My Buddy

I woke up that morning feeling better than I ever had. You know that buzz you get when you're halfway through your morning coffee? Before you're all jittery and looong before the sugar crash? When the caffeine has just kicked in and you feel warm and happy and ready to take on the world? Exactly like that but more intense.

I woke up the wife and we made passionate love for almost an hour, easily smashing my old record of 22 minutes and our couples record of NEVER having made love in the morning. When we finished, I immediately rolled out of bed and jumped in the shower. Weirdly, I was even MORE energized while my other half merely lay there for another couple of minutes, totally worn out. I was in and out in a minute flat, and as I went for my post-shower shave I was surprised to find I didn't have any stubble at all. I was still completely smooth faced. While I did think this was odd I just shrugged it off in my post-orgasm euphoria and got dressed.

I got down to breakfast and found I wasn't really hungry for anything and just had a glass of juice. I decided to bike to work as it was a beautiful spring day, something I had resolved to do at New Year's but hadn't gotten to until now. I kissed Michelle goodbye and headed out, getting to work by bike in an amazing 20 minutes (it often took 30 by car). Curiouser and curiouser, I had barely started to break a sweat when I arrived which was unusual as I was one of those thick and gross guys who leaves sweat imprints under the armpits almost immediately.

Today was the day of the big presentation at work. Rather than follow my carefully scripted notes I decided to wing it. I was a huge hit. The president of the company came up and shook my hand afterward, saying I 'had a bright future in this organization' and that he 'was keeping his eye on me' and giving me a wink. My supervisor took me to lunch to celebrate.

The rest of the day just flew by and my work seemed easier than ever and yet never boring. I flew through as least twice as many TRE45's as I regularly do. It was on the bike ride home I got the surprise of my life.

******
I had just crossed onto my street on the way home when suddenly a voice piped up inside my head that said "Not bad, eh?"
 I was startled and crashed the bike into the curb. I went flying over the handlebars but unbelievable landed solidly on my feet like an expert gymnast. Now I really started to wonder what the hell was going on.
"Easy buddy," the voice in my head said again. It was grainy and electronic, like an auto-reading software voice crossed with an auto-tune.

"Who are you? Where are you?," I managed to get out.

"Gelf. Sit under that tree there and I'll explain the whole thing."

I went and sat down.

"Now, please explain," I said, calmly but with a hint of bewilderment.

"Alright. I'm an alien, from the star system next to what you call the milky way. My species is tiny, almost microscopic by your standards. until we form a symbiosis with another being, we can survive but not thrive or procreate. Through some strange quirk of evolution, we discovered this planet full of beings that match our ideal conditions for hosts perfectly. So for centuries we have made our way here to join with you."

"So you're some kind of space parasite? And you're...inside me now? "

"I am inside you now, yes. In your upper cerebrum, as a matter of fact. But we're not parasites. Parasites harm their hosts for their own benefit We are symbiotic. We work together to make each others' lives better.

"I don't understand."

"Consider your body to be like my house. I live there, so it's in my interest to not only keep it in good shape but to make improvements and additions to it as I go. Think about the amazing day you've been having so far, and I've only been in here 24 hours! think what things will be like after a week or a month!"

I considered what Gelf (they apparently didn't have genders and used their names instead of personal pronouns) had said. It was crazy, but no crazier than anything else that had happened today. And at least it was an explanation.

"Soooo now what happens?"

"We are not a conquering race. We're not going to force you into anything. What happens now is I offer you a choice. You've seen how I can improve and make your life better, but if you still feel uncomfortable with having another being in your body, I'll leave.It's your choice. But I really do like it here."

I thought about it, but only for a second. The offer was just too tempting. Increased mental and physical power? Who could resist? I took him up on his offer.

I was soon elected a Senator in Illinois. A couple of years after that, President of the United States. So if you ever have a red letter day out of the blue, I say act on it. You never know where it could lead.