I park my craft below in the bay below the deck just like everyone else, but unlike everyone else, I am the one who steps out of the drivers hold and gets stared at. If you are at this party you have enough money to have someone else pilot your ship. I prefer to drive myself, and tonight I needed a way out. It mustn’t help that I am not usually found at one of these elaborate parties – but Zahli insisted I be here as support.

When I finally make it past security and into the main hall it isn’t difficult to see that someone has put in a lot of effort to replicate a period dance hall. The cream wallpaper isn’t much to be desired, but for anyone not from this is a minor oversight. The immense glass ceiling is the main feature, and the proof that this isn’t the old earth at all. The galaxies and space dust beyond stretch on as far as the eye can see.

I am unsurprised to find Zahli over at the refreshments table, she once told me that ‘a party without a good drink isn’t a party at all’. She turns back around to see me and the most beautiful smile lights up her face. Her lipstick matches the deep red of her dress, and the dark curls of her hair brush the top of her shoulders as she turns; as always, Zahli looks gorgeous.

While we talk I let my gaze wander. The room is filled mostly with people I’ve never met before, but that doesn’t bother me. I am here for Zahli.

“Oh Aine, can’t you relax?”

Zahli’s warm voice brings me back from my thoughts. “I am relaxed.” I lie.

“You’re looking for someone…” She frowns, following my gaze with her own.

“I’m scouting out the quality of possible partners for you.” I choose my words carefully, Zahli knows me well.

Zahli sighs but it is almost too quiet to notice. “My dad put you up to this didn’t he?”

“Sure did,” I smile apologetically.

“Oh.”

“I have a different plan, though, if you’ll come with me.” I continue anyway. Offering Zahli a wide smile. She is watching me intensely, but doesn’t reply, so I speak again. “There are plenty of handsome men who have noticed you.” That captures her attention, but not in the way I think it will.

“Don’t lie to me!” She gasps dramatically. “They’re all looking at you.”

I roll my eyes. Zahli must be wrong; she is the woman they are here for after all. “Slander,” I joke.

Zahli laughs with me, but only half-heartedly. She doesn’t believe me. I take another drink then put down my glass. “Dance with me.”

Zahli replies with a nervous sounding yes and so I gently take her hand and lead her to the centre of the dance floor. She dances beautifully, I’m honestly not suure what she was nervous about.

I pull Zahli in closer. “I thought it would be easier to talk like this. When you dance with someone you make your own world. No one will hear us talk here.”

“I see.” She smiles.

“Zahli,” I start, but then manage to stumble over my own feet. Zahli catches me.

“Yes?” She encourages.

“I want to ask you to run away with me.”

Zahli’s eyes widen. “When?”

“Tonight, I brought my own space-craft, we can leave right now if you want to.” I wait, watching her reaction.

“Is that you asking me?” Zahli gives me a wide smile, and even then I know that she’ll say yes.

“Is that you saying yes?” I ask anyway, letting my words echo hers.

“If you’re asking, then yes, more than anything else in the world, yes!”

“In that case,” I pull her closer so I can brush a kiss to her cheek, “I am asking.”

I take her hand again as the song finishes and we run from the crowded dance hall, to a much brighter future than before

Aine is pronounced ‘AWN-ya’
Lakree is pronounced ‘LACK-ree
Zahli is pronounced ‘ZAHL-ee’

This was written for the 2020 Hindsight project with the May prompt to re-write January’s 1000 word piece from a different point of view. I chose to keep this piece in first person but write it from Aine’s perspective instead.

You can find January’s piece here!

This was a lot of fun to rewrite from, Aine’s perspective. Their voice and intentions are quite different so it was a great writing exercise.

The dress I’m wearing is far too tight in all the wrong places. I’m short and broad, with very little waist. This does not do well in ladies’ high fashion these days. You would have thought that the earth colonies wouldn’t have reverted back to the clothing of the 1800’s yet here we are.

The hall has been fitted out to mirror that of an old earth period dance hall. The pale wallpaper stretches neatly to the ceiling from which hangs a delicate chandelier. It would be almost believable, if it weren’t for the glass ceiling which is stretched out above us. A glass ceiling looking out into space. The darkness beyond was spotted with stars and distant planets, all surrounded by swirling galaxies of planets, rubble, and space dust.

I am always happy to be at a party, especially one with an intergalactic guest list such as this. There is just one problem. As the eldest daughter of the leader of this galaxy sector, I am expected to marry outside of our sector to a wealthy suitor et cetera, et cetera, soon too. Soon being tonight, but that is the last thing on my to do list (if it is there at all). The need for young women to marry well, or to marry at all is archaic. Quite literally.

I consider running (always a suitable option), but I haven’t even had a drink yet, or a dance. That’s when I spot Aine through the crowd and all thoughts of running disappear instantly.

Aine looks stunning, as usual. Their midnight blue suit looks like it has been sewn from the fabric of space itself, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. The Lakree have incredible talents
when it comes to being a seamstress. I notice the swirling galaxy over their heart is the same deep purple of their eyes. Clever, I can’t help but think.

My own dress is a deep red. No stars or galaxies here, but the trimming does shimmer. Thanks to Aine, of course. They sewed the trimming on for me. I’d been rifling through their box of offcuts and took a fancy to the pearly trim. It is much too extravagant, even for the daughter of a sector leader, but Aine insisted.

We stand off to the side of the party, near the refreshments table. The table itself runs along one side of the grand ball room. Even the usually plain wooden floors manage to look impressive amongst the beautifully dressed people and candle lit walls.

Beside me, Aine is scanning the room, and there is no doubt in my mind of what for. Their gaze flits around the crowded room, but they never actually move from their position next to me.

“Can’t you relax?” I don’t mean for my words to sound so harsh. It is usually me acting like this in crowds, and I immediately regret all the times I have done so.

“I am relaxed.” The obvious lie seems to roll easily off their tongue.

“You’re looking for someone…”

“Almost.” Aine replies in a tone that clearly says, ‘I’m plotting something’. “I’m scouting out the quality of possible partners for you.”

I can’t help but sigh. Knew it. “My dad put you up to this didn’t he?”

“Sure did,” Aine smiles apologetically. “This is just for show though.” They then whisper, gesturing to their eyes with the hand not holding the delicate glass of champagne.

“Oh?” I know it sounds stupid, but the sound is out off my mouth before I can stop it.

“I have a different plan, if you’ll come with me.” Aine’s smile brightens the already well lit room. When they look at me it is as if the room just slips away.

“There are plenty of handsome men who have noticed you.” Aine continues, though I can tell, now at least, that they haven’t really been looking.

“Don’t lie to me!” I gasp dramatically, playing along. “They’re all looking at you.” And I don’t blame them. Aine is stunning, and much more graceful than any human could be.

Aine rolls their eyes. “Slander,” they joke, a small chuckle leaving their lips.
I smile, and taking a sip of my champagne I gaze around the room.

“Dance with me.” Aine asks calmly, as though it is the easiest thing in the world.

I splutter a yes as they lead me to the centre of the dance floor. Once my steps are synced with Aine’s I can’t help but feel like I’m just as graceful as they are. We spin in time with the music, weaving in and out of the other dancers with practiced ease.

Aine draws me closer in time with the beat to whisper, “I thought it would be easier to talk like this.” They spin me out and pull me back in close.

“Uh huh.” I deadpan, not quite following.

“When you dance with someone you make your own world. No one will hear us talk here.”

“I see.” Classic Aine, I smile.

“Zahli,” Aine begins, they miss a step, stumbling slightly but I steady them easily and lead us on.

“Yes?” This must be big, I think, Aine is usually so collected.

“I want to ask you to run away with me.”

My breath catches in my throat.

“When?”

“Tonight, I brought my own space-craft, we can leave right now if you want to.” Aine watches me carefully, her deep purple eyes never leaving my own.

“Is that you asking me?” I smile wide, my chest feeling lighter than it has in months.

“Is that you saying yes?” They mirror my question, a knowing smile on their face.

“If you’re asking, then yes, more than anything else in the world, yes!”

“In that case,” Aine pulls me in to brush a light kiss to my cheek, “I am asking.”

Aine takes my hand again as the song finishes and we run from the crowded dance hall to a realm of endless possibilities.

Aine is pronounced ‘AWN-ya’
Lakree is pronounced ‘LACK-ree
Zahli is pronounced ‘ZAHL-ee’

This piece was written for the 2020 Hindsight project I am participating in with the online writing community YeahWrite. For this project you start with a 1000 word creative piece and then each month you rewrite it using a different prompt.

This should be a fun exercise, I’m interested to see where it takes this piece.

For more information on the 20/20 Hindsight Project click here!