Nobody sees me

I feel my ears pop as the change of pressure hits my body. It’s my first time traveling alone, in fact, it's my very first time on a plane. The long hours pass as I tell myself to focus on the music coming out of my headphones to distract myself of the nervousness that overwhelms me. Some people love traveling, love planes, hot air balloons, skydiving and everything that has to do with being in the air. But not me, I have been scared of planes for as long as I can remember because I am scared of heights, just the thought of being so high up makes me wince. So planes have always been a big “No no” for me, but here I am, in a plane with a cruising altitude of more or less than 10,000 meters and not anyone I know in sight. Although there is a nice lady sitting to my left, an intimidating man is sitting in the seat on my right side that just won’t stop staring at me, making me even more uncomfortable than I already am. In fact, I didn't want to travel, but my job offered me a new position and now I have to go through a month-long training process in the other side of the country. You can’t let good opportunities pass you by, so I made the smart and mature decision and accepted the offer.

As we almost arrive at our destination they announce we are probably going to have turbulence. I get anxious at the announcement but try to remain calm and will myself to just hold on for a little bit more. I felt the plane vibrating through my seat, and people began to panic as the lights turned on and off. The sound was similar to that of a passing thunderstorm. But suddenly it stopped, and the plane began to descend. We have arrived and I can finally fully breathe.

I follow the other passengers towards the exit of the plane and head towards the area designed to pick up luggages while I take out my phone to call my mother and let her know I have arrived safely.

“Mom I just got here, I only have to wait for my luggages and I will head to the hotel room the company reserved for me”, I updated my mother on my current plans.

“Okay baby be safe alright? Always keep communicating with me”, said my mother with a comforting tone.

“Yes mom I'll let you know when I-”, I stopped mid sentence as I felt something beneath my shoe. I lifted my feet to see what I stepped on and saw a bracelet made of sea shells. I can't help but ask myself how the shells didn't break after putting all of my weight on top of them.

“Hello? Are you still there?”, my mom got worried when I suddenly went silent.

“I'm here, I almost tripped on something but I'm okay, I'll call you later”, I answered her as I grabbed the bracelet from the floor and put it inside my right pocket not giving it much thought.

“Alright, love you”

“Love you too mom”

After getting my luggages and renting a car, I finally arrived at Hotel La Sombra. Sounds fancy, and also, kind of creepy if you know spanish. But it has been a long trip getting here and I only want to take a shower and go straight to bed. So I head on towards the hotel lobby to check in and get the keys to my room.

The room was quite comfortable, it had a queen sized bed, a TV, a fridge, a bathroom and the opportunity to see the best view possible from the balcony. I explore the room and set down my stuff in what will be my room for the duration of my training.

Then, after taking a shower I can finally lay on the bed and rest. Filled with tiredness I fall into a deep sleep and hours pass by when I suddenly start hearing whispers. I wonder if it can be the person in the next room but I know that can't be, I wouldn't hear them whisper all the way over here. The whispers are close, I feel my heart racing but I can't bring myself to open my eyes. On the outside I must look still asleep as I was only a couple of minutes ago but now I am conscious of my hearing and too scared of enlightening me with my eyesight. Unexpectedly, I start to notice the whispers all have the same tone.

Overflowing with fear I open my eyes and look towards where the whispers are coming from, the left side of my bed. Within the darkness of the room, I see a shadow, of what I could guess, an outline of a small girl in front of the door of the balcony.

“My bracelet is the only thing left, left, the only thing”, the voice said in a whispered tone. “Don't you ever lose it, or you will be cursed, don't say I didn't warn you, warn you”, the voice repeated as the shadow seemed to rock back and forth.

I spring up standing next to my bed and turn on the lamp. My heart beat pounding hard against my chest. The room flooded with light and I saw her. A girl wearing thorn clothes sitting criss-cross on the floor.

Startled, I began to scream.

“You can see me ?”, said the girl staring right at me.

“ Yes, who are you?! What are you doing in my room?”, I replied while backing away from her.

“My bracelet is the only thing left, the only thing”, the strange girl repeated.

“What bracelet? What are you talking about?” I'm going to call security.”, I threatened.

“They won't see me, nobody sees me…My bracelet is the only thing. Don't you ever lose it”, she whispered and continued moving her body in a back and forth motion.

“ I see you.”, I said as I remembered the bracelet I picked up from the airport and ran towards the bathroom where the clothes I wore earlier still laid on the floor since my shower. I searched the pockets of my jacket and pants, and there it was, the bracelet made from shells. Taking the bracelet with me, I return to where the girl is.

As I come near her the bracelet seems to react to the closeness and starts glowing, a bright blue light coming from the center of each shell.

“My bracelet, my bracelet, give it to me, my bracelet…”, the girl whimpers as if in pain and stretches her arms in the air trying to grab it.

I give it to her and she quickly puts it on her wrist. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

“Are you okay?”, I feel dumb as I ask the question but find myself at a loss for words and understanding in this situation.

I came even more near her when I saw she stopped moving, stopped whispering.

Suddenly, she forcefully grabbed my wrist and laughed and said:

“Thank you for freeing me, you are now cursed.”

The girl disappeared right in front of me, I looked at my wrist and there it showed up, the bracelet. What had she said amidst her whispers? Don't ever lose it or you will be cursed? Had she lost it and became some type of shadowy unhinged being as time passed without it? I don't have all the answers but I know I can't take it off, just in case. Or maybe someday I will find out the meaning behind this but just not tonight.