I had as much chance of that as I had in taking him back to Earth tonight. Naphala was crying, how cruel could I be to spoil her one and only contact with a man? “I’ll check on him, return to tank.” “Please tell me he’s alright!” she cried. I waited until she was inside, locked the tank, summoned Shutona, did the necessaries, and when alone, went to check on Simon. He was sitting in the tub, but not as he had before, this time he was leaning back, only his face exposed, his eyes closed. “Simon….?” “Hmmmmm?” “You are alright?” “Uh huh.” “She didn’t hurt you.” “No,” his voice faded. “Are you sure?” I say, sitting on the rim, concerned. “Yes,” he breathed. The way he was lying there I didn’t believe him. But didn’t know what to do. I was about to leave; “Aren’t you going to bathe me?” he asks. “Are you teasing?” I snapped. “No,” he replied. “I will, then.” I say, for he has given me a great gift, “do you want me to wash your hair?” “Full treatment,” he replied, his mouth in a touch of smile. I gathered his long hair in my hand, put it in the recess behind the tank. I soaped it, massaging his scalp, then rinsed, and covered it with gel. I went to his body, bathing him slowly, efficiently, and he responded to me. I found it very strange, and so I stopped, washed the gel out of his hair, then carried him to the bed, placed him so his hair would hang over the side, began to comb it.

“This is very nice,” he says. “You see what you have been missing?” I tried to joke. “Why did you ask me if I was alright?” “I thought she might have hurt you…” “No, she didn’t.” “Do you want to sleep?” I asked. “For a little while…” he mutters. I wrapped his hair in a cloth, then tidied the bathroom. I didn’t want to leave Simon. I wanted to lie beside him, hold him in my arms. I wanted to…