Barsork continued his job, but his mind kept wandering to the woman he had seen. She captivated him in a way he had not experienced so far and he felt an intense desire to get to know her better.

When he had first come to Earth, he had expected to find his brother’s words were lies, but in fact he had found the opposite. He had seen women doing anything and everything in their power to avoid having a child and he simply couldn’t wrap his mind around why.

Everywhere he searched on this planet were unspeakable atrocities. Babies being left in dumpsters, on doorsteps, or even killed. On his home planet the birth of a child was a planet wide celebration. A new child was revered and loved by all, and each citizen participated in the protection and support for the child’s growth and well-being.

Since coming to Earth, not only had Barsork changed his mind about what his brother was doing with the auction house, he had even begun helping with the abductions. In his mind, at least on his planet the children would be cared for, and obviously these women were abundantly fertile since they often went to great lengths to avoid having children.

Even so, he had his doubts and was constantly searching for proof that the women here were better than what he had seen so far. For the first time since arriving, Barsork had seen a spark of hope and it had been with the woman from earlier. He had looked up her name in the database and read it as Betty.

He looked up to see the nurse walking toward him with a steely glare. “Brian, I don’t know what is wrong with you. For such a good-looking guy you sure have a bad mouth on you. You’re lucky that girl doesn’t want to file a complaint on you.”

Barsork looked at her appraisingly. “You mean Betty? Is she still here?”

The nurse stared at him as if he had lost his mind before shaking her head and walking away.

Barsork wasted no time. If he had any chance of catching up to Betty he would have to do so soon. Once she was gone, he might never see her again. Barsork quickly grabbed a brown paper bag and rushed out the back door, knowing that most of the women preferred to go out that way.

He pulled a piece of fruit from the bag and leaned casually against the brick wall. After several moments he heard the soft footsteps he had remembered from earlier and knew that Betty was coming. He waited until she was about to round the corner and then he stepped from his place, purposefully bumping into her.

“I’m so sorry,” he said apologetically as he bent to help her pick up the bag she had dropped.

* * *

Betty

Betty began frantically tossing things back into her bag in embarrassment as she realized that the man was the receptionist from the clinic. He seemed to be genuinely sorry for bumping into her and once again she found herself drawn to his penetrating eyes.

He handed her a book that had fallen and she slowly took it from him, her hand brushing his. For some reason his touch felt like electricity and she drew in a sharp breath.

“My name is Barsork, I mean Brian,” the guy said somewhat awkwardly.

Betty continued to stare at him as she wondered why he had given two names. “I’m Betty,” she answered softly as she stood up, slinging her bag back over her shoulder.

“I know,” Barsork answered. “I read your file.”

Betty stepped backward quickly and began looking around to see if she could scream for help. He must have seen the look in her eyes because he put his hand on her arm.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said quickly. “I just wanted to get to know you. You seemed so much different than the girls who normally come in. Do you have a boyfriend?”

Betty stared at him dumfounded. He was by far the most abrasive and discourteous person she had ever met, and yet somehow his forcefulness captivated her attention in a way that no one else had been able to do. Suddenly for no apparent reason she burst out laughing.

Brian looked at her with confusion on his face before he too began chuckling. “I guess that did come out a little strange,” he said through his chuckles.

Betty continued to laugh as she shook her head.

“Look, I think I like you and I guess I’m not very good with showing that. Could I get you a cup of coffee or something? We can go someplace very public if you want.”

Betty ran her fingers through her hair softly as she contemplated his strange behavior and his offer. After several thoughtful moments, she at last agreed, “I’ll go have coffee with you, Brian, or Barsork, or whatever your name is.”

Barsork smiled warmly for the first time. “My name is Barsork, but people here seem to like Brian better. You can call me either one,” he said as he held out his hand for her and led her out onto the side street.

* * *

Barsork

As they walked, Barsork continued to ask her questions about herself. He felt an absolute need to know everything he could about this woman. For him, he felt like she held the last bit of hope, and he clung to it savagely.

When they got to the coffee shop, he paid for her drink and they sat at a table in the back somewhat secluded.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” he asked hesitantly.

Betty laughed and he couldn’t help but notice how comfortable and happy he felt when she laughed. “You don’t seem to have any problems with asking personal questions, Barsork. I guess I should thank you for at least asking this time. You can ask, but I may not answer.”

Barsork nodded his head and sipped his drink. He had found that coffee was a true indulgence of people on Earth and it was one of the few things he had found to appreciate so far. “Betty, if you don’t have a boyfriend, why were you at the clinic? Do you sleep with lots of people who aren’t your boyfriend, or are you pregnant with a stranger’s child?”

* * *

Betty

Betty spilt her coffee and began coughing at the unexpected and intrusive question. What right did he have to be asking her these things? She didn’t owe him anything. Yet as she prepared to scream at him, something on his face stopped her. He seemed to have a real curiosity. He didn’t look at all like he was judging her, he simply looked curious.

After getting herself under control, she finally allowed herself to speak. “Why do you ask such inappropriate questions, Barsork? Why do you work at Family Planning, if you have such a low opinion of women? Are you some kind of religious fanatic who’s going to blow up the clinic or something?”

Barsork shook his head as he grabbed several more napkins to clean up the coffee spill. “No, nothing like that,” he said softly. “Look, I know I come off weird, it’s just that I really don’t understand. I see so many women come into the clinic for so many reasons, but all of them seem to have a serious desire not to have children. I don’t understand why women here don’t want children.

“I see a beautiful woman like yourself and I think to myself, I would love to make this woman my mate and have a family and a life together. Yet, you say you are not with anyone, and you come for pills. Please explain to me why you do this.”

Betty sighed and looked deeply into his eyes. He seemed completely sincere in his request and she felt oddly compassionate towards him. Even though they were complete strangers, she wanted him to understand the person she was.

“I do not have a boyfriend, and I have never been with anyone in that way before. My best friend and roommate wants me to hook up with a guy during spring fling because it’s unusual for someone my age not to have had sex before. I’m not really interested, but I came to the clinic today to make her happy, and to protect myself just in case.”

Barsork reached his hand across the table and touched her fingers. “I do not want for you to do this. I want for you to be with someone who will take care of you and then you can have a child that you will want to keep.”

Betty couldn’t help but notice how nice his hand felt in hers. She still didn’t understand his obsession with children, but what he thought mattered to her. “Barsork, I would like my first time to be with someone I care for as well. Don’t worry, I will wait.”

Her answer seemed to please him greatly, and he smiled warmly. “Come on a date with me this weekend, Betty. I will take you to a movie and we can have coffee. I very much want to know you more.”

Betty couldn’t help but smile in return. Without any thoughts about school, or responsibilities, or parties she found herself saying yes. She felt giddy that someone as handsome as he would ask her out.

She wrote her phone number on a coffee shop napkin and handed it to him. “Thank you for the coffee, Barsork. I can’t wait until our date.”

Betty picked up her bag and left the coffee shop with a smile on her face. Jenny was never going to believe that the most handsome man on the planet had just picked her up at a Family Planning.

* * *

Barsork

Barsork watched Betty leave and he couldn’t help but smile. After months of being on Earth, he finally had a reason to hope, and he couldn’t wait to see her again.