The Unconventional Macy Gray

~1~ Unconventional

Macy Gray. Theoretical Physicist. Unconventional. Weird. Strange. Oddball. Off the wall. These terms described me to a T. I spent my days and part of my nights in my lab trying to prove an imaginary realm called Alluvia truly existed. I used to dream about going there as a kid. If anyone knew what I was doing, they would put me in the category of insane. What theoretical physicist dared to look for mythological worlds that existed in a realm coinciding along with this one? Me. Macy Gray. Fanatic. Freaky.

Alluvia was alien in concept, filled with fantastical creatures that were as big as mountains but flew as light as butterflies. The people of Alluvia lived in small villages surrounded by nature. I'd visit Grendel and Jilla in their hut. They would feed me Juntan stew and tell me stories of days long gone. After supper, they would teach me how to use magic but just when I got the hang of it, I would wake up. Every time.

So, I thought, if there were theories about multiverses out there, who's to say there weren't magical realms that one could access if one knew the way in? I also thought it best to keep it a secret. That line of thinking could cost me my job and I was very fond of my job.

After a long night of equations, ten cups of coffee, I shut down my computer ready to call it a night. On the drive home, my mind was full of the other world I'd dreamed of just the other night. I had been close to figuring out how to enter the realm. Something simple eluded me and I pondered it during a late night shower, relishing the hot water working out the kinks in my muscles. I dried off, wrapping the towel around my body. The steam on the mirror made me think of a blank white board. I reached out to write out the latest equations jumbling around in my brain when the mirror rippled like water.

Talk about setting the laws of physics on its ear. Mirrors didn't ripple. They were solid, smooth and cool to the touch. But as any scientist would do, I postulated a hypothesis, performed an experiment and compared the results. To be clear, I touched the mirror again. The waves undulated without any spilling over the frame of the mirror. 

Not like water then. Not hot either. Felt cool as a mirror should. I should be freaking out but as I said, I believed in the realms of magic. This had a magical component attached to it. An invitation? Perhaps. 

I tore off the towel, got dressed, shoes and all. I took photos of the ripples and saved them. I recorded the results in my data planner stored in my mini backpack purse for times like this and placed the straps over my shoulders. Now I was ready to try a more daring experiment. 

I placed my whole arm in. The effect was akin to plunging it in an ice bath without the numbing effect. I pulled my arm out. My sweater wasn't wet, nor my arm. Not quite like water. I shot a video with my arm submerged and retracted. 

"Experiment number three. Thus far, I've touched the mirror with my finger, and placed my arm inside up to my elbow. The effect is exactly what a liquified mirror should feel, if it were liquified. Cool like ice, yet not wet. While the mirror feels cold to the touch the cold has no effect on my body. It is clearly not water, despite its appearance to the contrary. Nor is it ice in the traditional sense. The next part of the experiment entails putting my whole head in. I won't be able to film this part but will record a detailed account after."

I shoved my phone into my backpack and took a deep breath. I was about to prove my theory. Excitement entangled with a great deal of nervousness rippled through me. There was no experiment on Earth that didn't come with danger attached. Ben Franklin with his kite. Marie Curie with Radium. And others. No great gains in theoretical physics without great cost.

I closed my eyes and plunged my head in. I kept them closed focusing solely on my other senses. For one thing, I couldn't hear, nor could I smell anything. A sure bet that I wouldn't be able to see anything either. I bravely opened my eyes. Yep. Darkness. But wait, a flicker in the distance. I concentrated on it. Like a candle flame beckoning to me.