We're All Mad Here

Does the thought ever strike you, "I'm not mad. I'm the only sane one here"?

Sounds like the call of the crazy person, does it not? But truly, I'm not mad. I'm not.

I look around at these people, and I don't think I'm better than they are... Only... Something happened that I can't explain. It's set me apart from them. Before, I was lumbering along the same as them, not-in-possession-of-all-the-facts. Now, the wool has dropped from my eyes. Ha! Imagine, the wool falling away, and now you see the blurring you didn't before. What good is clear sight if all you can see is confusion?

Like Eve, I just bit the Apple. She was despised for it. Maybe everyone despises me... But I can't put that bite back. You can't unknow things.

How odd, to be loathed and cursed, and all your children cursed... just for knowing something. For wanting to know.

I digress.

You know when you read a story, and the characters are... sort of fuzzy caricatures? You can't invent a face, you can only make this blob stand out from that blob with a characteristic. Well: we're the blobs! I speak to you now through the paper veil. None of this is real! You are, dear reader. But we... we live only in minds.

Can you picture it? When you go to buy your coffee, the barista is only a blurry face behind an apron. Your crush might have high cheekbones or shapely breasts, but the rest of her (or him) is just a lot of skin-coloured fuzz.

Sherlock Holmes doesn't have a face. Many of your actors have portrayed him very successfully, and they all looked different. Because he isn't the face. He's the hat, the pipe, the violin, the addiction.

Now imagine you look like that. Imagine you are not you, you are your window dressing. Imagine how empty that would feel, how crazy-making, and you get a sense of where I am.

I've tried telling people, but they look at me with that expression. Like I'm... you know. Imagine: people looking at you with an expression but no face. It's intolerable.

Maybe I'm differently mad. It's a small comfort.

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Word count (excluding notes): 366

Submitted on 25th March at 23.40

*Quick Author's Note*

First, and most importantly: thank you for reading!

If you enjoyed this story, the best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another.

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes an 86 day streak. I'm also putting them in my Index post.

The story behind the story: This one was inspired by Hannah Moore.

Thank you

Thank you again! I do my best to reciprocate all reads. Leaving a comment makes that easier.

Edit: I entered this into RM Stockton's unofficial March Madness challenge. You can read more about that here: