Barrier by Brian K. Vaughan

A Texas rancher and a Honduran migrant, both shaped by border violence and desperate circumstances, are abruptly abducted by extraterrestrials and forced to work together despite a complete language barrier. As they struggle to survive and find a way home, their uneasy alliance reveals the limits and possibilities of communication across cultures. The story contrasts human-made borders with a cosmic perspective, questioning what truly divides us and how empathy can bridge even the widest gaps.