Shivani Mehta

The Invisible Girl goes to confession

When the Invisible Girl goes to confession the priest thinks she’s an angel. He knows she’s near when candles on the altar flicker. If he squints, the priest can see the outline of a woman rising from the incense. In his dreams the Invisible Girl looks like Mary Magdalene, with black hair, high cheekbones, rounded hips. The Invisible Girl’s confession is the susurration of leaves on a windy day. She asks the priest if her invisibility is a punishment or simply god’s way of teaching her humility. The priest is full of his own questions. In his dreams he is more man than priest. When he closes his eyes, he pretends that the Invisible Girl’s collarbone is a tree branch and his lips are birds.

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