Amna sat in her cosy bedroom, surrounded by shelves filled with books. The scent of old paper wafted through the air as she picked up her favourite novel, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she immersed herself in the mysterious world of detectives and unsolved cases. Amna dreamed of becoming a detective herself, just like her idol, Sherlock Holmes.

Suddenly, Amna heard an unfathomable sound in the distance. She looked outside her window, and her eyes widened as she saw a silver object streak across the sky, leaving a trail of shimmering light. It seemed to have landed very near. Amna knew it was a UFO! Her heart raced with excitement, but she knew that no one would believe her if she shared what she had just seen. Determined to gather evidence, she decided to embark on her own investigation.

The next day, after having lunch as usual, she made her way towards the spot where she had witnessed the UFO landing.

She walked with excitement, but was soon caught up with mixed feelings and thought she should give up and head back home. Just then, Amna’s heart skipped a beat as she spotted a wrecked UFO nestled among the trees. The spaceship had crash-landed, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. Her curiosity overwhelmed her fear as she approached the mysterious craft. It was unlike anything she had ever seen — gleaming silver with intricate designs etched on its exterior.

She saw the broken door and cautiously stepped inside the wreckage, her eyes wide with wonder. It was then that she noticed a peculiar figure huddled in a corner. It was an alien, a small, green creature with large, luminous eyes but with an aura of gentleness. Amna’s initial shock gave way to compassion as she realised that this alien must have been injured in the crash.

“Hello,” she said softly. “I won’t hurt you. My name is Amna.”

The alien saw her with curiosity, tentatively reaching out its long, slender fingers to touch her hand. It emitted a series of melodic sounds, as if trying to communicate. While Amna couldn’t understand any of the sounds, their connection transcended words.

Amna spent some time there and decided to take the alien home with her. The alien was fragile and needed help badly. Therefore, the alien, limping, came to her home and hid inside the cupboard. Amna and the alien developed a friendly connection and in no time and learned quite a lot from each other. Amna taught the alien about Earth, its customs and the wonders of human existence. In return, the alien shared stories of its home planet, Mars, and the vastness of the universe. The alien did this not by talking, but by showing through a TV-like screen that became visible with just a gesture.

The alien also told Amna that the spaceship was in restoration mode, repairing itself. When it was done, it would give a signal for the alien to return.

That night, Amna’s mother opened the door to her room, her eyes widening in shock at the sight before her. The alien was showing something through the screen. Amna’s mother let out a gasp and fell unconscious on the spot. Amna’s heart raced as she rushed to her mother’s side, reassuring her that it was all just a dream.

With a heavy heart, Amna realised that she must let go of her extraterrestrial friend, because no one would accept it, and her family would surely worry for her safety.

Amna took the alien to a nearby barn where it spent some time until the spaceship was ready and sent a signal. Both continued their friendship and shared laughter, stories and moments of awe as they explored the wonders of both Earth and Mars. They developed a unique language of their own, a blend of gestures, expressions and snippets of words they had learned from each other.

One evening, as Amna sat in her room, engrossed in a new detective novel, the alien peered from the window, its eyes shimmering with curiosity.

“What is this book you’re so engrossed in, Amna?” it asked, its voice a gentle hum.

“It’s a story about a brilliant detective named Sherlock Holmes.” she explained. “He solves complex mysteries using his keen observation and deductive reasoning. I’ve always admired him.”

The alien tilted its head, contemplating the concept of a detective. He then expressed, “Perhaps you have inherited his remarkable skills; your determination and cleverness in unravelling the mystery of the crashed spaceship mirror his.”

Amna blushed at the thought. Their conversation was interrupted by a soft humming sound. The alien’s eyes widened with excitement as it turned its gaze toward the sky.

“Amna, it’s time,” it said.

Amna’s heart skipped a beat as she realised what the alien meant. The spaceship was finally repaired, and it was time for her extraterrestrial friend to return to Mars. They hurriedly made their way toward the woods, to the crash site, where the sleek spacecraft awaited them, shimmering in the moonlight.

The alien seemed relieved and happy. It turned to Amna to bid farewell, and then, Amna said, “Thank you for everything. You’ve shown me a world beyond my wildest dreams, and I will cherish our friendship always.”

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 15th, 2023