Chapter 1.10: What's happening to me?

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Milo is a lively child, he keeps both me and Silvia as busy as we have ever been before. Now it's time for him to sleep, let's hope he falls asleep soon...


As for me, however, the situation is becoming more and more worrisome: I had noticed my belly was getting larger some time ago, but for sure I wasn't expecting it to keep growing at this rate. What did those aliens do to me, for Jupiter sake?


Sylvia: Do you want to explain to me what is happening to you? And don't pretend everything is alright, I noticed that your belly is glowing!
Stuart: ...
Sylvia: An enlarged abdomen of those proportions is not normal, it could be something serious!


Sylvia: Can you at least let me have a look?
Stuart: ... ok.


Sylvia: it's absurd, it almost looks like...
Stuart: it looks like what?
Sylvia: It doesn't make any sense, but... Whatever it is, it has just kicked.

In short, even if it may seem absurd and contrary to any law of biology, I am, unequivocally, pregnant. How could those aliens do this to me, I don't even have a uterus! And how will it come out in a few months? I can't go on like this, this situation could be a treat to my life at this rate...


I wandered around the neighbourhood for a while, without finding any solution to my problem. I couldn't just show up at the hospital saying I was pregnant, I would have become a laboratory test subject!


I was giving up hope when I met one of my lab colleagues on the street. This time he owes me some answers, I demand them!


Stuart: What the hell did you do to me? Have you all gone crazy?
Colleague: Well, you haven't figured it out yet?
Stuart: This is completely unethical, what the hell crossed your mind?
Colleague: ... There is nothing we can do about it. But I can at least leave you the name of a doctor, he knows the situation. He will be able to help you.

And so, at least, I was able to find a doctor able to take care of this impossible health condition of mine. Because, apparently, I'm not even the first nor the only one who passed through this situation. But how could such a thing remain a secret, for Jupiter sake?


Chapter 1.9: The cycle of life

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Judging by Nacho's sleepy approach to the new day, it would look like nothing has happened. But how can I pretend everything is normal? A UFO kidnapped me at night, in my house, and I have no idea what they did to me, for Jupiter sake!


Sylvia: how do you doing? Are you really sure they haven't done anything to you?
Stuart: I checked, but I don't think I've anything weird. And, overall, I don't feel any different from usual.
Sylvia: Maybe you should see your doctor. You know, just to be sure.
Stuart: And what should I tell him? "Sorry, some aliens have kidnapped me, could you check they didn't do me who knows what?"
Sylvia: well, you are not wrong, you would be sent to psychiatry if you said something like it... But, if you want,  I could visit you. I'm a vet but, after all, you are an animal too, aren't you?
Stuart: ... I don't think to need it, but thanks, anyway.

In reality, this situation is making me more worried than I have ever been in my entire life. I would pay thousands of § to be checked by some doctor able to tell me what they've done to me. But I don't want to throw Sylvia into this mess: she is supposed to give birth in the next few days, she is already worried enough even without having to think about my alien abduction too...


I really can't understand what is happening to me, in some moments my belly hurts like crazy... And it's just my impression, or in those moments you also see a weird glow? What the hell did those damned aliens do to me? At this point, there is just one place where I could ask for any explanation...



Stuart: (mad) at this point I just want an explanation! Why did the aliens abduct me last night?
Colleague: Oh, so this time they picked you up?
Stuart: Yes! But what the hell did they do to me?
Colleague: ... I think you will figure this out for yourself soon enough, fear not.

I can't stand them anymore, why can't they just tell what's going on?

Chapter 1.8: Revelations

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Tonight it was very late when I left the lab, so late that Sylvia was already sleeping when I was back home.


I would have liked to ask her if she felt better today, she keeps looking exhausted, it has been almost a week at this point. I'm starting to worry, that's it. But I don't want to wake her up, probably I can just wait until tomorrow morning...



Sylvia: Stuart, wake up! I must tell you one thing!
Stuart: (half asleep) huh?
Sylvia: I went to the doctor yesterday, you know?
Stuart: (still half asleep) doctor? What for?


Sylvia: ah, how can I tell you... well... he told me I'm expecting a baby. I don't know yet if it is a boy or a girl, but...
Stuart: ...
Sylvia: you didn't expect it, did you?
Stuart: ...

It was so early in the morning and I was still so sleepy, so I took a crazy amount of time to assimilate what she actually just told me. Then I stared at her with my mouth open without being able to say anything for a hardly quantifiable amount of time. 
I mean, this is not the kind of news people receive every other day, this is life-changing! Everyone needs some time to realize what that means, isn't it? Everything would have changed, were we really ready to start a family? And did we have enough money to raise a child?

I had never been particularly attached to my family, and I had never seriously thought about starting my own. However, even if Sylvia and I didn't meet long ago, sometimes I feel like I've known her for a lifetime. And thinking about spending my whole life with the same person and, why not, even having children, doesn't scare me if that person is her.

These and many other thoughts crossed my mind before I noticed Sylvia's expression, even if she tried to look cheerful and happy for the news I could tell from a mile away that she was worried. By now we know each other well, did she really believe that I could answer anything else than...


Stuart: I think this is fantastic! 
Sylvia: Really? Are you happy about it?
Stuart: Yeah. What about you, instead?
Sylvia: it is a bit... unexpected, but I wanted to have kids, sooner or later.
Stuart: cool. Everything will be fine, you'll see.

Chapter 1.7: New year, new life!

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Today is New Year's Eve, and Sylvia and I decided to celebrate it together at the bar next to my place.


Sylvia: why is that other guy keeping his umbrella open in here?
Stuart: Who knows, it's not even raining outside!

The people living in this neighbourhood are not bad after all, it was funny to watch the New Year's TV countdown with the rest of them.



???: one minute to midnight! Are you all ready for the countdown?


Everyone: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...


Everyone: HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Sylvia: Happy New Year, Stuart!
Stuart: Happy New Year to you too!

We stayed like that for a while, without saying anything else. A question had been buzzing in my mind for a while, but I hadn't been brave enough to say it out loud. I'm not very good with words, as you probably already noticed, my dear diary.
But the more time passed, the fewer doubts I had, and somehow I managed to ask her:

Stuart: listen, Sylvia... Would you like to move in with me?
Sylvia: (surprised) ... Are you serious?
Stuart: Well, yes. I mean, I know it's not a great house... But, I mean, recently you are often staying for the night anyway, and then even Nacho would be happy to...


Sylvia: Of course yes!

And so Sylvia moved in with me. We also enlarged the house a bit, now we have a real bedroom instead of that old cot in the living room. Nacho seems happy too, don't you agree my dear diary?