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Pearl walks into her room. The towering waterfalls move perfectly to her footsteps. Once she’s far enough from the door for it to close, she collapses.
Today is- and forever will be- the worst day of Pearl’s life.
Rose is going to die.
She wants to shatter just thinking about it.
Rose. Her leader, her commander, her friend. She could picture every aspect of Rose. Her flowing pink hair, her graceful steps, the light in her eyes as she said her name; “Pearl.” Just her saying that name brings red to her cheeks. Rose looked at her like she could do anything. Pearl remembered every detail about her. Every single one.
She never wanted to think about anything else. Rose was everything. But now, she’d be nothing.
That ‘something’ she wanted, Rose already found. With Greg.
If Pearl had a digestive system, she would throw up at the name.
She only knew of that system because of him. Greg had once gotten inebriated from earth substances and vomited on the beach. The ocean had washed it away. Rose was worried for days. Past romantic interests of hers had died from illness. Pearl wanted to strangle Greg for leaving Rose in that state of worry.
Somehow, that vomit in the ocean, that worry, that is what Rose wanted.
That humanity.
Pearl knew no one could hear her in her room. That’s why she had no problem crying.
She wipes her eyes, lost in thought.
What was so great about humanity, anyway?
Those fragile bodies made of meat. One spear in the chest takes them out forever. That’s where all of their vital organs reside!
They need constant care. Food, water, medicine, everything. The wrong temperature kills them, too.
Rose wanted that. She’s always been a caring gem. Maybe that’s why she wanted to continue Greg’s genetic code.
Or maybe it’s just because he’s a human who didn’t die within the first few months of knowing Rose.
Pearl can’t help but sigh.
Greg won.
The humans won.
And now Pearl’s losing the main gem she cares about.
Maybe…
“Maybe if I was human…” She wonders aloud.
What if Pearl and Rose met on earth?
What if Pearl was human?
Would Rose want her then?
Is that what it would take?
Pearl thinks silently, tears falling down her face.
What would that look like?
Her gem responds automatically. An unwanted fantasy made real.
She looks up and sees herself.
She sees Human Pearl.
Her skin is pale, yet tan. A nice beige, different than the white she is now. At least, she assumes so. Her holograms are blue.
Her hair covers up where her gem would be. Her clothes are normal and dull. They don’t shine like her form does. They don’t need to.
Rose walks up to her with a smile on her face. Her expression is one Pearl has never seen directed at her. One Pearl has longed for.
Rose looks at Human Pearl like she looks at Greg.
A look she’ll never receive.
A life she’ll never live.
Human Pearl looks at Rose like the stars are in her eyes.
They are.
They always will be.
In that universe, at least.
But in the real world, Rose will die.
Pearl bites her lip.
“I don’t need to see this.” She throws out at no one. “This will never happen!”
Human Pearl turns to her. “It’s okay.”
She smiles as she speaks. She has no idea what will happen. It won’t happen to her.
Almost uncontrollably, Pearl’s hand reaches up to her counterpart’s.
Human Pearl gives her a soft smile before touching her hand.
The vision disappears.
Pearl grips at her chest.
That vision never happened.
Rose will never look at her like that.
Soon enough, she won’t look at her at all.