A Half-Built Garden

by Ruthanna Emrys

“Yes. That’s how we learn. You haven’t heard our songs yet, but you are far advanced and we didn’t dare wait. It’s reassuring to know you’re civilized like us.”

i get super creepy vibes from them from this statement lol

We can help you escape this world.” I pulled Dori close. “Escape it? Why?”

uh, we're good thanks.

“Your world is pushing the edge of your species’ temperature range. Your seas are scarred by barren patches. Your atmosphere is out of balance. Have you not noticed?”

yea, noticing and doing something about it is two different things

“Worlds aren’t meant to support technological species. They’re birthing burrows, not warrens.”

“You do bring your children everywhere.” “Certainly to something this important. Why didn’t you bring them? Are they ill? Or did we misunderstand?” Cytosine rocked harder.

Most trans men never go through the wrong puberty these days, and they weren’t used to dealing with it in the maternity ward.

“And the Native Americans and First Nations and Australian aboriginals, did any of them get to keep their land by acting white? They converted, changed how they dressed, even changed how they treated gender. Did we ever get anywhere by acting more Christian, or by trying to fit into the boxes they built for us? We survive by being stubborn about who we are, whatever else happens.”

Eema was swearing at a half-finished ukulele. She swore more when she saw it was almost sundown.

I'm swearing too...