The Invisible Woman

“Nina, you’re on in five.”

“Thanks, Noah.”

“Noah, where’s Nina?”

“I don’t know, Jim, she was just here a minute ago.”

“Hello! I’m here!” I reach for Noah’s arm, but I start falling instead. What the hell? The white lights of the studio pulse and spin. My dress, once soft against my skin, is now drenched with confusion. As I balance on the thin points of my black stiletto heels, I hear. “I’ve got you.

“Maggie?”

“Hi, Nina.”

I move to sit up on the couch.

“Feeling better?”

“Maggie? I thought you were dead?”

“Is that what they’re calling it? Such chauvinistic pigs!” As Maggie crosses the room, my eyes follow. She looks amazing! That dress, is that Gucci?

“I didn’t die. I turned fifty and received the change or, as I like to call it, the Gift.” Maggie stares at her perfect red nails. “It was hard to accept at first. You’ve seen these changes in other women. They get the awful parts of the change. You know, hot flashes, weight gain, and mood swings. Only a select few receive just the Gift.”

“So, I’m not dead?”

“Yes, you’re not dead. Other people just don’t see you any longer - especially men. You’ll be ignored, passed by, and declared dead. Feeling angry about this is normal, but don’t waste your time. My only regret is that I was alone when I received the Gift. God, I wasted so much time being pissed off.” Maggie pauses by the mirror to admire herself.

“There’s a strength in being invisible.” Maggie’s eyes widen with excitement. “This dress, these shoes, this hair. All free! I can walk into any establishment and take what I want undetected. So, Nina, what’s it gonna be? Pity party or celebration?”