Laura! Get up. It is morning now. You have slept enough, now get up and go something", Eliza said, shaking my entire body.
" Why? Why do I have to get up so early. I was training till late night. I have all the rights to sleep properly ", I said, removing Eliza's hands.
Then, I heard Max's voice, he said, " Laura is still not up. Get up now, Laura. We have work to do". I immediately got up and said, " Work? What work? "
"Just freshen up and come for breakfast. We will tell you everything at the table." , Max said to me.
I got up and went to the bathroom. I wondered 'Now what are they planning to do, that too, without telling me anything. There is only one way to find out.' Thinking that, I went downstairs for breakfast.
I found everyone at the table laughing. On seeing me, Lydia said, " Laura is awake! "
"Of course, I woke her today. She was bound to get up", said Eliza. Everyone started laughing and Mom said, " Take a seat, sweetheart. Breakfast is ready. We all need to talk to you too. "
Mom gave me breakfast and I sat beside Lydia. I said, " What is it that you want to talk to me about, Mom? "
Mom smiled and said, " I heard that you don't want to read minds, sweetheart. Why? "
"How do you know about it? Who told you? Is it Eliza? or Max? "
"I told her. ", replied Max. " I thought that Mom can teach you what is right and what is wrong. "
"Why? "
"Listen to me, Laura. Now", Mom ordered.
And there was no saying that I had any choice.
Mom said, " Now tell me the reason why you don't want to learn it. "
"Why are you asking the reason Mom? Don't you remember what happened when I was young? How much I suffered because of my powers especially, mind reading. I could not differentiate between what the person was saying and thinking. I hurt so many people by telling their secrets, telling their thoughts, feelings. I even endangered a friend by telling the teacher what kind of swear words he was using for her." I said with tears in my eyes, " Do you expect me to harm people again. If that is what you want to talk to me about, then my appetite is destroyed and I am not hungry anymore. " After saying my piece, I stormed off the table. I could hear Mom shouting, " Laura... Wait.... At least finish your breakfast..... Wait". But, I did not listen and went back to my room.
The moment I laid down on my bed tears started flowing from my eyes. All painful memories of my past came running back to me. The memories, I so much wanted to forget. After crying for a while I started regretting the way I behaved with Mom.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door. I quickly wiped my tears and opened the door. Mom was standing with a tray of food in her hands. On seeing her, I started crying again. Even when I was so rude to her, she still got breakfast for me. I hugged her and started crying again. The only words I could say to her were " Sorry Mom....I am sorry.....Please forgive me..... " and I kept on crying. She said, "Laura it's okay. Let me keep the tray first." She put down the tray and hugged me back.
"I know it has been hard on you, since your childhood because of your powers. You have suffered so much, but, now you have someone to help you with your powers. I really want my daughter to master all her powers. I heard that this mind reading power is very unique and not many creatures have this power."
"But Mom, this mind reading power has hurt many people. I am afraid it will hurt many more. That was the reason I never read your and Lydia's mind. "
"But you used to play with this power with Eliza and Taylor. Just listen, we have a idea. We can overcome your bad memories by making new and good memories. "
"New and good memories? What do you mean by that? "
"You should go out with your friends and try to help other people by reading their minds who are hesitate to ask for help. You can make new and good memories and forget the bad ones this way. "
"It's a good idea. We should try this. Who came up with this idea? "
"Max did. He empathizes with you are lot. Now first have something, then get ready. Everyone is waiting for you. "
I finished breakfast, dressed up and went downstairs. Eliza said, " You okay, Laura? "
"Yes I am fine. Don't worry. Now Max, tell us your plan"
Max said, " There is no plan. We will go take a round of this town and help people who hesitate to ask for it. Let's go with the flow of time. Laura you just have to do what you normally do to hear thoughts. I have no idea what to do because I have never seen anyone with this power. "
We all thus, went out. We were crossing a park, when I heard voice of a little girl. She was thinking, " I want my balloon back but there are no adults over here. Whom should I ask help from. Mommy!!! What to do? " I looked and saw that a balloon was stuck in the branches of a tree.
I told everyone about the girl and said, "Let's help her."
"How? ", Taylor asked, " You can't fly here to get the balloon. "
" But we can form a ladder together and get the balloon out." , I said.
Everyone agreed, so we went to the girl and I said, " What happened? Shall I help you get your balloon back? "
The girl smiled and said, " Sure. Thank you very much. " Taylor stood below me and I got the balloon back. The girl hugged us and said, " Thank you. I was wishing that I can get my balloon back. You all helped me a lot. " and then, she went back to play.
Max said , " How are you feeling now? "
"Great! " , I replied
Taylor said, " Let's go forward. "
We were crossing a road when I heard a faint voice coming from other side of a bus. When the bus moved, I saw an elderly lady standing. She was thinking, " I wish I had my granddaughter with me. She would have helped me cross the road. How will I cross the road now that she is abroad. "
" Guys wait for sometime. ", I said. I then crossed the road, held the lady's hand and said, " Grandmother, do you need help to cross the road? Shall I help you? "
" Sure. ", she said. I helped her cross the road and when we reached the other side, she said, " Thank you child. May God bless you. "
" Thank you Grandmother. I am going now, my friends are waiting for me. Byee. "
That was all I could say. Then, I went to my friends and told them evrything. They smiled and said, " Good job. "
After walking for some hours, Taylor said, " Hey, I am hungry. Aren't we going to eat something now? There is a nice cafe at the end of this road. Let's have something. " We all laughed and then agreed.
We took a seat in the cafe. I was about to say something to Eliza but I heard a guy thinking, " Wow! The girl who is looking at me is so pretty. I want to ask her out but I am sure she will reject me because of my looks. These glasses look horrible on me. I bet she is thinking how lame I look. " I looked at the other side and saw a pretty girl looking at the guy.
She was thinking, " Wow! He is so handsome. The glasses he is wearing makes him look so hot. I wish he asks me out. I want to ask him out but I am afraid he will insult and reject me. " I smiled and told my friends everything.
I then went to the girl and said, " Hi I am Laura. I saw the way you were looking at that guy. Do you know him? " She said, " No. Do you? " I said, " Yes, I met him once. So, then, do you like him? " She stammered, " Uh.... I... Yes. Was I that obvious? "
" No. I just felt the way you both are staring at each other. Why don't you ask him out. ", I said.
" What? No way. I am sure he will reject me. I don't even look good and moreover how can a girl ask a guy out just like that? ", she said.
I said, " Hey, this is 21st century. Who cares about sexism at this age. Moreover, you look very beautifull. Give it a chance. Still if you are afraid and hesitant, smile at him. Maybe he will come to you. Don't keep on thinking everything without doing it. Just give things a shot before giving up. "
She said, " If you are saying all this I am going to try smiling. But, by the way who are you? "
I thought and said, " Just consider me your younger sister. Now bye. " After saying my piece, I went to my table. The girl smiled at the guy and as expected, the guy thought, " She smiled at me. Wow. She smiled at me. I should try talking to her". He then went to her table and they talked. Later they left hand in hand.
All my friends praised me but Max said, " Isn't it risky to just talk to other people about their feelings who don't even know you?"
I said, " It is. I did not think it well but playing Cupid was fun. I enjoyed it. " Eliza said, " These many good deeds are enough for today. " I also agreed and we went home.
At home I said, " Max, I will practise mind reading. I felt really happy when I helped those people today. "
Mom, Max, Eliza and Taylor smiled and said, " Good choice. "