One would find it cool or scary to work at a museum filled with mummies and corpses. For me, it got dull at some point as I got desensitized at looking at bones or remains of a person. It’s always the same, dried skin and skeleton. As someone who not only works at the museum, but I specifically work on preserving and studying these dead bodies.

We got mummies from all over the world, bones from unknown sources, remains from Pompeii, shrunken heads, and etc. If it's dead, we have some form of it as well. Most of them were at least presented in the most respectful of ways with glass windows for protection and fun themes and decorations. Especially the Head Collection, a shelf filled with preserved heads and sometimes skulls with decaying skin.

Even though I get bored with the typical exhibit, there was this one head in the Head Collection that strikes me. It looked to be the head of a girl around her college years. Unlike most of the heads here, her skin looked fresh and alive. Thanks to that, we can see that she was of Japanese descent yet her hair was long, wavy, and blond. The head appeared to have her eyes closed as usual for most of the preserved heads we keep. No one was able to really identify the head at the moment as we just got her.

“Seriously, what is up with you?” I asked.

It was more as a joke as the staff liked to pretend that the head could hear us. There were rumors of people taking photos and the head started making faces. We didn't have a cam recording since the angle barely reached to this head. As a result, it became a joke among staff.

Even so, today when I asked that question, I had a surprise. I could have sworn that the head just blinked. I looked back and caught the head again trying to act like they were dead. No one was around and it was my job to look after the exhibits and their artifacts. So I got my key and unlocked the glass door.

I took a good look at the head and poked her on the face. The head wiggled a little so I continued poking. After some budging, the head had her eyes open wide. Her mouth opened but no words came out. Of course since she lacked lungs and vocal cords. The head gave a disappointed look as she clenched her teeth and looked nervous over being caught. She started to clear her throat as if she did this many times before suddenly a small gasp was emitted.

“Thank god! I can talk!” the head said as the voice was a little raspy before it got clear.

“Excuse me?!” I said.

“Hey! The name’s Marin! Marin Kirigaya! More like I used to be, lol. Now I’m just her head.” the head said. “I’m like tots glad I can talk again! It was like a drag to just sit here all day and not be able to get help.”

“Marin, right. What are you?” I asked.

“LMAO, I’m like a disembodied head! I still have my pretty face but I can’t wear cute clothes anymore! God, if there’s some way I would like to do things again rather than just sitting here!” the head whined.

“I mean yes but how did you get this way?” I asked.

“I might not look like it but I’m like a scientist. More like an intern at grad school! Was working on a teleportation device of my creation for a thesis and things were great! I had the paper ready and we could like totally teleport living things.” Marin said.

“Why was this not known to the world?” I asked.

“Simple really, it seems that I am from another world or a different era. So when I decided to teleport myself, only my head formed. Probably from a lot of testing. My neck barely formed so I had in and out moments when I could talk. When someone found me, I couldn’t talk and I kept being sleepy.” Marin said. “They thought I was dead so they sent me to a medical facility before sending me here since I’m like a special case. This was like a week ago! The last time I was able to talk was two days ago and yet I was ignored!”

“God um… that was messed up.” I said as I had no way to console her.

“I know, right! From what little I see here, I definitely don’t belong here! Different presidents, different times, and different trends!” Marin said. “Wish I still had my phone but it went along with my body. RIP. Gotta share this online to get help!”

“Where do you think your body is?” I asked.

“Long gone. The teleportation device totally broke down my entire being into small bits while maintaining my consciousness and soul. I ensured that the device does not kill nor complies with the Star Trek paradox. So I assume when the machine broke down, my body is like just particles now. That also explains why I am still alive as it’s still around but dust in some other place of existence.” Marin said. “First my soul and consciousness forms and then my physical body. At least I have myself around and my hair. Props to those dudes for taking good care of my looks.”

“So um…” I said.

“What’s it like to be just a head? Numb and boring! Imagine being tied up but feeling numb from the neck below. All while thinking you still have a body when you don’t. God, I’d trade my ears for a pair of legs. Seeing all of the attendees here walk around made me feel jelly. Which is why I mostly tried to sleep or keep my eyes closed. Seeing everyone having bodies and having fun here kind of makes me tots upset.” Marin said. “But I try to cope.”

“I have no words to say to help.” I said.

“It’s fine, really. I can’t blame you for not knowing what to do with a cute bodiless head.” Marin assured. “All I could do was look on the bright side.”

“What bright side?” I asked.

“I mean it was nice to be part of others' selfies and pics. When I hear someone wanna take a picture with me in the frame, I can’t resist trying to be a part of it. Even if it's photobombing, it's not like I can get out of the way.” Marin said.

“That confirms the rumors of you being active in photos, true.” I said.

“Not only that, my head sits along with some legendary heads. Well, I heard they are. Feels like an honor if you ask me.” Marin said. “Though I wish I actually accomplish my goal so I really earn my spot here. Better yet, get to know them better besides what the tour guide has to say. I can’t read their plaque so I just gotta guess or assume.”

“Hmm, you seemed really happy now.” I said.

“I can be angry all I want but that doesn’t really do anything about my current situation.” Marin said. “I might be bored but I've gotten used to being just a head. If I’m going to be stuck like this, I’ll need some television that I can hear and stuff to keep me company. Maybe someone to talk to.”

“Hmm… not sure if I can promise that.” I said.

“Now that I finally explained all of this to someone, I need you to do me some favors.” Marin said in an attempt to change the topic. At least she was aware of her and my situation on that matter.

“Sure, since I really wanted to help you out.” I said.

“Oh, you are charmed by cute little ol’ me? Well, just hear me out while I can still chat. First of all, I wanna be placed next to the nuclear scientist above me. She is totally less smelly and I am safe sitting next to her thanks to the nuclear containment she was in.” Marin said. “Really impressive that your museum took that into consideration, especially on how she died and was preserved.”

“Thank you.” I said.

“Honestly, I only know stuff about her from the tour guide. Like I never heard of this person yet I know a lot of scientists during my time at school. Like how did I not know her?” Marin said.

“I would not know to be honest. But she is known for her work in nuclear stuff.” I said.

I changed the topic by doing the head the favor as well as exchanging the removable plaques to avoid confusion hopefully. Marin now sat on a row above where she was next to a head in another case. Though the more I see it, Marin’s head was now more visible to selfies and pictures unlike before where there was a chance of her face being covered.

“Next, I need you to get more people to know about my situation. Then hook me up to a physics lab or something so I can try to recreate my teleportation device. On the way, I may need help with my talking problem. Then when things go according to plan, I go straight home!” Marin said.

“What about a body?” I asked

“Does this world have any cloning technology or robotic prosthetics?” Marin asked.

“No.” I replied.

“Neither does mine!” Marin said. “But we are working on it.”

“I’ll notify the staff about this. Just stay awake and talk as much as possible. I don’t want to be seen as crazy.” I said.

“You got it!” Marin said. “I wanna talk and sing as much as [gak]!”

Marin tried to continue talking but no voice came out. The head looked scared as she looked around frantically. Trying to stay awake just so I can reveal the world that she was in fact alive. She probably was thinking of why now of all times she lost her ability to talk. She might not be conscious for long either. I immediately went off to get the help Marin needed. God could only hope that she gets the help she needs.