Nine

At two in the morning, she collapsed onto the bed, completely exhausted. Joseph stood in front of the mirror, scrutinizing his reflection.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, blinking sleepily at him, half-awake.

“Do I look human enough?” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

“Yes, of course. Why?” she replied, puzzled.

“Everyone was staring at me today, especially the girls… I was worried they might have suspected something.”

Elsa chuckled softly, recalling their earlier encounter. “That’s just because you’re ridiculously handsome, Joseph. Girls will always stare.”

His expression remained serious. “Is that why you look at me too?”

“When do I ever stare at you?” she teased, trying to deflect, but Joseph’s intense gaze caught her off guard.

“Let me check your heart rate,” she said, changing the subject quickly.

“Joseph, the stethoscope…” she began, but he shook his head.

“No, check it like this,” he insisted, guiding her hand to his chest. She pressed her palm against him and glanced at her watch. His heartbeat was steady, unlike the faster rhythm common on his planet. His body had adapted to Earth, his heart becoming more like a human’s.

They spent their days exploring the city and would return to the flat at night. This wasn't her city—Joseph had deliberately taken her elsewhere. Under his subtle control, Elsa’s thoughts never wandered to her father or friends. He had quietly made it impossible for her to think about them, making her realize how easy life would be if humans could just control their thoughts like aliens could.

She didn’t know when he would leave or when he'd return, but something had shifted during their last meeting. He seemed distant, listening to her with a quiet intensity she couldn’t quite place.

“I can love, right?” he had asked her out of nowhere, his voice unusually hesitant.

“Of course,” she had replied, unsure why he was even questioning it.

“But I shouldn't fall in love on Earth. I should love someone from my world, right?”

“Wait… are there no girls on your planet, Joseph?”

“No, there aren’t.”

“Then who would you love?” she teased. “Just make sure love doesn’t reach your heart.”

Joseph’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, he looked almost haunted. “My heart doesn't quite work the way yours does,” he muttered, looking at her as though something had finally clicked into place.

“What’s wrong?” Elsa asked, sensing something deeper.

“Nothing,” he replied, though it was clear something was bothering him.

“Is your heart racing?” she asked, placing her hand on his chest again. He flinched away from her touch, confirming her suspicion.

“Yes,” he admitted quietly.

“Good,” she replied, her hand returning to his chest, feeling the strange, almost human rhythm beneath her palm.

After a moment of silence, Joseph spoke again. “Have you ever loved someone before?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Yes.”

“Who?” he asked, his voice low, almost tentative.

“My dad and… my best friend,” she replied softly.

“How does it feel? Loving someone?” Joseph’s curiosity was palpable, as though he was searching for answers he couldn’t quite grasp.

“When I’m with them, I feel happy. It's the joy of being with people who care for you.”

“Always?”

“Most of the time, yes. Even when you’re angry with them, the love doesn’t fade. It's always there. Just their presence makes you feel safe.”

Joseph’s expression grew more intense. “Then what is this feeling I have? I can’t breathe. I feel like something’s squeezing my heart. It’s the first time I’ve felt any kind of pain… and only in my heart.”

Elsa blinked in surprise. “Maybe your body is rejecting the heart.”

“No,” he replied firmly. “I’ve watched myself closely. These are feelings—emotions—trapped in my heart. I thought it might be love, but you said love brings peace. So what is this?”

He turned toward her, his eyes searching for answers. “How do you feel right now?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“It’s like my heart is being torn apart. I can’t stand it.”

“Maybe it’s love,” she suggested, though doubt crept into her voice. “But the pain you’re describing doesn’t sound like the love I know.”

He sighed. “I connected your heart to mine, just like I did with our minds,” he confessed, watching her reaction closely.

“What? Joseph, I told you not to do that!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration.

“I know, I know. And now I’m paying the price. So what’s the cure?”

“You shouldn’t steal someone’s feelings,” she scolded, though a small smile played at the corners of her lips. He looked so lost, so uncharacteristically helpless.

“Seriously, Elsa. What’s the cure? I can’t live like this,” he pleaded, his desperation evident.

Elsa laughed softly despite herself. “You always used to tease us Earthlings for being weak. But here you are, struggling with a little heartache. We might not be able to handle the physical pain as you do, but emotional pain? That’s our specialty. You aliens can’t handle it. So don’t call us weak again.”

Joseph made a face. “Okay, I get it. But seriously, help me out here.”

Still smiling, Elsa placed a hand over her heart, feeling the weight of her own emotions. “You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?” she asked, her tone soft but certain.

He hesitated for a moment. “Yeah… I’ve learned everything there is to know about love, but I didn’t tell you. My heart is filled with nothing but love now. It’s overwhelming.”

Her eyes softened. “Our hearts do more than just feel love, Joseph. But since your body doesn’t really need a heart, all it can do is feel. You’re experiencing something you weren’t built for.”

He furrowed his brow, confused. “So, what do I do?”

“You have to delete the feelings you copied from me. That’s the only way to stop the pain,” she said gently.

“And there’s no other solution?” he asked, sounding almost defeated.

“Nope. Sorry,” Elsa replied with a small shrug. Joseph sighed, resigned.

“Fine. I’ll delete them. But don’t think I’ll forget about this love business so easily.”