Invisible

Marie - 9

I sometimes wish that I could go back in time or read people's minds or weird powers like that. I don't know why I spend so much time picturing everything I would do with those powers. I'd go back in time and make sure that me and Lotta went to a different school together and if I could read minds, well, what would you do if you could read people's minds? I guess though it could also have a bad side. If I went back in time and changed one little thing, everything would change. If I changed one day maybe it would change everything. Maybe Alex wouldn't be the way he is, I'd have different memories, who knows if they'd be better or worse, maybe I'd be different? And if I could read minds maybe I'd find out people I love really actually hated me. Is it really better to know? Wait, what if my friends hated me? What if people complimented me and they were just lying? Oh great, now my head was full of unanswered questions. I was bursting to find out, even though I never would be able to. I sound like a 7 year old talking about powers. Maybe if I went back in time I could stop the whole weirdo stalker shenaniganz. I sound like a 7 year old talking about powers, I want to be a seven year old though. I want to be Alex's age, no stress, people judging you and only crying if you fell over. I want to live a carefree life, but just like the powers, that is impossible. No human could ever live a carefree life, we would just find more things to worry about.

Okay, now I sound like the school counsellor. Ok I should just stop whining and get over it.

I heard a ping, there it was, a text I had been longing for.

The message was soon followed by a quiet ringtone. I picked up my phone and answered the call. It was Lotta, obviously.

"Hey, how are you?" I said as I scanned her face for anything bad. I think this may be because I have been her best friend for 9 years... or just that it's visibly obvious to everyone, but you can tell Carlotta's mood just by looking at her face. I don't know how to explain it, but her eyes just tell you without saying anything. If you manage to catch eye contact and glare into her hazel glossy eye, you can see a story. Today, her eyes showed a story of worry. Similar to the night of the incident with her dad.

She replied as quick as lightning,

"Good. I have something I need to tell you. It's urgent. Are you alone in your room?"

I hate how that's the start to our conversations. I want things to be normal. I want to be a normal twelve-year-old girl. I want to be like everyone else in our class at school. Starting video calls like that, why not 'Hey girly!' or something stupid like that.

Then she said how she was scared, frightened, afraid.

"I had a conversation with this person. Well in the book. Can you come over?" she asked, quivering. I felt awful, my parents (well mum doesn't and dad just seems to go along with everything she says) don't let me go out on my own. I knew she needed me. I don't understand, the police haven't heard anything about the person or their whereabouts. They've just... vanished? It's like they're rain and the sun has just soaked them up, evaporated.

"Soz, I can't. What's up though?" I replied.

"I heard something in the book. Someone-" I heard knocks on my door.

"Hold up," I whispered.

Alex bursted in, "Marie, mummy said I should come in here." Confused, I took his hand and took him to my bed.

"Wait Lottie, sorry, somethings going on," my voice got quieter and quieter with each word, "Stay here Al, 'kay?" He nodded, his golden curls bouncing up and down.

I ran down the stairs, skipping two stairs as I went. A glass smashed. I heard my father swear and then my mum dashed round the corner, phone in her hands,