Chapter 77

Marie and Michael met at a bar in the city. It was a cold winter night, and Michael was immediately drawn to Marie's fiery red hair and bright green eyes. They struck up a conversation, and before long, they were deep in conversation, discussing their shared love of science fiction.

As the night wore on, Michael found himself becoming more and more attracted to Marie. She was smart, funny, and had a quick wit that he found incredibly appealing. They decided to continue their conversation at a nearby diner, and as they sat across from each other, sipping on cups of coffee, Michael knew that he wanted to see Marie again.

They arranged to meet the following evening, and this time, their conversation turned to more personal topics. Michael learned that Marie was a scientist, working on a top-secret government project. She was fascinated by the potential for extraterrestrial life, and spent much of her time studying the stars, searching for signs of intelligent life.