Sunday Scribblings #301: Normal

I have a special ability. You might call it a superpower. I can disappear at will.

I wouldn't call it true invisibility - more like a kind of camoflage. I can fade away into a noisy crowd or the black of a kitchen chair or the quiet recesses of a room of any size, even if its full. I can put on my glasses, bury my nose in a book, keep my thoughts to myself, and nobody will see me there. I could stay in that one spot for hours without anyone thinking twice about it..

Sometimes I disappear intentionally. When my roommate and her young man come into the living room, I disappear to the bedroom. When my other roommate is talking to her family in the bedroom, I disappear to the outside landing wrapped in a blanket, to look at the sunset or the stars. When my class is busy with eager comments and I don't know the answer, I disappear then, too. Sometimes I disappear simply because I'm tired of dealing with people and putting on masks fo everyone I meet.

However, there are times when I can't control my disappearing - when other people make me do it. Someone will bump into me on the sidewalk and just keep walking without saying a word. I will look for a friendly smile or greeting, or even try to give one away, and no one will acknowledge me. Sometimes when I am in great need of comfort or encouragement, it happens - I look at myself, look around, and realize that I am invisible. No one sees me.

There are a few people, though, who have their own super power. They can see through my disappearing. My mother has this ability, and my younger sister. A handful of good friends have it. My closest companion has a particular gift for disregarding my invisibility altogether. The moment I try to disappear, the moment she sees me wanting to become invisible, she is there with a smile and a hug to keep me present.

That is the superpower I want, that I am working on having - the ability to see those who are otherwise invisible. It's just like magic, isn't it?