Author's Note: Shortest thing I've ever written in my life. Written for Exotica fic contest at Jellicle Moon. Comments, please? Merci beaucoup.

Cry My Soul to Sleep

Jemi Gr.

Has anyone noticed that I've left?

It's a question that haunts me, late at night, when the darkness seems to shrink around me and all peaceful thoughts that I may have been able to conjure up are far beyond my mind. Have they noticed? Do they miss me? Do they want me to come back? Are they looking for me?

If they did notice I left, and if they did try to look for me, they've probably given up hope now. Old Deuteronomy probably spoke a few words of consolation, and then everyone went back to their everyday routine. Without me. Not like it matter, of course. I wasn't part of their everyday routine anyway.

I was the invisible Jellicle, you see. Every Jellicle cat had a title, you see, or a rank of some sort. Nobody ever spoke about it, but everyone knew it. Jennyanydots was the motherly Jellicle. Old Deuteronomy, the leader. Skimbleshanks was kind of like everyone's uncle. Tugger was the flirt. Etcetera was the hyper one. Jemima was the sweet one. Victoria was the beautiful one. Bombalurina was the flirt. Munkustrap was the protector. I was invisible.

Nobody ever noticed me. Not once did I ever hear a "Come play with us, Exotica!" or a "Come to the ball with me, Exotica," or a "Would you help me with these bothersome mice, Exotica?" or a "Come see this new magic trick, Exotica," or even a "Take a bath, Exotica. You're a mess."

I was invisible. Nobody cared whether I was dirty or clean, bitter or kind, playful or serious, happy or sad.

So I left.

Yes, that's it. No glamorous escape plan. No sneaky nighttime exit. I just got up from the tire and left. No one noticed. No one cared.

I suppose I'm better off out here. There's no one around, so no one can not notice me. Better to be alone by yourself than to be alone with hundreds of others around you, right? Right.

And besides, now no one can hear me cry my soul to sleep.

Not like they'd notice if they were around, mind you.