I tentatively rest my finger on the cool,
nearly frozen surface of the glass,
and it touches me back.

There is someone else there too,
they look back at me
as I look at them.

Eyes glistening in wonderment,
I ask, “Who are you?”
They seem to speak at the same time I do,
but their voice is inaudible.

Can they not hear me either?

I squeeze my eyebrows together in confusion,
as they too appear to be puzzled.

This time I press my entire palm against the glass,
against their palm.

I can’t feel them.
All I feel is the cold surface beneath my skin.
“Who are you?!” I begin to shout.

Maybe they hear something
for they instantly react and look to be shouting back.

Together we drop our palms,
and let them rest limply by our sides.
We continue to stare directly into each other’s curious eyes.

I don’t know what I look like,
but the person in front of me,
whoever they may be,
looks familiar.
So familiar in fact,
that the sight of them fills me with nostalgia.

And that’s when I realize I’ve been here the whole time.
Watching them age.
Watching them grow.
Watching them go through their phases and motions.
Watching them go through a life,
so far it seemed untouchable,
is untouchable,
even though the only thing between us is this,
this…
whatever this is.

They take a step back,
and I feel myself move back as well.
Against my will.

No…

Another step,
and then they turn,
at the exact time I’m turned.

I try
I try
I always try
to stop this.
Every time they leave,
whoever they are,
I’m pulled back.

Back into nothingness.
A blackness so dark and suffocating,
I feel it press down its entire weight on every single part of me,
every fiber,
every molecule,
every atom,
And I can’t push it off.

I try to turn back around,
I try to call them back…

I’m clawing,
I’m clawing at nothing!
There’s nothing to grab!
I’m shouting
screaming,
screaming with all my strength!
But they can’t hear me,
they just keep walking away.
It’s useless…
The blackness keeps pulling me in,
farther away from them,
from everything.

They don’t even know I exist.
I can’t scream anymore…
I tried.
I tried…
I gave it my all…
They don’t know I’m here.
They don’t know I’m here!

Where is here?
Where am I?

...Who am I?