UNSEEN (One-Shot Story)

unseen

I am a man who doesn't want to be seen.

So I escaped, run, searching, looking for freedom.

Until I saw a place that felt home.

It was unfamiliar, it was beautiful.

A place that I've never seen before. 

Surprisingly, no one knows me.

I suddenly became a normal guy living from a normal world.

I am Jayce Tracy, and I have a story to tell.

'I act on screens, I read a thousand scripts

I work with women, kiss them in an unfamiliar sheets

I am living a dream, I am a star of the night

Winning golds and silvers in my hands wishing they could hug me tight

I am lucky, my friends would say

Or... they are lucky because they have a friend like me who carries the bills to pay

I am with people but no one can see me

They only know me because of fame and money

Not until I went to a place and met someone

A girl with hazel eyes and a contagious smile

'My name's Gracie.' she said in another balcony sipping her wine

She's next to my room but I have never seen her outside

We always see each other in our balconies every 7 am and 7 pm at that exact time

After days of staying, I decided to talk to her

Unexpectedly, she's really funny, she has the wit that makes me beam

"What brings you here Jayce, I noticed you looked so sad when I first saw you"

I told her it was a long story but she said she was willing to listen and she'll tell her story too

"I don't wanna live that kind of life anymore, I'm so tired of being seen, I wanna be free for once. I wanted this life my whole life but it turns out to be a nightmare. It was a fantasy to me when I was a child, until I realized that it is slowly becoming a tragedy when I grew older. It felt like I don't belong in that world anymore."

I narrated everything. I was vulnerable that time. I was tired, really tired. She's just a stranger but it felt comforting opening up to her.

"Wish I could be you for once Jayce. I wanted your life so bad."

I thought she understands me. For once, I was really offended, I got really mad.'

I closed my notebook.

I laid myself on the green grass watching the sun above.

Laying beside you must be weird isn't it?

Months ago we met in our balconies.

Now, we lay beside each other watching the sun, 

but with only two eyes opened.

'Days passed I've never talked to her again

She's still in the balcony every 7 in the morning and evening like she's waiting for a friend

One morning I said sorry for what I have acted

She just smiles and watch the people below us looking like someone's farted

It was odd, it was funny so we just laugh it off

Then she told me what brings her in this place, and my heart went soft

"I once dreamed to be known, to be seen, like you. I wanted to be remembered, to be loved by many, to be praised, to be famous. I love people, I love cameras, screams, music, stage. I wanted to be a star. I wanted to be like you, Jayce."

What happened, Gracie?

"What happened, Gracie?'" she just cried and left

I went to her room and tried to knock and tell her sorry

Surprisingly, two old couple opened the door

Who are these people?

I was in confusion. I asked where's Gracie but they didn't know who she is

I felt dumb, I apologized, and went back to my room, but how the fuck is Gracie is on the balcony again

I was still in shocked how it happened

But I am not that stupid to notice

Or maybe I am

She smiled at me and she slowly faded away from my sight.

I turned my head to her. 

Her tomb.

She died two decades ago because of an accident.

It was unbelievable. It was scary, and weird.

Because all those times,

I was talking to a dead person.