and it was centuries older than earth.It seemed he would be
staying on earth for a while before they come back for him. He had to find a way to survive.
As he stepped out of the woods he encountered another life entirely. People were moving around
in a haste, nobody was waiting for a greeting or pleasantries, everyone went about their business.
He saw varieties of cars running around on land and looked on in confusion as many of them lined
the streets. He didn't know what to do and how to use them unlike his planet where the cars were
up high where they could not hurt anybody. A guy walked up to him and smiled.
"Nice costume dude."
Luckily back in his planet they had been taught English Language, the most popular language on
earth so he understood what had been said to him. He looked at his clothes and realized that he
would need to blend in so that he would not be noticed because he was sticking out like a sore
thumb and every had started sizing him up.
He finally saw a clothing store where he ducked in and silently took clothes without being seen.
He hated stealing but then he had no choice and no means of payment used on earth. After he left
the store he didn't know what to do and he had no idea on how to survive. After what seemed like
hours of aimless walking, he saw an advertisement board that stated a vacancy for construction
workers. He was directed to a small office which held many people like him in search of a job.
Everyone turned to look at him as he entered, they all had their eyes on his still braided hair, he
scowled at some of them and decided to ignore them.
After several hours of waiting, he got the job. Him and the others that applied for the job were
shown to their work post. Loi used this opportunity to survey his surroundings. The construction
site was quite big and it was bustling with people. Back at his planet he was known as a shy
person and it only worsened since he was not with his people. He got to work and refused to
confront the states of people aimed at his back.
Even after several weeks, he could not blend in with the other workers, he tried for a week and
when his kind gestures proved abortive he withdrew himself and preferred to stay alone. It seemed
even earth was in on the cruel joke that he was an outsider and decided to be more harsh on him.
He sighed and pushed away his food, he had lost his appetite and the food tasted like paper in his
mouth. He looked up and fervently hoped that his people would soon send the rescue ship to him.
"Hi there."
He jumped from the voice.
"Who are you?"
Loi looked at the lady in front of him and shrunk back, he had not expected anyone to talk to him.
She smiled and offered him a handshake.
"My name is Kaida and I work here too though not a laborious work like yours. And I am also an
outsider like you."
His heart thumped very loud in his chest, he could not explain how she knew he was not from
Earth.
"How do you know that?"
She threw back her head and laughed.
"It's so obvious. You have been sitting alone for the past two weeks and you even look misplaced
among us. I understand that, I am also like you, I have been mocked and teased my whole life, I
have never really felt at home here. So, where do you come from?"
He breathed in relief. She didn't know, she probably thought he was from another place on
earth.
"Where I come from is very far from here."
He gazed at the sky and smiled.
"But it is very beautiful."
She nodded.
"So can we be friends? Outsiders together."
He was thrilled at the idea of having a friend. It would be the first time for him that someone was

offering him friendship. Maybe he won't be alone again as he had always been. He nodded.
"Yes, I will."
She offered him her best smile.
"I would like to visit your place too, if you like it so much maybe I can fit there too."
He swallowed and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He didn't want her to know yet but with time
he could tell her, she probably will be thrilled.
"Okay but you must know it is nothing like you know, it is a totally different place."
She smiled.
"I'm game. Nothing scares me nor surprises me anymore."
He nodded.
"Alright prepare to be dumbfounded. Don't say I didn't tell you."
She grinned.
"Outsiders together.
He smiled.
" Outsiders together. "
THE END
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By: Empress Jin (Co- author of Gingsart blog)