My abduction

I woke up in the desert. I was wearing my clothes, but they were put on oddly, pockets inside out and mismatched buttons. That’s when I realized it wasn’t a dream

I should’ve been more nervous, when I saw the object floating above me, I just assumed it was a drone. It’s 2026. There’s all sorts of stuff flying through the sky these days.

I didn’t even have the common sense to run. I just continued looking at my phone as I walked to the mailbox. Next thing you know I’m being beamed up. This experience has led me to believe that some of the pop culture space shows I’ve seen are possibly based in reality. When you get abducted, you can’t exactly tell anybody so turning it into a show and making a little money might be your best way to deal with the horrors.

Although it wasn’t exactly traumatic, I would say at times it was quite lovely. As soon as I entered the ship, I got the most spectacular silver jumpsuit that felt like it was made out of a second skin with some super comfy heels that matched and some sick sunglasses that made meta  glasses look like a child’s toy. I also got to sit down and eat a solo dinner. I don’t even know how I knew it was food. It didn’t look like any food that I’ve seen or smelled before but my mouth was watering as soon as I caught the scent. I sat at the little table by myself and tried many odd shaped delicacies. I’d love to describe the taste, but I don’t even know how to compare it to anything from earth. I was satisfied, but not overly full. I could feel the energy coursing through my body as I processed the nutrition,  it was almost like they created the perfect supplement for humans. Imagine what we would be capable of if our food wasn’t poison garbage?

Anyways, I should’ve got the recipe because that alone could’ve been life-changing but once again I wasn’t really using any critical thinking at this point. I was sort of in shock but pretty calm. It seemed like the oxygen on the ship was some sort of oxygen plus. My breathing was so steady. I felt alert, but not startled. I felt I was in the optimal habitat for my organs to work. At this point, I realized I’m probably being watched. I did feel slightly self-conscious and fear began to creep in for the first time. I was so distracted with all of the new shiny things that I didn’t realize that I’m completely vulnerable.

Just then the wall opened up I guess and I met my first alien. He wasn’t human, but he also wasn’t a freak with a big head and giant eyes like I was expecting. He was a creature of good proportions, actually he could probably be described as handsome. His eyes were kind although they were in-human. Almost like a cute cartoon. A little bit too big for his face, but not bulging or gross. His skin was pale and of an odd tint. But it was so even that it was not unpleasing. He was quite tall and broad although the shape of him was different from an earth man. I know I’m not describing this very well, but this was such a foreign experience and I could only sum my description up by saying everything felt improved. The alien man did not say a word to me, although it almost seemed like he could read my thoughts. I became slightly embarrassed at the idea that he might know that I was finding him attractive, so I decided to completely clear my mind….Turns out that’s not possible especially when you’re in a stressful situation, such as this. I just decided to think my thoughts and let him judge me as he will.

I decided to check out his space suit which fit him well. I wonder if they would let me keep mine? It would make a fantastic Halloween costume. As my mind wandered off, I didn’t really notice that another spaceman had joined us. I turned to look at him and he was slightly less pleasing than the other. I was surprised to find that each space person had their own unique look such as humans do. He had a floating tray carrying a variety of odd looking devices. I decided this is where they probably start poking and probing me and using me as a science experiment. I figured with all of this technology, they probably have some great painkillers so I should try to relax and get through the experience.

The handsome spaceman grabbed a few things off the table. He turned to me and I realized that he was smoking what could be described as an LED cigarette but smelt and looked quite different. He exhaled some techno coloured smoke and handed me the cigarette. He gestured it to my mouth and I took a puff. Wow. I don’t know what I smoked, but it was euphoric. I was suddenly floating above my body. I had the knowledge of the past and the future. I’ve never felt so clear and so stoned at the same time. I suddenly knew my purpose. It was like I had all the wisdom of the world at my fingertips and knew exactly how to use it. My mind raced for what felt like hours, but I think it was only a few moments that passed. Suddenly, I felt myself returned to my body. And I was exhausted.

The handsome space man nodded to me  and lead me to a room where I laid in a pod and instantly dazed into a dreamless sleep. When I woke up, I had no concept of how much time had passed. I felt completely rested as though I woke up in a body that was 10 years younger. I had a distant memory of my epiphany from the space weed, but unfortunately, most of the knowledge was forgotten. How frustrating it is to know all of the world secrets but then not remember them. If I can get my hands on one of those cigarettes, I’m definitely going to write some things down next time.

The two space men were back. And they were leading me towards the next room, which housed a water pool of sorts, although the water didn’t look quite right it almost looked like a swirling galaxy of liquid. I removed my spacesuit and stepped inside. The sensation of the water was  like stepping into hot gel. It clung to my skin and made it sparkle. My muscles relaxed, and every joint felt loose. I let out a sigh from the relief. I looked towards the space men, they seemed as though they were taking notes in their mind. I was sure they were recording me somehow, although they didn’t have traditional surveillance equipment that could be detected. I probably should’ve been more modest and shy, but something about this weird place made me feel so at home. I didn’t have my normal feelings and reactions. I almost felt like an animal in the wild operating from evolution and intuition. All of my conditioning was gone. I started to wonder if this is how we are supposed to feel. Somehow these alien creatures have completely rewired me with their weird technology and clean air. I felt the pollution of earth washing away from my body, and my senses were becoming turned up. I tipped my head under the water and when I raised my hair, it felt thicker and softer, and all of the synthetic dye was removed. I haven’t seen my real hair colour since I was a child. I had forgotten all of the natural highlights and depth. The fine lines on my skin disappeared as I lifted my body out of the water. Even a few scars seem to be missing. What is the strange healing liquid that I just bathed in? I was so curious to know what other sorts of mysterious inventions the ship held. 

 They handed me a sort of robe. I guess I could compare it to raw silk. It instantly absorbed the moisture from my skin, but it almost felt as though I was wearing nothing. We walked into another room. I was left alone to get back into my space suit and some weird sort of running shoes that felt as though they have been moulded from my feet. As I stared at my reflection in silence, I barely recognize myself. My skin was glowing, and the circles under my eyes were gone. My hair looks so healthy and my skin looked like a younger version of myself but also like a version I’ve never seen before. My eyes were clear and they had a sparkle in them.

Once I  was dressed another portal opened, and I walked through the door. I could make out some strange sort of gym equipment, and it look like a ninja obstacle course. A space woman appeared or at least I’m assuming she was a woman because she was smaller and more slender than the other aliens I had met. Her features were a little more dainty, and she had a prettiness to her that I couldn’t quite place my finger on. She guided me over to the obstacle course then I  felt like she was downloading information in my brain. Suddenly, I knew how to use all of this new technology, and I began running and jumping almost in a flow state as though  I was doing some sort of gymnastics routine. Although I’ve never exercised in this way, it came so natural. My body knew exactly how to react to every movement. I felt my muscles tightening and growing. By the time I was done I swear I was twice as fast as when I began.

I was given a silver cannister to drink from which seemed to completely rehydrate my body. Once again I could feel it travelling through my veins into each cell. This place was starting to feel like an amazing wellness retreat from some sort of future world. Next, I was moved to yet another room and I was taken to sit in what look like a sleek reclining chair. As I laid down the chair formed around my body and it seemed to be reading my every breath and movement. I was so comfortable. I relaxed into the chair with no concept of time or space.  I started to wonder what other humans might be having a similar experience as on the ship or maybe even other ships. I want answers about these strange people, curious to know what they wanted and where they came from. This was nothing like I could have imagined. I felt healed. I felt alert. I felt strong and healthy. I had no more ailments. I didn’t even know if I had the ability to feel depression or stress. Unfortunately, that was the moment I woke up in the desert back on earth. 

Looking back at the experience it should’ve been the most amazing time of my life. It left me so utterly changed. Now on earth, all I could feel was the decay. Everything was a dull comparison next to the shiny experience of my abduction. I was returned to earth a better version of myself, but had nobody to relate with. I looked different. I thought different. I even felt different. And after I settled back into my normal home, I came to the realization that I no longer belonged on this planet. I had no place and nothing to satisfy me. My abduction left me completely empty and longing to return to that strange ship that now felt more like home than the planet I was born on. So I guess that is the true trauma of being abducted. You don’t get probed and tortured or even humiliated. You don’t come back a raving lunatic. You come back wandering & wise and knowing all the potential of the human race and every way that we have failed to celebrate the miracle of life. But maybe I still have a bigger purpose here. So everyday I watch the sky and wait for a sign from above