Interlude ~ A Gentle Push

Interlude ~ A Gentle Push

As an Empath, living in this world is hard. On a daily basis, I have to come face to face with each and every emotion of those around me. I feel every pain and every triumph, every piece of joy and sadness. As you can probably imagine, it gets overwhelming. That’s why I have to take care of myself. Today, coffee is taking care of myself.

Especially lately, with impending doom approaching, people have been tense. It has been an interesting study in human nature and behavior. In the face of most certain death, what do you do? Some have been cherishing time with their loved ones. Those are the people I love to come across. They are so full of love and devotion to those dearest to them and it radiates. I know they can’t feel it, not the way I do, but that love has a profound effect on others. However, there are those that give in to more base desires. They are overwhelming in their deceit and hate. I live to do no harm, and being around those people is a direct affront to who I am and want to be.

Things have changed because of the discovery of a meteor steadily approaching Earth. There is no way to avoid it. It is said to have the potential to trigger an extinction level event. So, naturally, some people see this as a chance to do things they never made time for, and others see it as a ‘Nothing to lose’ situation. I have just carried on as normal.

I figured that I was already on the right path, so I kept doing what I was doing, just more deliberately. I do take out more time to make sure I see people, that the last words they hear from me are always ‘I love you’ before I leave them. I’ve been torn on what to do with this whole ‘possible human extinction’ thing. Being an Empath doesn’t offer a whole lot of utility in this situation. I can borrow powers, sure, but I don’t know to what extent and there’s no way I can borrow all the powers I would need to save Earth. So, I try to be around those I love. And I try to take care of myself.

“I think that’s good. Self-care is important.”

I’m not sure where the voice came from, but I’m certain that I didn’t hear it. I take a glance around me and peer into the coffee shop. I see an Asian man with glasses who waves and smiles. I sense a strong compassion from him. However, I am also not sure how to communicate with him

“It’s okay. All you have to do is think. I can listen and read them.”

“Well… Okay…” I am hesitant to continue this conversation.

“Don’t worry, I don’t and won’t read everything. So any of that ‘weird’ stuff is nothing to worry about.”

“Duly noted. What brings you hear today?”

“Figured I’d treat myself to some coffee, same as you. I’m a therapist, so self-care is important with me, too.”

“A psychologist? Did you decide to do that because of your telepathy?”

“No,” I could hear him laugh in my head. “I try my best not to even use it in session. However, before I started this career, I could hear the thoughts of others. Some of them were so painful. I wondered how I could change these people’s worlds around. I figured counseling was the best way.”

“Can’t you do that with your telepathy?”

“I can, but it takes more energy than counseling does. I’d be drained before long.”

“Ahh. So, what have thoughts been like for people since the discovery of the meteor? Emotionally, it’s a mixed bag out here.”

“I’m getting the same things as you, just on a thinking scale. I pick up the emotions, too, but not like you do.”

“So you know I’m an Empath.”

“Hard not to. Talking to you, I’m sensing some of what you sense, which is slightly overwhelming.”

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay, it’s just part of your existence and, by extension, mine at the moment.”

“Have you felt overwhelmed and helpless, too?”

“Yes, unfortunately. Telepathy—“

“Doesn’t offer you much in this department. I feel you.”

“I’m used to doing that to others. It’s… Refreshing to have it done to me.”

I laugh aloud and in my head. “Good to know I’m helping.”

“Of course!”

“So, do you think there’s anything we can do?”

“Not unless one of us develops the powers you think will help in this scenario.”

“You have remarkable access.”

“Double-edged sword.”

“Amen to that.” I sip my coffee and stare at the street. I try to engage each and every one of them in some way. I can sense their emotions, but that isn’t the true connection. The true connection is trying to use my mind to reach them. I think they can feel it; whenever I focus on one person, they turn in my direction, usually puzzled. Regardless, I try, because it creates a beautiful feeling. I try to connect with many. For some reason, I find profound connection in a few people: little Black boy, full of joy, holding his mother’s hand; a young Latina who seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere; a Middle Eastern teenaged boy sitting at the bus stop; an elderly White woman, smiling to herself as she strolls down the sidewalk. And, as I turn to face my new Asian telepathic friend… Him, too.

“I felt that.” He whispers in my mind. They all stop to look at me and then each other. It is as though we are bound together.

“Hello?”

“Hi!”

“Hey?”

“Hm.”

“Hi there.” My friend responds. “I’ve linked us all together. This may be jarring, but there is an undeniable connection between each of us.”

“What?” I hear the little Black boy’s voice. I wonder how old he is, whether or not he knows what’s going on with each of us and the world.

“I think that we’re supposed to be friends,” I respond to him.

“Oh. Okay!” He replies emphatically. His happiness is moving. One day, he’ll learn of a world that was and sometimes is unjust to him. I hope, even in spite of that, he never loses his joy.

“What though?” The Middle Eastern teenager speaks up.

“I barely feel anything,” The Latina remarks.

“I feel… Something. Something new and bright,” says the elderly White woman.

“Well, because the nature of our abilities are psychic and nature, my friend and I may pick up on it more than you. However, I think you are all feeling a strange sensation in your mind and bodies. It may feel a distant thought to you, but it is important.”

“Most interesting…” The teenager rubs his chin. “Think this has to do with the meteor?”

“Possibly. Have you all felt helpless, too?” I ask and see each of them nod, except for the little boy. I wonder why he’d be included, until I notice that, behind his happiness, is a yearning to understand why his mother is scared, why she clings to him tightly whenever she can. In his own way, he isn’t sure what to do either.

“I can lift cars, but I can’t save everyone, let alone those I love,” the young woman moves toward me.

“I thought you were busy,” my friend says to her.

“Honestly, it can wait. I wish I had said this when I started my career…” she says to me as she sits down. Slowly, the others follow suit. The little boy has to urge his mother to come over. She seems puzzled, until she nods in my friend’s direction.

“I let her know what’s going on. Luckily, she’s not freaked out by telepathy. Apparently, her son may have his own abilities.” My friend packs up his things and joins me as the rest gather around my table.

“Immense intellect. Unable to come up with a solution. It’s painful,” the teenager says.

“I’ve lived on this Earth for a long time,” the elderly woman adds.

“I spent so long trying to succeed that I lost things along the way,” the young woman looks down.

“I can hear the thoughts and pain of others,” my friend looks to each of us.

The young boy is cradled in his mother’s lap.

“I’m so scared of him dying before he gets to see the world…” his mother says in a hushed tone.

“I can feel all of what you’re saying, plus the emotions of others around me. My fears are compounded by everyone else’s,” I try to hold back tears as the young woman pats my back. “I keep wondering if there’s anything anyone can do. All I have is my theories.”

“Theories?” The teenagers sends me a puzzled expression and the emotions that go along with it.

“Yeah, like maybe if I had some sort of energy manipulation, I could mess with the meteor’s course.”

“Or maybe if you had super-strength,” he replies.

“I have that, but I can’t do anything,” the young woman turns to him.

“Not just that. What about other abilities? What can everyone else do?”

“I don’t think I can do anything,” the elderly woman shakes her head.

“I think I can fly!” the little boy speaks up. We all look to his mother and she nods.

“He’s been floating a lot lately, nothing to grand, though,” she confirms.

“Is there any way to use these powers?” I ask the teenager.

“Possibly. I’m just not sure how we can combine them,” he replies

“Me. I can absorb powers. I’ve only ever tried with one at a time, though.”

“Well, there may not be a limit to how much you can take in. How do you do it?”

“I have to focus on my target and try my best to connect with them on a deep level. It gives me access into who they are and, with luck, I end up with their powers for a moment.”

“Hm. Try focusing on us,” he motions to himself and my friend. I nod and close my eyes. I begin to try to touch their essence, who they are, their abilities. It takes a lot of concentration, but all of a sudden I can hear impatient thoughts and solve differential equations.

“Holy wow.” I look around. “Can you hear me?” I say in each of their heads. They wince. I realize that maybe my internal volume was a bit too high in conjunction with actually using telepathy rather than just thinking to communicate.

“Amazing! Now, try the rest,” the teenager suggests. I close my eyes and do the same with the others. The super-strength is easy to access. The flight, not so easy.

“I’m having trouble with him,” I reach over to touch the little boy’s hand. “I’m not getting everything. It’s kind of blocked in a way.”

“Hm.” My friend squints. The little boy’s eyes go wide. “Try now.” I shrug and try again, this time feeling a different kind of energy within the boy.

“What’d you do?” I ask.

“I unlocked his potential,” my friend smiles to me. “Sorry if this causes any trouble,” he says to the boy’s mother.

“It was bound to sooner or later. At least now I can try to teach him discretion,” she smiles.

“I don’t think I have anything to offer, so I’m going to go.” The elderly woman rises from her seat.

“That’s fine. Thank you for sitting with us,” I smile and wave to her.

“It’s been my pleasure,” she takes my hand in hers. Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming warmth. Somehow, I’ve instantly taken something from her. “Once in my life,” she thinks to me,” I would have never considered shaking a Black man’s hand. Eventually, I realized the error in that thinking. I had to undo years of people trying to teach me that Black men and women are inferior. It was painful, but I came out of it a better woman. Some days, it’s hard, knowing that I was once part of the most horrible line of thinking and treatment of others. However, I push forward, remembering that they no longer define who I am, even with my mistakes today. I am very glad to have met you today.”

“I think you gave me what I needed…” I tell her. I feel an overwhelming joy.

“Hey babe,” I hear a familiar voice. I turn to see my love, arriving from a thin cloud of magenta energy. “I felt extreme happiness and thought I’d join the party,” he says before he leans down to kiss me. I catch some slight uneasiness around me, but those in my immediate company are only full of love and appreciation.

“Hi. I’m glad you came. You can help out, too,” I say before I borrow some of his teleportation. “The street is too busy to do this.”

“Good point,” the teenager agrees.

“To do…?” my love asks.

“Just come with us,” I laugh. I look around to them and they all nod. “Okay, just hold onto one of us,” I say before we all make contact. I teleport us to a nearby park. Those less accustomed to teleportation feel slightly dizzy.

“What is the plan?” my friend asks.

“I can’t imagine doing a pushup for this, so I’m going to fly in order to come back down in the right position.”

“Then use your super-strength to push the Earth?” the teenager asks.

“Exactly. And, to make sure I don’t just shoot straight through the Earth, my last gift will do the work.”

“What is it? What did you get from her?” the young woman turns to the elderly woman.

I just smile and brace myself.

“You can do this,” my love smiles to me. I embrace and kiss him one more time before I ascend.

“He got that from me?!” the little boy jumps and tries to join me, but his mother catches him by the ankle. I look down and smile before I go higher. Then, I turn upside down, propelling myself toward the earth.

“Keep your distance!” I tell them all telepathically as they move back. I ready myself to use the super-strength. As I near my impact with the ground, I use the last gift. Light blue energy waves from my hands as I touch the earth. I suddenly feel a gigantic field cover the earth. I use this energy with the strength and flight to propel the earth. Using the my new intellect with the teenager’s, we coordinate how much to move the earth to keep it out of harm’s way, without greatly affecting the global environment. Soon, we reach a safe point. I get myself upright and look around to the others.

“You did it,” my love kisses me on the forehead. “I’m so proud of you.” I start to cry, knowing I get more moments with him and my other loved ones. Everyone else is in a range of emotion. My friend smiles and wipes a tear from his eye. The young woman breaths a sigh of relief. The teenager is amazed at accomplishing something so big. The mother hugs her son, full of love and with tears in her eyes. The little boy is full of the mirth of flight. And the elderly woman, she is tender.

“So, what did I give you?” She walks over to me and touches my arm.

“You gave me the power to stabilize the strength and protect Earth while I moved it. You were the game changer.”

“Maybe that explains the changes in others around me.”

“What do you mean?” my friend asks.

“Ever since I changed to become a better person, I’ve been able to incur the same in others. I help them create a stillness that enables growth, but also to help them protect themselves from unnecessary pain in the future. I’ve changed a lot of lives.”

“I guess it manifested as a protective but balanced energy in this case,” the teenager posits.

“It kept me from making contact with Earth’s molten core,” I joke. He raises an eyebrow, but follows along.

“You know, you are going to have to move this back once the meteor passes. There’s no telling how shifting the planet will affect Earth.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I smile to him. We stand for a while, amazed that we helped save the world and no one knows.

“Well, I actually do need to get some stuff done today,” the young woman breaks the silence.

“Right. How are we going to get you home?” I ask.

“Well, we’ll think of a place and you’ll use the teleportation to send us there,” my friend responds.

“Great idea!” my love adds. I borrow some more of their power to begin the process.

“Don’t forget to come find us soon. I’m sure he’d love to see you,” the mother looks to her beaming son.

“I’ll have to to save the world. Again,” I laugh. We embrace before I send them home.

“Meeting to go to?” I ask the woman as I come to her.

“No,” she shakes her head, tears falling from her eyes. “I have siblings that I haven’t seen in forever.” She hugs me before I send her home.

“What do you have up for today?” I ask the teenager.

“Video games. The world is saved for now. No need to worry,” he shakes my hand. I send him home as well.

“Enjoy the rest of your day, friend,” I say to my friend.

“Absolutely. We need to do this again,” he nods.

“Well, we will in a few days,” I say.

“No, as friends,” he gives a warm embrace. He returns to the coffee shop.

I turn to the elderly woman and hug her before I do anything. “Without you, this wasn’t possible,” I say to her.

“Without any of us, this would not have happened. We all saved many lives today,” she replies.

“Very true. Thank you for giving, even though you thought you had nothing to offer.”

“I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if it weren’t for a life of doing so.” I send her back home.

Soon, I’m left standing with my love, contemplating what to do next. I turn to him, taking in the sight of a man I’ve loved for a while now. I’m happy to have his love for more days, rather than having an expiration date with the rest of Earth. I’m happy to be able to live life, to see others that I love, to watch tv and eat and play video games. I’m happy for my existence. As he leans down to kiss me, I also find myself happy that, through the love and the beautiful and random connection between six people, I was able to give Earth a gentle push, one that would save it, leaving its inhabitants another chance to fully embrace life.

(Inspired by "Strangers" by Raj Ramayya, from the Wolf's Rain OST)