I never understood why I am the way I am. I try not to think about it to much. Of course, thinking for myself sometimes is really hard when I'm around a lot of people. You see, I was born with what some might say is a gift. I would call it a curse. From the moment I was born, I could read peoples minds. Sounds kind of cool at first doesn't it? But when your a little baby and this happens to you, people don't want you. People think that there is something wrong with you.

You grow up in a hospital and by the time you are old enough to make it seem like you are under control they ship you off to a foster home because your parents have abandoned you. I mean, who could blame them. I would have been scared too. But it's okay. I don't remember a lot of things from my childhood because of all the different medicine they put me on. Everything is kind of fuzzy.

So here I am. 17 years old as of today, climbing out the window of my tiny bedroom with my little back-pack filled with clothes. I was finally getting out of this place. The foster home I was put in was definitely not a good choice for me at all. There was so many foster kids here. Coming and going constantly. I basically lived in my room. Only coming out for food and to use the bathroom. And even then, only when absolutely necessary. I couldn't go to school because I had "psychotic" breakdowns. They tried getting me a tutor, but they all left because I, and I quote, "scared them." So I was home schooled. And when I say home schooled I mean I basically taught myself. I liked it better that way though so it was okay.

I regretted leaving as soon I hit the busy streets of New York City. The rush of everybody's thoughts hit me full force. I had to get out of here and out of here fast! I spotted an alley leading away from all the madness. I practically ran towards it like it would save my life, but of course it wouldn't. Even after a couple steps in the voices were still driving me crazy. I was starting to get one of those pounding headaches. You know, the ones that feel like you will never recover from. As I kept walking, the voices started to dull, which was weird because I usually had to be very far away from people before that happened. As my headache started to ease, I noticed for the first time how creepy and abandoned the alleyway was.

Everything was really dark. I wouldn't be able to see anything if it wasn't for the blue light they had at the back of a restaurant. I could make out a dumpster next to the door. As I got closer, all the thoughts, the sounds, and noises I've heard my whole life. Stopped. Just like that.

For the first time in my life I heard silence. I had my mind to myself. The sudden impact of it made me fall to my knees, clutching my head. I heard someone laughing from behind the dumpster.

"Who's there?" I yelled, wishing I was back in my tiny bedroom.

From behind the dumpster, I saw a young man emerge. Not nearly as bad as the thing I imagined that would be coming out from behind there. He walked over to me and just stared down at me.

"What do you want," I said through gritted teeth, still holding my head. I was starting to get adjusted to the silence in my head but the pain from all the thoughts being ripped out still lingered.

"Your not what I expected," he said. Like he was disappointed or something, "Last time it was a little boy. 6 or 7."

I just stared at him in disgust and finally let go of my head.

"I forgot how much it hurts the first time to hear the silence," he said, his eyes far away. Like he was thinking about something else. He held out his hand for me to help me up. I ignored it and somehow managed to climb to my feet by myself.

"Stubborn much?" he commented.

"What do you want," I said again, "and how are you doing that?"

"Well now, that's what I'm here for."

I walked over to lean against the wall, immediately searching for an exit. I spotted the back of the restaurant.

"Don't even think about it," he said, coming closer, "besides, I'm not going to hurt you."

"A little late for that," I mumbled.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just thought it would be easier for us to talk if it was a little quiet."

"Talk about what?" I said, the headache fading almost completely. I started to enjoy the silence for the first time.

"About everything else you can do," he smiled.

"Excuse me?"

"Look. Maybe this will be easier for us to talk about tomorrow after you sleep. I guess you could come to my place," he mumbled something. I think I caught something about him sleeping on the couch.

I almost laughed out loud as he said this. In fact, I did. Did he really think I would go somewhere with him. I turned to start walking away from him.

"C'mon, where else are you going to go? And as soon as you get far enough away from me the silence is going to stop. It's going to hurt even worse then it did the first time. You have to learn how to handle it. All the thoughts are just going to rush right back into your head," he yelled as I started to get further.

As soon as he said this I turned around.

"Just come back to my place, we'll talk in the morning, I'll teach you how to handle having all the thoughts back in your head, and then you can leave if you still want to. Okay?"

I couldn't believe I was about to agree to this. But come on! I didn't want to go through that again.

"Okay."

"Alright. C'mon."