Halfway Gone

Seen

"She had the oddest sense of herself, invisible; unseen, unknown"                                                   

- Virginia Woolf Mrs Dalloway

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It was a couple weeks ago when this whole thing started, it was sunset, and I had just finished seeing my family. I remember trying to find a safe place to return to my normal state you know, without freaking out the neighbours and making them call the cops....again. 

And there was this boy, following me. At first I wasn't sure I started running and he fell into step behind me. OK Now  he was starting to freak me out. 

Was this guy like a stalker or something? 

And why was he following me of all people? 

All these worries coursed through me and swirled around in my mind as I kept walking, trying not to attract attention. I spied a public bathroom up ahead and and knew this was my chance. Keeping my head down I ran into the stall, locking the door. I waited there for what felt like an eternity before cautiously tip-toeing out of the bathroom. One final glance in the mirror told me I was completely gone.

Jogging back to the hotel, I shuddered to think about what a close call that was. If anyone found out about me- no matter who they were or what they wanted... well that wouldn't be good. I'd have to completely relocate, and moving away from my family wasn't an option. I breathed a sigh of relief as I entered the glamorous lobby of Hotel Vintage, I was finally safe. After all these months the solid marble columns and flight attendant looking hotel staff were starting to feel like home. I gasp when the elevator leading up comes into view.

 There he was... just standing there, leaning against the elevator door. His shocking blue eyes were focused, as if looking for something very small. His tousled blonde hair looked like he'd just fallen out of bed. My first instinct was to turn around and bolt, but that idea was cut short when I ran smack into a rather portly man in a black suit. Then I had the sudden realisation he couldn't actually see me. If only there was a way to get to the elevator without him noticing.... 

Despite the fact I was 99% certain that he couldn't see me, my ability has been known to flicker for the first few minutes after sunset so I kept behind the portly man as he slowly approached the elevator. The polished metal doors dinged open, I realised this was my shot. The boy stumbled back and I slipped past him- only to fall face first into one of those prickly succulent plants that someone had helpfully placed on either side of the elevator.  I looked up to see a weary woman with a shocking mess of ginger hair pushing a pram. I shoved my way out of the bushes and dashed into the elevator, slamming the close-doors button like a maniac. I slumped against the  mirrored walls of the elevator and began to feel sick with still coursing dread and adrenaline. 

When I make it up to the hotel room my first desire was a hot bath, it had been a long day out in the cold January weather of downtown Portland and having recovered from my adrenaline rush I was suddenly exhausted. I was practically half asleep as I stumbled towards the bathroom, but a sudden movement in the corner of my eye caused me to freeze in the doorway. There he was, leaning against the front door of the suite as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his face bearing that same squinting expression taking up his chiselled face. He lifted them up and glanced hurriedly around the room before his eyes landed on...me... But how? 

"Hello" He almost whispered in a low voice that was like listening to the wind race through leaves in a forest.