WHERE HAVE I GONE?

Once upon a time in the bustling city of London, there lived a man named Elliot. He was a gentle and timid soul who felt like he didn't belong in society. His days were filled with the monotony of work and the perpetual feeling of being unseen. Little did he know that fate had a peculiar twist in store for him.

One gloomy morning, with the sky caked in a melancholic grey, Elliot awoke to the sound of his alarm clock. He rubbed his eyes and went through his usual routine, getting dressed and preparing for another day at his unremarkable job. As he stepped out of his apartment, he noticed something peculiar - people were constantly walking into him, oblivious to his presence. Confused and frustrated, he initially chalked it down to being just another day in the busy streets of London, where the meek are part of the pavement. However, as Elliot arrived at work, the truth became apparent. Walking into the office with a determination to get the day done, Elliot sits down at his cubicle, and begins the chore of sifting through a never ending sea of insurance paperwork. Knee deep into the task, he overhears a conversation between the neighbouring cubicle.

Employee #1: "Have you seen the boss this morning? He's on the warpath He's looking for that weirdo who works next to me, in that cubicle." Pointing directly at him.

Employee #1: "Ahh, what's his name? I forget it every time."

Employee #2: "I think it's Elliot, but I'm not sure. Where is he?"

Employee #1: "He hasn't come in today."

Elliot is sat in bewilderment. He recalls how he walked right past the two of them not even an hour ago. An overwhelming feeling calls him to his feet, and he addresses his co workers.

"Hey, I'm here. I was running a little late, but I made it."

The two employees continue talking amongst themselves, as if they didn't hear a word that was said. Standing there with a puzzled expression on his face, Elliot questions if he spoke loud enough to get their attention, so he speaks again, only this time a little louder.

"HEY! I'm here! I was just running a little late this morning, but I got here in
the end."

Still nothing.

"Hello! Hello! Hellooo!"

"What the fuck is going on? Hellooo, can you hear me?"

Anxiety begins to consume Elliot. He runs around to the other cubicle. Now standing directly in front of them he begins to wave his hands in their faces. Nothing. Not even a blink. They're still conversing with each other as if Elliot weren't even there.

As Elliot grapples with the dawning realization, he's struck with a bad bout of nausea, and hastily makes his way to the bathroom.

He arrives at the bathroom, barely making it in time before the vomit launches itself from his gut, spewing out all over the unkempt toilet he now unfortunately finds himself wrapped around. Every anxious thought that crept into Elliot's mind is quickly interrupted by more retching. Five minutes later, Elliot is standing with his face in the sink, washing off the remaining sick residue that clung to his beard. Slowly, he lifts his head from the sink, pulls out several paper towels, and dries his face off. Elliot turns round, throws the paper towels into the bin, and looks back, directly into the mirror above the sink.

Merely avoiding a heart attack, Elliot discovers what he had started to fear. He had turned invisible. As the reality of his situation began to sink in, Elliot found himself lost, scared and completely disconnected from the world.

As the reality of his situation began to sink in, he found himself lost, scared, and completely disconnected from the world. In a state of panic, Elliot sprinted out of the bathroom, desperate to make sense of his newfound invisibility. He hurriedly confronted almost everybody on his floor at work, pleading for someone to see him, to acknowledge his existence. But to his dismay, every attempt ended in frustration and loneliness. It seemed as though he had truly become an invisible entity in a world that had never truly seen him in the first place.

As the day unfolded, Elliot began to ponder the deeper meaning of his newfound invisibility. He realized that this bizarre situation was a metaphor for his own perception of himself in society. Just as he felt invisible and unnoticed among others, his physical form now mirrored that of his emotional state.

Without the pressure of being seen or judged, Elliot started to explore his surroundings with newfound curiosity. He wandered through busy streets and crowded spaces, observing people's lives, conversations, and interactions. He became an unseen observer, catching glimpses of the unfiltered reality that existed beneath the surface of social conventions.

Through his invisibility, Elliot discovered the stories of those who were usually overlooked. He witnessed the struggles, the dreams, and the insecurities that people carried with them. In this clandestine journey, he found solace in the shared experiences of his fellow invisible souls.

Days turned into weeks, and Elliot's perception of himself and society began to shift. He no longer yearned for visibility but instead embraced the freedom that his invisibility offered. He realized that societal norms and expectations had kept him trapped in a web of self-doubt and fear.

One evening, as the sun cast its golden glow upon the city, Elliot found himself standing on a busy street corner. A young girl, no older than seven, dropped her ice cream cone, tears streaming down her face. Moved by her distress, Elliot reached out his invisible hand and offered her a warm smile. The girl's tears subsided, and she looked directly at Elliot, a glimmer of recognition in her eyes.

In that moment, Elliot understood that true connection didn't require visibility or conformity. It emerged from empathy, kindness, and the willingness to see others for who they truly were. He realized that his journey, both literal and metaphorical, had taught him invaluable lessons about acceptance and self-discovery.

With a newfound courage and understanding, Elliot returned home, ready to face the world that couldn't see him. As he stepped into his apartment, he caught his reflection in the mirror. The once-awkward, timid man now radiated a quiet confidence, aware of his worth beyond the realm of perception.

The Invisible Introvert had transformed into a beacon of compassion, reminding others that everyone has a story worth acknowledging, even if it remains hidden from view.

Written by: Connor Ashdown-Ford (2022)