• I hated it. Hearing thousands of voices in the room, even when it was quiet. I thought being a mind reader was going to have a few more perks, but all it does is drag my down and give me migraines. It all started a couple of years ago when my cancer started up again. I had to do the entire kimo process all over again, all the pain and radiation all over again. It was after the kimo was over when I heard my first voice. It sounded weird, like when a drunk person was talking. "Iwannakillmyselftonight.Ihatemylife" was what it sounded like, but I was able to find out the words. "I wanna kill myself tonight. I hate my life." I thought one of the doctors said that. "Did you hear anything?" I said. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy. I realized the room was completely silent, then hearing it again. "Mylifeneedstostop.Icanttakeit." I was starting to go crazy "Stop Talking!" I screamed. "Take it easy kid. I think the kimo is making you feel weird. Maybe a little rest will help." I went to sleep, wondering what had happened.

    The next morning, I heard a lot of screaming. I walked outside, wondering what was going on. "One of the surgeons killed himself last night!" Everyone gasped, including me. I didn't know what I was hearing was right. No. It can't be. That's fantasy. I realized what I heard yesterday was a thought.

    The next few years, the voices became clearer, as if the person was really talking. Then I was able to hear multiple at once. Next thing I knew, I was back in school, and the hallways were a lot louder. Thousands of thoughts going off at once, like the school had a lot more kids in it. I put my I pod in my ears, which was the only thing that blocked out the noise.

    I was trying to listen to the teacher, but there was about 2 million thoughts around me. I then turned around to see John, the hottest kid in the grade. I had always doubted that he liked me, the quiet kid who had cancer. 'Who's that girl sitting in front of me?' I heard his thoughts say. I was wondering what he meant, but he was probably thinking about Jenna Fisher, the most popular girl in the grade. She didn't pick on me or anything, but she just ignored me nicely. I then heard him say 'Wait a second. Wasn't she in the hospital during the summer?' I couldn't believe it, but I heard the teacher say "The math test is tomorrow. Remember to study!" The bell rang and I got up, knowing I would just read a smart kid's mind and get all the answers.

    As the school day went on, Selena, my only friend, came in and spoke to me at lunch. She didn't know that I could hear what she was thinking, but if I told her, her dad, a scientist would end up going psycho on me, locking me in a lab and all that. "You hear about Meg?" She played volleyball, and that was the home of most of the gossipers. "I heard she did it in the bathroom the other day." I looked over at her, and she was one of those good girls, but then I heard a silent cry. 'I hate the rumors. They don't know what really happened.' "Elle?" I spaced out again. "Sorry. Little tired from the meds." Then I heard her again. 'Leon really raped me. I didn't want to have sex, but he went through with it anyway. This purity ring means nothing.' I saw her angrily throw it on the floor. "You okay Meg?" one of the girls at her table asked. "Fine." She stormed out of the table. I saw her go to the bathroom and she started crying. "Is everything okay?" I asked sympathetically. 'Go away. You don't know how I feel right now.' I heard her thoughts say. I went next to her and took her shoulder. "I don't believe the rumors. They didn't hear your side of the story." She sniffled, but I could see she looked a little better. "Wait, you know?" I told the truth. "Yes I do, but for your safety, I didn't tell." She looked at me in amazement. "Good. Leon threatened to hurt me if I peeped." "You should. I know he sounds threatening, but I doubt he would ever do that. You're too good to get hurt." 'Wow. She either empathic or a lesbian. I can't tell, but at least I feel better.' "Thanks. I might go report him, thanks to you." She walked out of the bathroom, and I realized something. This was not in fact a curse, but I could put it to good use and use it to help out others. The bell rang, and I hurried to my class.

    After school was over, I walked home, and my mom was awaiting me. She usually was working in her banking job, but she had some days off to make sure I was okay. "Hi honey. How was school?" "It was pretty normal. Just like any other first day." 'She should honestly tell me more, like if she felt faint or something.' I heard her say. "I felt fine, and I remembered to take the medication. I was also able to do gym today, but the teacher kept me at a slow pace during soccer." Another perk; I was able to satisfy everyone with what they wanted to hear. "Good honey. I'm going to start dinner, so you should start your homework." I went upstairs and started my homework, but caught my reflection in my vanity mirror. I admit, I didn't actually look like someone who had be through chemo a bunch of times, and more like a perfectly healthy person. My hair, which was pretty long considering treatment, was black and had a slight white highlight that I didn't notice until last year. My eyes were an icy blue, which pop out against my pale skin that looked flawless. Seeing myself, I could have easily gotten popularity easily, but due to all the treatment, I was out of school a lot and never really got to socialize as much as everyone else. So I was stuck as the shy girl with cancer, and not to mention, an ability to hear what you're thinking...TBC