Jay O’Connell. The Universe We Both Dreamed Of. (Asimovs September 2013)

Gentle story that looks to answer the Fermi Paradox and confirm the Drake Equation, through a young man offered the chance, following first contact, to reach for the stars, leaving humanity to its ultimate fate. A nicely handled relationship between the protagonist and the alien in human clothing, with plenty of dialogue without dropping into the didactic.