The Calm Man

"The Calm Man" by Frank Belknap Long is a science fiction story from the 1950s that looks at emotions and what it means to be an outsider, told through the life of a woman named Sally. She struggles with how distant her husband is, especially as they raise their son, Tommy. Sally feels alone and her life feels incomplete. The story takes a turn when it's uncovered her husband, Jim, is actually an alien using a human appearance while planning his return to Mars. Not only does this discovery shock Sally, but it shows the effects of Jim's calm exterior. The story ends with the heartbreaking realization that Tommy is connected to his father's alien world, leading to a goodbye as father and son leave Earth, showing the deep sadness of a mother losing her son to another world.