One Of The 4400 Part 1 & 2

Chapter 5

After the shock of my nosebleed had wore off, I wiped the rest of it on my pant leg, on the back of where my knee bends. I had to do it quickly. I didn't want Holly or anyone to notice the blood. Going back up the carpeted stairs, I went and opened the bathroom, passing Laney's bedroom, hearing a snatch of words coming out of Holly's words, "--don't know where Aunt Vera went? No, honey, it's fine. She's probably in the rest room..."

Hearing that, I closed the bathroom door as quietly as I can, I sat down on the closed seat of the white toilet, waiting for Holly to knock on the door. My heart was beating fast in its chest. I jumped out of my skin when she finally knocked. "Vera, you okay in there?" She said.

"Yeah, I am!" I called, sitting on the toilet.

"Okay, good. I'm glad. Because Laney was telling me you were going to get Matt..."

I cleared my throat. "Uh...yeah, I was--until I had to use the restroom for number 2!" I said. Oh my God, did I just say #2 like a lame chick?

"Oh...well, okay. Mom is making dinner right now. It's almost done. Just have Laney down with you and you can meet Matt after he gets out of time-out." She said.

I looked down through the crack of the door, her feet were casting shadows from the overhead light presumably for the stairs. She was going.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Just as I did so, I realized something fell on the on the white tile floor. It was blood. I got the toilet paper roll, seeing the red absorb into the white. I wondered if I had another nosebleed. I knew it wasn't my monthly curse.

I threw the paper into the garbage can.

I touched my nose. It was bloody. I got up, grabbing the toilet paper roll, looking the mirror. I wiped my nose. I could see my reflection. A question was forming itself in my mind: Was I seeable now? Or was I seeable even though I was invisible?

Deciding to test my theory, I opened the bathroom door, stepping out into the hallway, closing it behind me. I shuffled my feet to Laney's room, nervous I waited until she looked up from playing on the carpet.

"Hey Aunt Vera." She said, smiling. I suddenly felt my body relax at being acknowledged as being "Seen,". "Hey, kiddo." I said. I walked into the room. "Were you in the restroom like Mommy said?" She asked me when I sat down at her.

"Yeah," I answered. "I was. Your mom said it was almost time for dinner, wanna come downstairs with me?" Laney looked up at me, one of her hands Gracie in one, in the other Edwardo the Goat. She smiled up at me, her hazel eyes glinting in the afternoon sun. "Sure," She said.