Shape of Memories

by Kristofor Hellmeister

"I want a divorce," Tyler said evenly. The words fell from his lips like gravity. Marla's lips trembled as they dragged her down. "I just don't know if I can do this anymore, Marla," Tyler said as he started to lay out his reasons. "Things have changed between us, and I don't think it's healthy for us to pretend much longer. It's not good for you or me," Tyler provided. Marla didn't respond. Tyler could see the emotions on her face transition from pain and confusion to anger and disappointment. "So, you're just going to…leave? Run away?" Marla asked bitterly. Pathetic coward. His dad's words punched Tyler in the gut,

The MASS was a conglomerate of dozens of countries that worked together to map out and colonize distant planets. The Mayflower’s job was to research and survey undiscovered celestial bodies.

Tyler wanted to ignore all the rules, all the trappings, and become ensnared in this woman with reckless abandon.

The Directive was so entranced in its productivity that it did not register another entity's presence. If it were to have noticed, the A.I. would only see a black, oozing mass slithering across the floor.

For the Directive, a quick scan turned up a series of chemicals—dopamine, epinephrine, serotonin, and a handful of foreign contaminants which were not in the A.I.'s database. Oddly curious, the Directive followed the trail as it traversed the empty halls of the vessel.

Silhouetted in the light, the shape took on human form. But, there was something distinctly wrong with its composition. The edges of the person flowed and oozed as if they were incomplete. From behind, the being looked like it was bubbling and dripping—like melting snow. Still, the intruder stared up at the screen as Alpha Grisham's words echoed throughout the room.

As her terror mounted, the monstrosity stepped forward and licked its lips. “Hello, Elizabeth,” it gurgled. Elizabeth screamed.

"You're really him, aren't you? You're Miles." "Yes and no." "Yes and no?" Miles nodded. "Then, what are you?" "I'm a shape." "The shape of what?" "Memories." "Memories?" "You know, if you spend this whole conversation repeating exactly what I say, we won't get very far, Ty," Miles said sarcastically. "Alright, alright. I'm just flabbergasted."

"Listen. I still don't know if you're real, but I need to get moving. I got lost from my vessel, but it's landed close by, and my people are looking for me as we speak," he lied. "Nah. Your spaceship crashed up there," the Miles said as he pointed behind Tyler. Tyler's ears burned, but he saw no amount of betrayal in the boy’s eyes.

“You don’t apologize or give forgiveness because a person deserves it, son. You do it for yourself. If you hold onto all that hate and bitterness, it’ll turn you ugly on the inside,” she explained as her hands continued to work. “And you don’t heal.”