“Hey don’t trash that!” By now the two have moved back to Alice’s home, working together to clean the mess all across the house. “Humans are supposed to spend their birthdays being happy, right? Does this make you happy Alice?” Dumping the contents of a small bin in a trash bag next to her bed Alice doesn’t really answer, taking a moment to think instead. “Not really I guess. If anything I jus wanna pass tha day away watchin tha tv while eatin a family sized bag a chips but I wanna fix some things an this seems like a solid first step.”

  Tilt?

  “Fix? What’s wrong?”

  Seeing “It” look at her a genuine almost child-like curiosity in “Its” eyes she can’t help but smile.

  “Been a bit since I ‘eard that. Everythin I guess. Shitty work life, shitty home, shitty love life, an shitty mental health. Figured If I fix my mental health I can improve tha rest long that way. Parently cleanin ya home an keepin it clean is a solid first step so that’s what I’m doin. Though I got no clue how I’ll keep it clean when tha floor makes a good trash bin too.”

  “You can’t just decide to be happy?”

  Silence as Alice looks at “It” and wonders if god could really say something so stupid? Maybe in whatever world it knows but hat’s not how humanity works. For a moment Alice stops cleaning, scratching her head and wondering what exactly she should tell “It.” In the end she can only ask one question.

  “Can you just decide to be happy?”

  Seeing Alice pause “It” decides to throw itself onto the couch and lay down lazily. How does “It” answer when “It” isn’t just “Itself” outside the confines of earth. For a minute there’s an awkward silence, “It” lost in contemplation. Can a human mind even begin to understand “It” when “It” can’t understand “Itself.”

  “I can decide if I’m happy I guess? But I can also decide if I’m unhappy and happy at the same time. I smile but the parts of me given life feel as I demand?”

  This time Alice tilts her head.

  “Mate I got no clue what that gibberish means.”

  Suddenly “It” splits into two identical copies. One is smiling brightly while the other is sobbing violently. Alice, unbothered, continues to clean up the trash sprawling the floor as it begins “Its” rant and display. With every word both copies speak in absolute synchronicity, their emotions distinct yet their eyes similarly dulled.

  “It’s like a human child playing with their imagination. The various figments are still themselves but they create a separation so while they play happily the puppet they created feels separate except with me the puppet isn’t just a figment. The puppet is yet another me in absolute.”

  As “It” speaks Alice has a lightbulb moment, excitement visibly filling her face. “Hey! Make more a ya’s so we can clean up faster! I’ll pay ya back with a burger or some othah toy!” At her last word both fragments of “It” go stiff, a stone faced surprise coloring their faces. Letting out a sigh, “It” creates ten more copies. As they all clean “It” contemplates “Its” relationship with Alice.

  Comforting?

  She is odd…even for a human. In the stars beyond earth those “I” give independence all have the same reactions. Fear, worship, and a desire to conquer yet here she is…treating “It” like any other human despite “Its” inhuman actions. What drives that cavalier attitude? Normally “It” would simply absorb Alice into “Its” main body to understand but earth’s inhabitants can’t be influenced beyond human means. After the house is clean Alice and “Its” copies are left staring at each other.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Well shite. Thought this would take all day…tha heck am I gonna do now? Maybe pass tha time at the pub? Yo you anythin ya wanna do?”

  Again confusion fills “Its” face. “It” has seen many humans celebrate their birthdays as it wandered, trying to join in on the festivities despite being ignored. Even those that spent their special day alone spent it selfishly, indulging in what they wanted yet here Alice is…being herself?

  “Is there nothing you want? Its your birthday after all.”

  In response Alice sits down on the ground and scratches her head.

  “There’s a lot I want but I’m not sure what I should do. Like, I want ta spend tha day watchin tha tv drunk off mah arse but that won’t help me. I’m tryin ta get better and thinkin bout it seems like everythin I do normally is bad. So like, what do I do? Go out for a walk? Spend time at tha park? Tha heck am I supposed ta do? I can’t figure it out so I might as well let ya decide for me. Far as I figure since ya so curious and explorative maybe one a ya questions will help me figure things out.”

  What will “It” do then? Remembering the last year “It” wonders among the countless human activities “It” couldn’t enjoy which could “It” do with Aice? Just talking with her is enough to give “It” satisfaction. Perhaps “It” could experience a normal birthday party with her?

  “What’s your favorite flavor of cake?”

  “Red velvet.”

  In that moment all of “Its” bodies fuse back together into one “Person.” Moving to the dining room it stretches “Its” hand just above the admittedly small table. Watching curiously Alice sees a large overly grand cake stretch out from its palm.

  “‘Ey ya want me ta eat that? I mean is it even edible?”

  “Yes. Now eat up. I want to do one of those birthday parties.”

  At “Its” last word balloons and rainbow streamers fly out of its body, decorating the shabby walls. In a matter of seconds the room goes from dull and near empty to resembling a child’s party site. An incredulousness fills Alice as she looks at “It’ staring at her, “Its” usually dull eyes glimmering with a weak excitement. When was the last time she celebrated anything? When was the last time she was celebrated?

  Tears fall.

  “Why cry Alice? Did I do something wrong?”

  Memories flood.

  How when she was thirteen she would go out with her friends and play all day for her birthday before returning home to a warm hug from her mother and yummy cake to share.

  How on her seventeenth birthday despite being unable to get the day off work her coworkers still gave her a special day.

  How on her twentieth birthday she met who she thought would be her partner for life, spending the day cuddling on the couch watching cheesy horror movies.

  How on her twenty fifth birthday she lost him to her own insecurities and how she spent the night home alone drowning is despair.

  How everything fell so hard for her after. When she started drinking, when she started avoiding going outside, how she started to feel afraid of others because she stopped going outside, how she stopped to slowly distance herself from her co-workers. How she went from normal to the person she is now. How does she go back to that? How does she go back to the old her?

  Suddenly, “It” walks up to her and gives her a hug.

  “I don’t like this. Pain fills me as you cry. Unknown is the means to help you but from what I know a hug helps right?”

  “It” looks at her with pure eyes.

  Fear?

  She can’t process these feelings. Comfort? Joy? Safety? Affection? A torrent of wild emotions slams into her mind, leaving her with only one question she should’ve long since asked.

  “You can do anything…why choose to spend time with me?”

  Time pauses, those now familiar eyes radiating an ever familiar purity.

  “Because you are worthwhile Alice.”

  With “Its” last word it opens its mouth and pulls out a pair of plates and silverware.

  “Now let’s eat. You can have the first slice. Ah, before I forget, happy birthday Alice.”