We were able to conquer humans because we’re similar enough to anticipate their tactics but different enough to have a physical advantage. While we were a kind ruler, we were rulers and we did look down on earth’s indigenous people.
The similarities between our two races are amazing. Noticing this, the humans are fond of saying ‘we are all more alike than we are different.’ But the differences are what make us Celereans. The humans point to the similarities while we focus on the differences
The differences are indeed little things that don’t really impact our ability to thrive: Six fingers, no body hair, and purple skin to name a few. We are most proud of our extra finger because of its elegance and usefulness in picking up and holding things. Hand models are much sought-after celebrities with six jewel adorned fingers.
My mom’s a very famous hand model so you can imagine her dismay when I was born with only 5 fingers. I would be ostracized as part human, having a lower place in society. She fought to save me with every inch of her being. She fashioned six fingered gloves so I could disguise my lack of the Celerion finger. She debuted them holding hands with me, each of us proudly wearing a pair
Since she wore them, they became wildly popular. Every Celarion wanted a pair of “Miranda” gloves. While the gloves did hide my abnormality, nothing could hide my shame or despair. How could I ever marry a woman? What kind of children would I produce? What would happen when the gloves fell out of fashion?
My shameful secret made me uncomfortable with others. I lived in constant fear people would discover the truth, consider me less than them and shun me. I longed to belong. At that point, I would have even been happy to be accepted by the lowly humans, but my very obvious purple skin made that impossible. I felt hopelessly lost between the two races, not really belonging to either.
Then one day I met someone covered from head to toe, the only thing that peeked out of his clothing was his face and head. After spending some time with him, I recognized the self-consciousness and dared to ask if he had body hair. He blushed deeply, looked down at the ground and nodded his head. Emboldened, I took off my gloves to display my five fingers. We became fast friends.
Over time, we discovered other Celarians with some human characteristics. We met in secret clubhouses where we could socialize and be accepted. We noticed only young people had these abnormalities and wondered about future generations. Would they exhibit even more earthly features so eventually the two races were physically identical? Was there something in the earth’s atmosphere that favored human characteristics?
While we didn’t know the answers, we knew we were not alone and started to accept ourselves. I disposed of my gloves, my friend wore clothing with deep v-necks and others quit hiding their human characteristics. We were so strong in numbers we were accepted by the Celarions. Interestingly enough, the humans were overjoyed to find we looked more like them. Instead of being ostracized by both races, we were embraced. Finding mates and good jobs became a realistic goal. And we fostered unity among all earth’s dwellers simply by being and proving that we are all indeed more alike than we are different.
Using Sci-fy you captured the alienation many of us humans feel in this modern world. At the age of 74, I'm feeling more and more "left out." I enjoyed your story because it expresses the concerns of those who feel ostracized and it has a positive ending.
See which way the winds have blown in the Winds of Time!!
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Author Bruce Alan Humphrey creates a fascinating world where medieval mores and cutting-edge technology converge. Winds of Time tells the gripping tale of Tarl
Pieces of Eight, Part III is a collection of eight novellas to complement the eight in Pieces of Eight, Pieces of Eight, Part II and Pieces of Eight, Part IV.
