What if an Earthling and Someone From Outer Space Became Pen Pals?

U.S. World Business Arts Lifestyle Opinion Audio Games Cooking Wirecutter The Athletic After a chance encounter, an extragalactic being and a citizen of Earth strike up a friendship and decide to keep in touch.

By Haruka Aoki

Haruka Aoki is an artist, illustrator and author.

Image <img alt="An illustrated comic shows four panels outlined in yellow. Above this grid reads text: “Letter No. 1. Letters From Earthling. It was just a few weeks ago …” The first comic panel shows two comets speeding in opposite directions. Text between them reads: “When two comets simultaneously whooshed across the skies of two planets …” The next panel shows the outline of two figures next to a tree beneath the speeding comets. Text on this panel reads: “ … allowing an extragalactic being to briefly visit Earth and meet one very startled Earthling.” Panel three shows a figure in a floral hat holding a steaming mug of tea. The figure looks out a window and text reads: “This was the start of their long friendship.” The final panel shows a hand holding an envelope in front of a tree hollow. Text on this panel reads: “As it was impossible to teleport to the same planet again, they decided to stay in touch through letters.” " class="css-r3fift" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/23/arts/23sketchpad-earthling1-web/23sketchpad-earthling1-web-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" srcset="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/23/arts/23sketchpad-earthling1-web/23sketchpad-earthling1-web-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 600w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/23/arts/23sketchpad-earthling1-web/23sketchpad-earthling1-web-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 893w,https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/23/arts/23sketchpad-earthling1-web/23sketchpad-earthling1-web-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp 1785w" sizes="((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw" decoding="async" width="600" height="688"/>

What if an Earthling and Someone From Outer Space Became Pen Pals?

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