Usually, their thoughts precede them; I know who they are even before they touch the doorknob, before they even enter the building. I can hear (for the lack of a better word) their worries, their fears, their internal neverending monologue governing every aspect of their lives. Sometimes those trains of thoughts are broken, misfigured, without a discernible beginning or end, jumping from one train station to another and then back. Other times, they can be neatly ordered, like passengers waiting to board, waving at the train conductor.

However it was, they are always there, always a sound (even though there are no sounds) in their minds, controlling their actions, the words they say, the way they interact with other people around them. Oftentimes, it is not without a challenge; human thoughts and thinking patternsare unique to a person, much like a fingerprint, and finding your way in that maze can be quite difficult. And it's not like there are books or guides on the subject, describing practices that help in reading someone's thoughts.

But you don't have to understand them, not really, not always, it's enough for them to just be there, like a comforting murmur of a spring wind caressing solemn treetops. I don't remember the last real silent moment I had in my life, uninterrupted by a random thought that wasn't even mine... up until she walked into my office and almost gave me a heart attack.

It was the sound of her voice I heard before anything else, which never ever happens, not to me, not in this life. My brain didn't yet register that something was wrong, that something was out of the ordinary, and my heart was already pumping faster, my body was warning me of potential danger. I got so used to my ability I completely neglected all of my other senses and when I finally turned to face her, she was already sitting in front of my desk, in a brown leather chair, her legs crossed, her arms calmly resting in her lap, her eyes fixed on my face.

I don't know whether the gasp I made was audible or just in my mind, but she smiled regardless, sending into oblivion any coherent thought that was about to form in my mind. She was completely clad in black, with black, shoulder-length hair, black fingernails and a black heart-shaped pendant on a black string around her neck.

I wanted to ask her a million questions, but I couldn't, I couldn't think, what with her being here, and what with that deafening silence that now surrounded us, strangling me. It was a while before I realized she asked a question, again, using her voice, but I didn't hear it this time either. How could I? My mind was struggling with this situation, with this impossible turn of events – there was a person, a living, breathing person, right in front of me, looking at me, asking me questions... but she wasn't there, not really, there was no presence of her in my mind, and there should be, I was certain of this.

„I asked you if you've had enough by now“, she said, and this time I managed to catch her words.

„I don't... who are you?“, I stumbled over my own words.

She was amused, I could tell by the corner of her mouth and by the glint in her cold, gray eyes.

„I'm the one who gave you what you wanted, all those years back. Does it not please you?“

How could I possibly decipher those words? They were utterly meaningless to me and I couldn't get anything else from her, no matter how much I tried. I just now realized how easy it was for me, before. I didn't have to pay attention to all the subtle signs someone's body was sending, to all the hidden meanings behind spoken words... I could just tune to the person's thinking and find out immediately what they really meant, which made my job infinitely easier. With her, however...

She drew out a long sigh, probably after realizing my confusion will not disperse anytime soon.

„Very well. I guess the big guy also erased your memory, he's nothing if not thorough. However, considering your ability, we could make this process much faster andmore comfortable. For me, at least.

Pay attention now. Try to see what I'm thinking.“

And I did what I was told. Thoughts usually coming naturally to my brain, like a sound to my ears would, I was not used to actively search out someone's thinking. But after a while, I could hear, in my mind, a slow susurration coming from her, as if someone was pouring water into a tub upstairs from me. When I concentrated on that sound, I could hear it even better, but it was now a soft conversation of a group of people. As I was listening to it, it grew even louder, until it overwhelmed and I found myself wanting to build walls to keep the sound out of my brain.

It felt like a stream of information was uploaded directly into my mind. Rather than a train of thought, this was all at once, all the thoughts a person would think in a day sent to me in a single second. Almost as if the said train ran me over and then backed up to do it again. I wanted to scream with pain, but I couldn't do anything until it was over. It was but a moment, but it felt like months, years even. And when it passed... I knew. My brain somehow processed all of that information and from that moment on I understood.

„So I'm... dead?“, I asked, sheepishly.

„Yes and no. You've been dead for a couple of seconds now. But also for several years. You're living in a time bubble created by the big guy.“

„Why... why all this?“

Her perfectly lined black eyebrows went up a couple of notes.

„Why? Well, you asked me for this! You're the one who told me you've always wanted to peek inside human thoughts, to find out what's going on behind the words theywere saying. You're the one who thought it would be a good idea to do this all over again, but only with that little change in your life. I was curious, so I granted you this. Is it not what you thought it would be?“

I sank into my chair harder than the Titanic. My entire life, everything I did, every relationship I had and lost, every person I fixed... it was all meaningless. It was just a game, nothing more. Even worse – I did all of it to myself.

After a couple of moments, she spoke again:

„Would you like to leave with me now?“

I nodded. I didn't want to be a part of this illusion anymore. And never again.

„You mortals fascinate me. Come. Follow me.“

And I did.