Inconsequential as they may seem, colors affect so much of human’s lives. Maybe that’s a bold claim for me to say, but I really do think so.

For starters, it affects our decision making. Choosing the right clothes, buying that perfect car, finding a new home—in all of which, colors are always part of the criteria.

Colors also evoke feelings and certain responses when we look at them. Like how restaurants use reds in their interiors to improve appetite. Or how cafes mix greens and browns to promote relaxation.

But the biggest thing of all is how colors also influence who we are from the inside.

In recent decades, there have been an emergence of people who developed an odd reaction when touching others. Upon skin contact, they lose their normal sight for a second, and instead, they just see a single color. The phenomenon was initially dismissed as some form of hallucination, but as more cases appeared, and studies were conducted, researchers found a link to the colors these people see and the personality of the people they touch. In other words, this ability can see others'  nature, or hearts, psyches, or—how most call it—souls. 

Eventually, these talented individuals have been referred to as Perceivers and have become important people in society, especially in law enforcement. Like my Dad. A detective who aids investigations by comparing testimonies against souls and then, pointing out potential inconsistencies. A very neat skill. As a young kid, I’ve always dreamed of becoming like him. I think any kid with a cool father like him thinks like that. However, there is no chance I can ever be like him. Other than the fact that I am no Perceiver, there’s also… something wrong with me.

I am a Myriad.

Souls are normally of one color. Yet, some have more than one; a rare anomaly present to only one in every seven thousand. These people, such as myself, are called Myriads.

While this peculiarity seems harmless, a study from France, regarding the behavioral difference of Myriads compared to regular humans, reveals that around 92% of Myriads actually become criminals. And not just petty pickpockets. We’re talking about kidnappers, con artists, rapists, murderers. Even the biggest known masterminds in some countries happen to be Myriads. Further studies in America, Japan, and even here in Korea confirm this study.

It's probably because Myriads are made up of several personalities clashing, a chaos of multiple things trying to become one. We are all and yet none of our colors. An instability. Which makes me wonder what Dad felt when I was born. Detective Shim, an agent of the law, excitedly embracing his newborn only to discover the soul of a potential criminal. Has he felt disappointment? Has he been scared at one point? Everybody fears Myriads, after all. We are automatically criminals in everyone’s eyes, regardless if we have committed a crime or not, and I can’t blame them. It’s normal for anyone to be concerned about their safety.

Regardless of how they may have felt, I know my parents love me. They only care about protecting me from the judgment of the world.

In my early years, my parents had never let anyone near me. In school, I was separated from the other children, while Mom stood guard beside me. Dad informed the school I had some sort of illness that needed observing at all times. I may talk to my classmates, but I wasn’t allowed to play with them. It felt lonely and I was frustrated. “Why couldn’t I run around with other kids, when I could do so at home? I was perfectly healthy,” I thought. Thankfully, when the truth was revealed to me, I understood.

Perceivers can identify Myriads, but Myriads have no way to detect Perceivers. Keeping people away is the best way to avoid contact with a Perceiver.

Hence, I must continue what my parents have been doing. To live a normal life, my soul must remain in the dark. Also, I don’t want Dad and Mom to become parents of a criminal. I cannot be discovered. I cannot be found.

Inconsequential as they may seem, colors affect so much of human’s lives. In my case, colors have decided how I should live my life.