picture source: https://pixabay.com/photos/astronaut-space-nasa-earth-planet-6882066/
Seashellu laid in her bed, tears falling sideways down her face to the back of her head. She never wanted to leave Kaden, but the only ship to her home planet for years was leaving today.

Two years back, Seashellu’s father sat her down and told her he had had enough of seeing Seashellu cooped up at home. She was 20, and it was time for her to get out there and see the universe!

But Seashellu had never left Neptune before. Seashellu didn’t wanna leave home, she was scared. So it was Daddy that bought Seashellu her one-way ticket to Mars. Direct travel to Mars from Neptune was rare, so Daddy quickly snatched up the last ticket there for his daughter to get a taste of life on a different planet. But, the next ship back to Neptune from Mars was in another two years, so Seashellu would have to stay on Mars for two years! Though it hurt her Daddy to see how sad she was to leave, he put on an emotional shell as tough as Neptune’s core and forced Seashellu to go.

The first few days on Mars were a culture shock. All the weird foods and people! Seashellu had gone from blue terrain to red, and the foods were quite strange, like red lettuce or onions that tasted sweet like fruit. Luckily Seashellu had a kind upstairs neighbor named Kaden.

One day Seashellu needed a new kitchen light and worked up the courage to ask Kaden to drive her to the nearest supermarket, and Kaden agreed eagerly. Kaden loved talking, and was quite eager to tell Seashellu about all the stores around town, all the places to hang out, and common stuff Martians did. Kaden knew how to play the bass guitar, and he even told Seashellu how to play it a bit. Kaden taught her how to speak Martianeese, the old language, and told her lots about how to cook classic Martian dishes.

“I’m very grateful to have you Kaden, you’ve taught me so much!” said Seashellu one day as they watched the sunset on a huge mountain. “I wish I could teach you something in return, y’know, like as a thank you,”

“Tell me about Neptune,” said Kaden, and boy, could Seshellu go on about Neptune!

Soon he was taking Seashellu out on dates, and the two fell in love. They’d play video games at Kaden’s apartmett, or watch movies at Seashellu’s apartment.

But at some point, Seashellu knew she had to return home. Now, it had been two years the only ship back would be leaving today.

Though Mars was fun, Seashellu missed Neptune dearly. It’s cold, foggy weather and beautiful blue terrain. She missed the short, dark days and all of the fourteen moons in the sky. Seashellu loved Kaden, but she knew she had to go home.

Seashellu wiped the tears off her face and got up. She had already kissed Kaden goodbye yesterday. Today was the day she went home.

As soon as she opened her apartment door, she saw Kaden, a luggage bag and guitar case handle in his hands.

“You’re going back to Neptune today, right?” Kaden asked.

Seashellu burst into tears. “Yes, I’m going to miss you!”

“No need to miss me. I’m coming with you.”

Seashellu looked into Kaden’s eyes.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“But… I can’t teach you anything valuable!”

“You already did. You taught me what love is.”

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