I Couldn't Tell You

Beulah confronts her boyfriend. 300 words

I Couldn't Tell You

“Where were you last night?”

Larry looked at Beulah, blinking rapidly.

“As far as I know, I was home in bed.”

“I knocked on your door about midnight. You didn’t answer. I know you are a light sleeper. The fact you blinked like you just did is a sure sign you’re lying to me. Who is she? Don’t lie!”

Larry sat down like he’d just lost strength in his legs and stared at his hands that were between his knees.

“The truth is I don’t know!” he finally said without looking at her.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I swear I did go to bed, but I know I didn’t stay there,”

“You might as well tell me the whole story,” his girlfriend said softly.

“I woke up and I was someplace else. It was misty and shiny like metallic. These creatures came out of the mist, talking some language I didn’t know. They were gray with huge dark eyes that had no whites....”

“I want to look you over, Larry. I must see if I’m right.”

Beulah pulled a strong magnifying light out of a side table.

“Just relax, this shouldn’t take long.”

“Just as I thought, they experimented on you. Just a second, I’ll remove the implant.”

“What implant?” Larry asked, twisting and turning to try and see it.

“This one. It’s like the one I had.”

She showed him the tiny cylinder she’d taken from the back of his neck.

“You had one too?”

“It might be best if we didn’t see each other anymore,” Beulah said regretfully.

“What? But we’re going to get married,” Larry protested.

“We were, but now that they’ve found out about you, they’ll be watching us!”

“Why?”

“Don’t you get it? We are specimens to study now!”