Invisible.

The dictionary defines the word as: "Incapable by nature of being seen."

Thousands of bands define it as a word of angst, relating the word to those who feel alone in this world. However, many times those people who are "alone" are accompanied by friends, are noticed by society.

Casper Lauren was invisible.

Since the age of six, it was discovered that Casper could no longer speak, losing his ability to control his vocal chords after a tragic car accident that killed his grandmother. His parents, having loved the boy, seemed to push the traumatic event from their minds by the celebration of another child. They had two, and with the excuse of another they could push the boy who had no ability to express himself into the corner of their minds.

They loved him, but they could no longer bare to witness something that could have been prevented had they taken the responsibility to stop it.

Three children later, and the family was running smoothly. The eldest boy, Johnathan Lauren, had become the star quarterback for the local college team, bringing home many trophies and receiving a full ride to school. The youngest, Max Lauren, quickly excelled in his studies, taking home the prize for every science fair in the county. Not to mention that the two Lauren boys had records of making varsity sports teams and high grades. Heck, both were class presidents.

As for the middle child, Casper did not excel in sports or his studies. He did not bring home outstanding awards for grades, only average in the categories that most people deemed important. His parents, though never forgetting he existed, did not bother to scold failed tests. They did not go to his parent meetings, and they did not attend any event in which Casper might take part.

Because of his lack of voice, Casper had become a genius with one thing, the camera. At one point he had tried to show his parents the achievements, but as each of his brothers seemed to perform outstanding acts, he gave up. His room was empty of the awards, all of his photos and medals stored neatly into boxes in his closet.

Casper figured they felt guilty, for allowing him to get into the car with a woman whose license had been taken away. Unfortunately, they suppressed the guilt by pretending he didn't exist all together.

Another thing that made him less noticeable than his brothers (in his mind) was his build. Both brothers were tall, muscular, and had every female head turning in awe. Casper? He was small, smaller than his younger brother, scrawny. His skin was smooth, and he was fragile. If even the slightest of pressure was placed on the boy, the skin would bruise.

Unlike his brothers dirty blond hair, the boy had hair as dark as night. John and Max both had inherited their mother's green eyes, while he had been tortured with the bright blue eyes of his deceased grandmother. No matter how hard he tried, Casper could not escape her memory.

His invisibility would easily be seen to anyone who cared to stare long enough into his life.

One morning, when Casper awoke and wandered into the kitchen, he found a note.

The tears sprung to life so quickly that the boy even surprised himself, not sure why he wasn't used to the news that he received. His family was gone for the day, off to Johnathan's tailgate party before the big game.

He moved towards the fridge, having dropped the note rather than giving into the urge to rip it into bits. On the top shelf sat a cake, the smudged writing congratulating the boy, doing nothing but leaving a lump in his throat that he could not swallow. Casper knew what this was for, a reminder of his life.

Moving up the stairs the boy dropped back into his bed, listening to the silence of the house. He began to count the stars he had stuck to his ceiling, the ones that glowed in the darkness of his room. Casper had installed dark curtains to block out the sun, a relaxing thing for the male.

Inwardly he sighed, opening his mouth as if speaking. They formed the words he was used to saying to himself, 'happy birthday Casper.'

Invisible.

Casper Lauren was invisible.

But that was about to change.