Short Story – The Invisible Man

It really surprises me how many people forget. They’re always forgetting. They forget their mobile phones, they forget their car keys, they forget their books, their schoolwork, their dental appointments, and they forget their computer passwords. People forget everything.

Sometimes…even their mortality.

Mortality has always been one of the biggest problems in my opinion. I always find that it’s a case of someone being "brave" or "daring." They’re just sugar-coating it. While the forgetting of one’s mortality is an admittedly easy mistake, the description of the color it’s so often described in is just plain wrong. Every single time – they get the shade of red wrong. I’ve tried to tell them, but it’s only replaced by flags or everything on this silly planet that’s been colored black. I just can’t fathom it.

To be honest, the only thing that astounds me more than the forgetting of mortality, is the repitition of the exact same forgetfulness. You would think people would learn after so many times that’s not a good idea to run into a burning house after their dog, or that it might not be the smartest idea to see how much oncoming traffic one can dodge in comparison with their friend.

Sigh. Maybe I’m just out of touch with this whole "emotions" thing.

I guess it’s only to be assumed after thousands of years of doing the same thing over and over with nobody listening to you. I’ve been praised by poets and seers far and wide as being part of the "natural order" as if that had anything to do with it. The permanent chill I feel might be an effect, but I got used to it somewhere in the 20th century.

Although I can’t influence what people believe, when I get yet another group of regulars who arrive much too early, it only makes me shakes my head and sigh. It’s as if my job is meaningless…as if I’m invisible.

Humanity has aspired to some great things. Very impressive, and unforgettable things. But while others around them never forget their actions, they themselves seem to forget the most. What is it about "bravery" or "courage" that makes them such a popular amnesia supplement. I have to do my job – there’s no arguing that. But sometimes I wish that people would just remember the line between nobility and foolishness.

To be fair, there are occasionally those moments when someone’s time is lined up with one of those silly actions…and I suppose that, then..those adjectives can be attributed. But that happens a lot less often than you would think.

It’s such a shame..all of that potential and all of that hard work to build their civilization up to where it is today, and it’s just carelessly torn down. When I think about how fluid these lives seem to be, I wonder if I’m really all that’s left of those who still remember.

Maybe I’m all there ever was.

Let’s just hope that they’re prepared for the real challenges. Otherwise, hope is as bleak as I am. Otherwise..I really will be the only one left.