For decades, we humans were searching for extraterrestrial organisms who are not our own kind. The intrigue of this quest is unknown for certain. Nor do we have the slightest idea what they would look like if they were ever true. Yes, there might be scanty evidence for our unfulfilled sketches of these terrifying beings. But ‘fact’ is not the center of this illusion or imagination we have concocted. Apparently, as reflected in multiple movies and narrations, these beings are scary, ugly, and entirely devoid of logic and emotion. And they are coming to colonize and rule our world. In any case, we have heard these so many times it is getting old now. Or sounds like the fairy tales we are accustomed to. 

Here is a thought, though. We are scared of whatever type of creature would land on Earth mainly because we are assuming they are devoid of any logic or emotion. And because of that it wouldn’t be possible for us to reason with them or get their kindness (pity) to preserve our life on this planet. But in reality, aren’t we doing all that to ourselves already? Aren’t we becoming so detached from our emotions from time to time? In this age of sarcasm, are we ever true to our feelings? Aren’t we suffering from a famish of power over the powerless?

I, sometimes, wonder if the entire universe has become the portrait of Dorian Gray in the classic work of Oscar Wilde. In the book, the handsome, young Dorian was painted to have a portrait of his own. Yet, time after time, as Dorian was getting old, and his sins piled up, the painting replaced itself with a monster version. With time Dorian turned away from innocence and kindness to become cruel and brute. With time our planet is losing kindness for the uncanny selfishness with the added value of violence. The painting may seem the same after all. But the truth is, we have defaced from what we were to what we are now. 

Over the years, vulnerability has faded. Revealing true emotions has become a shameful activity. We have, now, descended into the pit of madness where everyone is supposed to pretend to be happy. Or lose their mind while trying. Our social affiliations are on the brink of disappearance. We have alienated ourselves from our own kinds with no enemy bellowing us to do it. Individualism reigns in our realm firmly. It seems like the only thing we share is the collective traumas we have induced on each other. Yet, not to deal with them together, but to brim over them all alone in despair. 

In my opinion, it is safe to say the wait is over.  The aliens are already here. We haven’t grown horns on our skulls or started to have sharper teeth. But we have convoluted ourselves into something else we cannot even begin to understand. “I don’t even know myself,” has become the mantra of our lives. Self-awareness and the obsession to have self-awareness have led us astray to the edge we do not know. Consciousness is an ache we would like to distract ourselves from. Rationalism has become a manipulating mechanism to gain the kind of validation we would like to hear. Distractions from self, thoughts, and any sort of emotion are the only way to give us mental repose. No wonder, we cannot know or recognize ourselves. Are we ever going to face our consciousness sober with no distractions?

Have I been so vulnerable myself, I would have held the moral high ground to lecture every reader to do this and that. But dear reader that would be the worst hypocrisy of all. 

Whenever I think about the things I have lost, imagined or real, I realize the true loss I have suffered from is my vulnerability itself. I cannot spare a fair share of aches or excitements in my life. Not so many people would, these days. 

While waiting for exotic beings that might endanger our life on this planet, we have become eccentric beings of our own kind. We are filled with too many altercations, our perfect portrait has become completely defaced. Without even realizing it, we have conquered our own planet to become the aliens. Perhaps, it is time for us to be human once again. To learn what it means to be a human. And abandon ourselves from the grotesque figure we have become. 

If you are still wondering to know what an alien would look like, though, you only have to stand in front of a mirror. That figure you see standing is the one you have been waiting to see.