contemporaneousness.

“We are all around you.
You don’t think about us much, because we are
invisible. Well, not exactly invisible. A lot of us
have hair dyed in four colours, or wear five-inch
platform sneakers, or carry enough metal in our
skin that it’s a hassle getting on an airplane.
Quite visible, actually, come to think of it.
But we don’t wear signs saying what we are.
After all, if you knew what we were up to,
we couldn’t work our magic.
We have to observe carefully, and push and
prompt you in ways you don’t notice.
Like good teachers,
we let you think you’ve discovered
the truth on your own.”
-Scott Westerfeld