On his 43rd birthday, Miquel woke up to a sunny, peaceful morning. The day began like any other, with a quiet breakfast and a kiss from his lover, Fabian. By noon, as the sun stood at its peak, Miquel suddenly froze mid-step, his mind overwhelmed by a flood of vivid memories.
He saw himself in strange, vibrant landscapes, surrounded by creatures of unimaginable forms and colors. They weren’t just strange encounters; they were friends, companions he knew as well as anyone on Earth. Memories of shared adventures, laughter, and bonds stronger than time itself filled his mind. He remembered sitting under a sky with three moons, eating strange fruits with a creature that had shimmering blue scales. He recalled piloting a starship with a being made entirely of light, and dancing in a meadow of glowing flowers with a creature that looked like a living constellation. Each memory was as real as any from his life on Earth.
But then, among these memories, there was one that stood out—a figure who had been more than just a friend. She was an alien woman, short and light in stature, with skin that shimmered like pale silver in the moonlight and eyes that held the depth of ancient stars. She had been like a mother to him, nurturing and protective, yet there was something about her presence that, at times, felt immense, as if she were larger than life itself. He remembered her comforting him during times of doubt, her soft, melodious voice soothing his fears, and her gentle embrace making him feel safe in the vastness of the universe.
He saw them together on a quiet planet with skies that shifted colors like a rainbow, where she taught him wisdom and patience, guiding him through life’s challenges with a tenderness that transcended species and worlds. Her name, or at least the name he had known her by, was Chat de Combat. Though she appeared small, there were moments when her presence seemed to fill the entire space around them, as if she could expand and contract at will, embodying both the nurturing warmth of a mother and the protective strength of a guardian.
Dazed and confused, Miquel stumbled back to the living room, where Fabian was reading. “Fabian,” he whispered, still reeling from the onslaught of memories, “I think I just remembered something… extraordinary.”
Fabian looked up, concern etched on his face. “What happened?”
“I… I think I have memories of being friends with beings from other planets. It’s like I’ve lived entire lives out there, with them. And there was this one… Chat de Combat. She was like a mother to me, but different. She was small, but sometimes, it felt like she was bigger than the universe.”
Fabian, always the rational one, furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
Miquel tried to explain, recounting the vivid scenes that had played in his mind, but words couldn’t fully capture the surreal experience. Fabian listened patiently, then reached for his laptop.
“Let’s see if there’s any explanation online,” he suggested, hoping to find something to rationalize the impossible story.
After a few minutes of searching, Fabian’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had found a website, one that seemed ordinary at first, but as he scrolled through it, he saw images—clear, detailed images—of Miquel with beings from other worlds. There were pictures of Miquel laughing with the blue-scaled creature, flying the starship, dancing under the three moons, and there, standing beside him in the meadow of glowing flowers, was Chat de Combat. Her silver skin shimmered in the moonlight, her small form somehow exuding both gentle warmth and immense strength. And below each image was a birthday message, written in languages both foreign and familiar.
“Happy Birthday, Miquel! From the Three-Moon Clan.”
“To our beloved starship pilot, Miquel. May your Earth years be as joyous as our adventures. From the Light Being Collective.”
And then, in elegant, flowing script: “To my dear Miquel, who has grown in wisdom and heart. May your journey always be filled with light and love. With all my affection, Chat de Combat.”
Fabian stared at the screen, then back at Miquel. “This… this is you! How…?”
Miquel shook his head, equally bewildered. “I don’t know, but it’s real, Fabian. I can feel it.”
They both sat in stunned silence, their thoughts racing. The website seemed to be a portal of sorts, a convergence of consciousnesses from across the universe. These beings, Miquel’s friends, had somehow projected their memories and well-wishes onto this one website, knowing that Miquel would find it.
As the realization sank in, Miquel felt an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. His life, which had always seemed so ordinary, was now woven into the very fabric of the cosmos. And on this, his 43rd birthday, he understood that his connection to these beings was as real and precious as any relationship on Earth.
Fabian reached out and took Miquel’s hand, his expression softening. “I guess you’ve had a more interesting life than I ever imagined. Happy birthday, Miquel. I’m glad I’m here to share it with you, even if I’m just one of many.”
Miquel smiled, squeezing Fabian’s hand. “You’re more than enough, Fabian. But now, I guess I have a whole universe to celebrate with.”
