The Grey Man

She’s gorgeous,

It’s undeniable.

Even when it’s hard for me to look,

I know.

I can feel her beauty,

Like a warm breeze.

A constant presence.

She says, “Hi,”

And I fumble my words.

I sweat more than I speak.

It’s more like a quiet squeak.

That’s how I reply.

She smiles kindly.

It feels like pity.

I’m ready to disappear.

...

But her eyes burn with an intensity

I’m unprepared for.

I smile back,

But it’s crooked, of course.

She gives me her name.

I miss it entirely

And say sorry.

She repeats it,

I blink.

I’m blank.

She stares with patience,

But we all have limits.

She repeats herself once more...

...

Three strikes and I'm out.

So I smile and pretend.

I mumble mine in return,

I think,

I can’t be sure.

She waits for more,

but I can’t find it.

I have nothing to give.

I’m barely here.

She’s noticed.

...

She turns away

To someone else’s attention.

I take my cue

And fade out the back.

Disappear into memory,

Like a question she once had,

But forgot she’d ever asked.

As if I were never really here.

...

Forgettable.

But I remember.

Everything.

That’s my punishment

For my fear of being seen.

No one remembers me

Because they never truly see me.

It’s like I was never there,

Just a ghost of myself.

The invisible man.

A shade of grey.

...

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The SAS, the British special forces, have a concept called 'The Grey Man'. It refers to someone who can blend into their surroundings without standing out. To pass through life in a forgettable way, allowing them to perform secret missions undetected. Some of us allow ourselves to embody that persona in life without purpose. We get so good at disappearing, we forget to be seen.

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© Simon George 2025. All Rights Reserved.

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