See Me

I always felt invisible, unnoticed, overlooked. I didn’t think it’d be much of a difference.

“Invisibility!” I spoke with a boldness and confidence I knew I didn’t have.

“You’re sure?” Dr. Baily asked. “You’re aware that the effects are temporary, and unstable at best?”

“Yes, I’m aware of the risks.” I looked the doctor steadily in the eye, “And I’m sure.”

Dr. Baily smiled while grasping my hand.

“You have no idea what this will do for the scientific community. Jamal, you are making history today! Get comfortable, we’ll begin shortly.”

Comfortable, not likely I thought as I looked at all the equipment around me, I was already hooked up to half a dozen monitors. My anxiety was rising by the minute, but I was determined to see this through. I wasn’t buying the mumbo-jumbo Dr. Baily was trying to sell me, scientific breakthroughs and all that. I had my own plans, and it would be so much easier if I could go about them truly invisible! Scientific breakthrough, it was more like a miracle to me, an answered prayer. Being invisible would give me an opportunity to right a wrong, an opportunity to change a few lives, maybe even save one.

My family’s legacy was stolen from us, our land taken from my ancestors. Growing up that’s all I ever heard about, how great-grandpa Tucker, was swindled out of his land by the McMillers, and our family was forced into begging and stealing to survive.

On my father’s deathbed I swore to him that I would restore our family’s legacy and lands, or die trying. I knew I needed the original deed, and the transfer of owenership, and I knew where it was. That son of a b$#%! Ian McMiller, kept it framed in the front room of his home! A constant conversation piece for his guests, the story of how his great grandfather made a fool of that no good negro farmer Tucker, and took his land for good measure. I vowed that story would come to an end.

I was hoping this experiment wouldn’t turn me into some sort of permanent freak, but it was worth the risk for a chance to reclaim my family’s leagacy. My family has been living in the shadows for far too long...

"Jamal?" Dr. Baily's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Are you you ready to begin?" She asked while giving me a searching gaze.

"Yes Doc, I'm ready," I spoke in a strong and confident voice that I had yet to feel. This was scary, crazy stuff, but I had to try right, for our honor.

"Good," Dr. Baily began. "Jamal, I am so excited to be taking this step with you, it is invaluable to the scientific community, and humanity as a whole. With that said I want to be completely honest with you, this has never been tested on humans, you will be the first." By this time Dr. Baily was looking at me very intensely. I could tell that she was not only smart, but that she had to have been stunningly beautiful in her younger years. She was still beautiful, but the beauty of an older woman, a little sad, and hard, eyes just a little too cold, eyes that have known life's disappointments and betrayals. I wondered briefly how much of her life she had spent, working feverishly in some dark lab. I shook my head, chasing the thoughts away, I had my own agenda, no time for sentimental thinking.

"I understand the risks Doc," I told her without flinching. But did I?

"I'm not sure you do Mr. Tucker." Dr.Baily's gaze had went from intense to down right serious, and she was calling me by my last name now, her tone and steady gaze was causing my anxiety to do somersaults! Of course I knew this was crazy, but what choice did I have?

" Jamal, I don't even know if it will work, or if it will work too well. If it does work properly the effects of the invisibility should last 24 hours."

" What do you mean should?" I asked, wasn't I suppose to be the only one unsure here.

" A lot of this is shooting in the dark," she began. " We don't know if you'll be invisible for 24 hours, days, or years. We don't know if we'll be able to hear you, or touch you, or the other way around. It's called an experiment for a reason. We just don't know, and I wanted to make sure you knew the risks. You'll be hooked up to monitors the whole time so we'll be able to track your vitals even if we can't see you. Do you still wish to proceed Mr. Tucker?"

Of course I didn' want to, but I had to right! I heard myself reply.

" I know the risks Doc, lets proceed."

Everything after that is a blur, ten years have passed, I'm still invisible and Dr. Baily is long gone, along with any hopes of ever truly being seen again. Revenge led me down this path, and for what, I'm more miserable now than before this began, with a heart full of regret and loneliness as a constant companion. I always felt invisible, unnoticed, overlooked, but being truly invisible is an insignificance I would wish on no one.