How to Pretend You're Not Being Controlled by an Alien Parasite.
A Practical Guide for the Newly Inhabited Human Version 2.3 (Updated After the Incident)

SECTION 1: MASTERING BASIC HUMAN BEHAVIOR
STEP 1: Maintain Natural Facial Expressions
Humans rely heavily on facial cues to determine whether another human is “acting weird,” “behaving strangely,” or “clearly possessed by something unspeakable.” To avoid suspicion, you must master the art of the casual expression.
Blink occasionally. Not too often. Not too little.
If unsure how often humans blink, observe the nearest one and copy them.
Do not stare unbroken for more than thirty seconds. People dislike that for reasons that remain unclear.
If your smile becomes too wide, narrow it.
If it becomes too narrow, widen it.
If your jaw begins to unhinge, rehinge it immediately.
Note: If your eyes begin glowing, claim you are wearing novelty contacts. Humans love novelty contacts.
STEP 2: Speak in a Casual, Human Manner
Humans communicate using a combination of words, tone, and subtle social cues. You will need to imitate these.
Use contractions. Humans love contractions. They cannot resist them.
Do not refer to your host body as “the vessel.”
Avoid announcing your intentions to assimilate the neighborhood.
When greeting others, say “Hello,” not “Salutations, carbon‑based life unit.”
If you accidentally speak in your native frequency (the one that causes small animals to flee), cough loudly and blame allergies.
If you find yourself narrating your actions aloud (“I am lifting the cup. I am chewing the food. I am inhaling oxygen.”), stop immediately. Humans find this unsettling.
STEP 3: Blend Into Social Situations
Humans gather in groups for reasons that remain scientifically dubious. You must participate.
At work:
Nod during meetings.
Occasionally say, “That’s a great point.”
Do not attempt to mind‑meld with your supervisor, even if it would be more efficient.
At dinner:
When invited to dinner, do not request a bowl of warm nutrients.
Eat the food provided. Even if it tastes like sadness.
If you begin levitating, pretend you are stretching.
At Parties:
Laugh when others laugh, even if you do not understand the joke or the concept of humor.
Do not attempt to absorb anyone through osmosis.
If someone asks what you do for fun, do not say “observe.”
SECTION 2: HIDING PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS
Your parasite may cause minor bodily changes. These are normal and nothing to worry about, unless you are the host, in which case you should worry constantly.
Common Symptoms and Solutions
Glowing eyes: Claim you’re trying out a new brand of eye drops.
Elongated limbs: Blame yoga.
Translucent skin: Moisturize aggressively.
Sudden telekinesis: Pretend it was the wind.
Uncontrollable humming: Say you’re into throat singing.
Extra appendages: Wear layers.
If your parasite begins speaking through your mouth without your permission, gently remind it that this is a shared space.
SECTION 3: TROUBLESHOOTING PARASITE‑HOST CONFLICTS
It is normal for the host and parasite to experience occasional disagreements. Here are common issues and recommended solutions.
Issue 1: The Host Resists
If your host attempts to regain control of the limbs, negotiate calmly.
Offer snacks.
Promise to let them choose the next TV show.
Remind them that resistance is statistically futile.
Issue 2: The Parasite Oversteps Boundaries
If your parasite tries to take over completely, set firm limits.
“No, we are not declaring dominion over the grocery store.”
“No, we cannot rearrange the neighbor’s DNA.”
“No, we cannot eat the mailman.”
Issue 3: Internal Screaming
If you hear the host’s internal screaming, turn up the radio.
SECTION 4: CASE STUDY — A TOTALLY RANDOM EXAMPLE NOT BASED ON A REAL PERSON
To illustrate the principles above, let us examine a hypothetical scenario involving a human named… Greg. Yes. Greg. A very real, very normal human.
Background
Greg was minding his own business when a small, shimmering organism launched itself into his ear canal at 3:42 p.m. on a Tuesday. This is statistically the most common time for parasitic bonding.
Day 1
Greg attempted to continue his daily routine. His parasite, however, was enthusiastic.
At work, Greg typed 400 words per minute.
His coworkers became suspicious.
Greg blamed caffeine.
Greg does not drink caffeine.
Day 2
Greg’s parasite tried to introduce itself during a staff meeting.
“HELLO FELLOW HUMANS I AM—”
Greg slapped his own face.
“—fine. I am fine.”
Day 3
Greg’s left arm began acting independently. His right arm filed a complaint.
Day 4
Greg attempted to write a message begging for help. The parasite edited it into a grocery list.
Day 5
Greg and the parasite reached a compromise:
Greg gets weekends.
The parasite gets weekdays.
They share holidays.
SECTION 5: ADVANCED CAMOUFLAGE TECHNIQUES
Once you have mastered basic human imitation, you may proceed to more advanced strategies.
Technique 1: Small Talk
Humans love discussing:
Weather
Traffic
Television shows they secretly hate
Pets
Other humans’ pets
The weather again
If you run out of things to say, simply repeat the last sentence the other person said but with a questioning tone.
Technique 2: Human Hobbies
Pick at least one hobby to appear relatable.
Acceptable options:
Baking
Gardening
Jogging
Complaining about jogging
Collecting things that do not need collecting
Unacceptable options:
Cataloging human weaknesses
Harvesting spores
Telepathic chess
Consuming stars
Technique 3: Human Sleep
Humans require sleep. You must pretend to do this.
Lie down.
Close your eyes.
Do not hover.
Do not emit light.
Do not whisper “Soon” into the darkness.
SECTION 6: IF YOU ARE DISCOVERED
Despite your best efforts, humans may eventually suspect you are hosting an alien parasite. If this happens, remain calm.
Signs You Have Been Discovered
People back away slowly.
Someone says, “Why are your pupils shaped like that?”
A neighbor points and screams.
The government arrives.
Recommended Actions
Smile reassuringly (but not too wide).
Say, “I’m just tired.”
If captured, detach from the host and scuttle toward the nearest air vent.
If your host begins writing messages begging for help, delete them.
CONCLUSION
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can maintain the appearance of normal human behavior while enjoying the many benefits of parasitic companionship. Remember:
Blend in.
Act natural.
Do not unhinge your jaw in public.
And above all, trust the process.
You and your parasite are on a journey together — a journey of growth, adaptation, and occasional involuntary limb movement.
We wish you the best of luck.
We are rooting for you.
We are watching you.
About the Creator
Sara Wilson
I love Ugly Things.
I try and be active AND interactive.
I write... whatever I feel.
Sometimes it's happy.. sometimes it isn't. But it's real. And it's me.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme


Comments (11)
💖Sara! The monotonous, condescending tone of this piece gets me in the side. I am laughing haughtily, yet there is something macabre and deeply unsettling about the truth that makes me laugh harder to hide the cracks. 💖Wait... Please tell me they aren't aliens! 'I am lifting the cups, I am chewing the food.' This Anaphora feels like a manual for something non-human trying to blend in. 'Scientifically dubious' is such brilliant diction here.
Lol! I love this, but it felt creepily like you were writing from experience!
You know too much. Are you host or are you parasite?
Loved it. 👏👏👏
Hahahahahahahahaha the osmosis, eating the mailman, the compromise with Greg, the "soon", and sooo many more! I laughed like a retarded seal! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 This was some hilarious shit hahahahahahahahah
Hahaha! This was brilliant, Sara! 😄😄
🔥 😂
Yes, reminds me of Resident Alien show. I love aliens, ghosts and witches. This was a hilarious read. Kudos Sara.
'Elongated limbs: blame yoga- Hahahahaha! Hilarious work, Sara! I also laughed at Greg slapping himself into a better (normal) response. Best of luck. Feels like a winner!
Haha this was awesome. Fun read from start to finish, clever concept and brilliant execution. Kinda reminds me of a tv show called “resident alien”, similar sort of humor— you might dig it :)
Nice ❤️