Eleven

"You don't trust me at all, do you? You know I’ll never see Dad again, but just take me to him once, Joseph." She was crying and pleading. Joseph's heart ached deeply. He wanted to sweep her away, to take all her pain from her. But in that moment, even time’s captive was at the mercy of time itself. He steeled himself, burying his emotions.

"It’s not possible right now. It’s for both your sake and mine."

"It’s only for your sake, Joseph." She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

"You people may have hearts, but you're not human. You’re an alien and always will be. Nature can be controlled, but it can't be changed." She was hiccuping as she spoke, while he stood a distance away, seemingly calm, arms crossed over his chest. He knew Elsa’s words would haunt him for the rest of his life.

"This heart of yours has only robbed you of your long life and your world. It hasn’t given you anything in return. You still don’t feel emotions. You can neither love nor feel anyone’s love." She was pouring out her anger.

"And I ... I never tried to change my nature, so why was I punished? I have nothing left ... neither my world nor my relationships, not even you..." She spoke without thinking, but what use was there in expecting understanding from an alien? If he could have understood, he would’ve done so long ago.

"I will come to see you." For the first time, he broke his silence.

"I don’t need you." She turned away. Her tears had dried, replaced by anger—at herself, at her love, at Joseph and the laws of his planet. Joseph watched her quietly. She had no idea if he was still there or had already left, nor did she care. He was about to leave her life for good, what did it matter if he left now?

She wanted to collapse, to bury her face in her knees and cry, but suddenly a strange calm swept over her. She realized he was taking control of her mind. She turned to him helplessly.

"Joseph?" Her voice was filled with desperation, her heart begging to mourn her losses. He ignored her plea and smiled, a smile so provocatively charming that her lips curled into a smile in return. It was like sunshine breaking through the strange rain. Joseph observed her with interest. Her smile wasn’t forced; it was the result of the gentle euphoria his power, his Messiah, had instilled in her. Her mind was drawn to him, unable to think of anything else. She was becoming as lifeless as stone.

Joseph paused her in time, right before him, close enough to touch, but he kept his hands down. For the first time, tears gathered in his deep, whirlpool-like eyes as he gazed at her without blinking. (What the heart does... Elsa used to ask that.)

The moisture in his eyes only made their color more vivid, yet no artist on Earth could capture such a hue, let alone name it. Had they met Joseph, they might have tried.

After a while, Joseph caught a tear on his little finger and flicked it toward Elsa. The drop landed in her eye and was absorbed. She remained motionless, a statue. Joseph wiped another tear from his eye and placed it in her other eye, smiling with sadness in his expression. It was a painful smile, as if everything was being taken from him, not her.

"I hate those tears of yours; they weaken my heart. Now, one drop of my tears is enough to dry yours. You won’t be able to cry anymore, even if you want to. I’m sorry, but it had to be done. For some reason, I feel that even when we’re apart, you’ll still have control over this heart. But I promise it won’t hurt your eyes." He stepped back and pulled the curtains open. The light touched her, illuminating Elsa’s presence.

"Your world is as beautiful as you." He returned to her side.

"You didn’t deserve any of this. It’s my fault. I deserve the punishment." He knelt before her, bowing his head, a silent admission of defeat. Elsa, frozen in place, didn’t realize that he had finally surrendered to love—her alien had bowed before the heart.

He might not have understood compassion, but he felt love in all its intensity. And for how long? He didn’t even care to shout it out for the world to know—love announces itself quietly. The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a deep sadness.

"Trust me, you’ll be happier away from me." Despite his words, his voice trembled as though he were about to cry.

He took a breath and pulled something from a drawer. A watch-like device, with a lid hiding its strange numbers. He fastened it around Elsa’s wrist, then held her hand so that the watch disappeared into her skin.

"I’ll always be with you." The sadness in his eyes seemed to cast a mourning shadow over the room.

"I’ll miss you, Anna." After staring at her for a long time, he whispered hoarsely. His eyes welled up again, tears soaking into the carpet. If a cup had been placed beneath his face, it would’ve overflowed.

"If this heart had only taken my long life, you wouldn’t see me this way. Even if I lost my world, I would still have yours. But this heart gave you to me, and then it took you away. Should I bring it back? It’s been cruel to you, but it hasn’t been kind to me either. If I hadn’t fallen in love with you, I would have freed you today. But you’re dearer to me than even yourself. Have I rebelled against my planet for you? You’ll get everything—your father, your friends, your world ... and I’ll have nothing. No world, no people, not even you. And I accept that, along with my punishment. I should’ve never interfered with nature; maybe then I wouldn’t be empty-handed today. But none of this is your fault. Don’t worry, Joseph won’t let any harm come to his Elsa." As the fog of tears clouded his vision again, he fell silent.