Flipped

1.19

"Can you see me?" I asked Taylor.

"You know, it depends on what you mean by 'see'. I can see you, yes. But you're shadowy. Transparent."

"Like those ghosts in the field?"

She considered. "No, not like that. But I can definitely tell something has changed with you, you know? Like I'm seeing you through transparent paper. You're hazy."

"Okay," I said. "I guess that's what invisible looks like to us, then."

"Yeah. I'd like to shake your hand or something to see how it would feel, but let's wait on that." She looked around the space we were in. "I guess I'll just awkwardly hang at the fountain alone." A second later, "But hey, at least we don't have to break in anymore."

"Yeah, I guess not," I said. "Here I am. But I'll still need you to help, okay? Being invisible is great and all, but I can't do all the risk alone."

We were speaking quietly this whole time, but suddenly, all at once the strangeness hit me - I was just now randomly invisible and here we were, both acting as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

It made me feel powerful somehow.

Taylor nodded. "I'll come with you for sure."

I scanned around the room. If we were trying to get patient records, some were certainly behind the front desk. There was a room that hung back, with an archive built in.

The problem was that the whole area was pretty busy. One woman spooked was fine, but if another person bumped into me things were likely to go sideways. Worse, they were likely to blame Taylor, and she was part of our group. The last thing for any of us to do was attract attention or seem odd.

It's possible it was already too late for that. Or getting close.

The room was like a giant moving maze. I'd never thought of public places that way before. But it's true. See, normally the people around you respond to where you are and everything just flows.

I knew it was no longer that simple.

Also - I had to go about it quietly. Small noises would be fine in a crowded hospital like this. But anything more and I was bound to spook people out.

And spooked out people attract attention.

Hey," Taylor said, as if she was talking to herself. "Let's go."

Right. "Stick with me, okay?" I whispered. I started walking towards the front desk, which was at the side, closer to the entrance. About seven steps in front of me was the stream of staff walking through the staff-only door, as well as people walking from the front door to the elevators behind the fountain. I checked my watch. It was 12 noon. That would explain the staff that were passing through the main area. I guess some of them were going for lunch, or maybe their shifts were swapping.

At least, I really hoped they were going on their breaks. So many of them had bags under their eyes.

I found a gap and started walking.

Just as I did that, one of the nurses looked at his watch. And started running. Right into me.

WHAM! His head hit the side of mine. Taylor jumped back, too, but I barely noticed.

I skid over, got my balance, lost it, and fell on my butt. My shoulder grazed someone to my left. I got a full view of the nurse who bumped me, a bald guy with a tattoo on his arm, swearing and holding his head. Identical faces of shock and surprise, but only one visible.

I looked over at Taylor. She was ignoring me, and looking right at bald guy, looking surprised and shocked. I felt a wave of frustration. Why was she ignoring me? Then I realized I had better get out of the way.

I was gasping. Stop it, I told myself. I drew myself to my feet and stepped out, towards the desk, and froze, waiting for what he would do.

But you know what? Most people don't want to be seen as crazy. Bald guy stood stunned for a few seconds, then straightened himself out and kept walking. Slower, this time.

Huh, I thought. Good to know.

And then I realized - of course that was why Taylor was ignoring me. She wanted to make bald guy feel self-conscious. She wanted him to think that he was crazy, to keep him off me. Taylor, with all of the acting classes behind her. Good thing. "Thanks," I said quietly as she came up beside me again.

No problem," she said, almost nonchalantly. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. We kept moving.

There were these people in a line waiting to see the receptionist, with a triage agent - one of those people who checks to see if you're really ill or if you just have a cold. Now that I was close by I could also see the double doors that led to the waiting room to my left.

I resisted the temptation to stand in line and I walked right up to the front beside everyone.

I saw behind me that Taylor had moved away, loitering behind me. It made sense to not have her chilling by the counter too.

But that meant it was all alone that I discovered something that left me unsure whether I should laugh or cry.

About a quarter of the files behind the desk were gone.