The day Esper found out about her god forsaken psychic abilities was the day she went to stay with her grandmother for a month.

But perhaps she should start from the beginning considering there was much more to the discovery than the visit itself. So if she took it from the tippy top the only thing Esper could say was that she kinda had a complicated home life.

Her mother was a wandering spirit due to the freedom and complexities of her job - much like her father her grandmother would account happily - and wherever her mother went she was sure to follow.

As soon as she was able of course.

If her mother wanted to go to France, it was France they went, if New York was her next stop one could bet their highest buck that's where they would be in a few hours.

It was always fun and her mother always made sure to keep Esper entertained even when they were traveling for her job.

Her grandmother - her sweet-hearted grandmother - didn't really approve of toting a six-year-old around the world, so whenever she could catch her mother before the woman could leave for a new destination the kindly lady volunteered to watch her grandbaby.

Despite missing out on the world it was always interesting to stay with her grandmother. She learned something new every time she visited and more importantly, it was fun.

So here Esper was, currently sitting on her grandmother's lap listening intently as the two of them perused through an old family photo album.

"You look remarkably like her you know." The smiling Mary Ann said as her fingers caressed over a picture hidden safely behind plastic. "Why, you two could very well be twins!"

Brows raising in curiosity at the comparison Esper edged closer and peered into the book, eyes snagging on the only blonde girl in the photograph and she blinked.

"I guess so Gran," She said slowly as she furrowed her brow. "We have the same shade of hair at least."

Amused heterochromatic eyes - exactly like her own - met hers and she chuckled lowly.

"I wasn't talking about my mother, Cynthia." She explained, tapping one finger to the other side of the photo. "I was talking about my aunt, Mary Alice Brandon."

Letting out a little 'oh' of understanding she looked over and was surprised to see just how alike they looked.

The only visible difference between her and the tiny elfin girl were their hair and eyes, other than that it was eerie. With their faces being exact replicas of each other, it made her feel like a body snatcher.

"She's your aunt?" She asked, her tone of voice a bit more skeptical than she thought it would sound but hey. She was allowed a little dubiousness to her words after having her doppelganger thrown in her face.

Glancing up at the old woman, Esper was greeted with an amused smile and a slow nod.

"Well, that's usually how it works when a person is the sister of one's own mother." Her grandmother said with a degree of sass and Esper gave a tiny snort. "But yes, she was her elder sibling and they were fairly close. So naturally it was devastating for my mother when Mary Alice was - taken away by the doctors."

Feeling her brow cease at how her grandmother stressed that single word Esper knew something was up.

Nibbling on the inside of her cheek she decided to just go for it. After all children at her age were known for not having any tact and it was excused.

"Was she, yanno, sick?" The young blonde asked, feeling a little trepidation. "Is that why she had to go to the hospital?"

A sad gleam entered her dual colored eyes as her grandmother softly shook her head and patted Esper on her hand.

"Oh no, Mary Alice wasn't sick in the way you're thinking Adelaide." Mary Ann said as if that was an answer she often had to give. "She had...visions, hallucinations. They hadn't told my mother much about it but the doctors said it was an after effect of the death of their own mother, Harleen"

Suddenly Esper felt terrible for letting her curiosity take hold of her and she fidgeted as the atmosphere seemed to pick up a solemn tinge.

"Wow," She murmured as her grandmother shut the book. "That's so sad."

Giving a demure smile the old woman hummed, deep in thought for a moment before her eyes locked onto the photo album in her grasp.

"Yes," She murmured. "it certainly is."

A tiny bit unsure what to make of the situation now that her grandmother had seemingly retreated into her own head, Esper grasped at her tummy and pouted.

"Gran," She insisted as she tugged at her sleeve and flashed pouting puppy eyes. "I'm hungry."

To emphasize her point she made sure to give her stomach a good rub which drew laughter out of her Gran like a gyser.

"I bet you are you little munchkin." She cooed, lightly tapping Esper's tiny nose. "Now why don't you and I go bake some cookies?"

She grinned.

"I like the way you think Gran."


Now the young blonde couldn't be blamed for her curious nature, not really.

Here she was, being given a chance to see what she would look like in the future and she'd be a fool not to take it.

So after her grandmother had fallen asleep she made sure to sneak as quietly as she could up to the attic and searched through the album for her dark haired look alike. It took a little bit of quiet digging before she found the book but when she did she looked for every picture she could find with Mary Alice in it.

There weren't too many but there were enough to give her something to peruse through.

"Wow," She muttered as she flipped the page and caught sight of a teenaged Mary. "She's pretty."

She was gonna be hot when she got older.

Hopefully.

Turning the page Esper scowled as the light of her flashlight reflected too harshly against the plastic covering and she cursed in annoyance. She gave a tiny huff as she attempted to maneuver the light into a position where it would allow her to actually see, but when the glare only grew Esper decided that it just wasn't worth it. Narrowing her eyes she carefully slid her fingers underneath the plastic, grabbed the photo, and immediately regretted it.

Giving a strangled gasp as images rushed through her head and flashed at the back of her eyelids, Esper felt the room around her fall away.

The sound of voices - both young - rang through her ears as the scent of fresh grass drifted into her nostrils.

The feeling of sunlight and wind brushed against her skin and she gave a flinch as slowly - ever so slowly - the images halted, cycling through like a movie.

She watched the two girls as they ran across the lawn, cheerful laughter echoing in the air. She watched as they smiled and hugged, as a handsome blond haired man waved for the two girls to stand still.

They moved in unison to stand side by side, grins wide on their faces as the man clicked the button and with a flash Esper found herself back in the attic.

Laying prone on the floor with the photo clutched between her fingers and her breathing labored she dropped it as quickly as she could.

Bringing her palms up to cradle her head Esper wanted to do nothing more than to swallow a few ibuprofen and curl up into a ball under her sheets.

"The fuck?" She mumbled as she stared down at her hands with wide eyes.

Swallowing harshly the young blonde hesitantly moved forward and reached out.

And despite the fact that she barely let the skin of her forefinger graze the photo - despite the fact that she thought she was going crazy like Mary Alice because oh god what if it was a bloodline illness? - Esper wasn't any more prepared than she was the first time it happened. Head snapping back she grunted as she rewatched the same fucking scene as before and with a muted cry, she forced her fingers to drop the polaroid on the book and she slammed it shut.

Shoving it back into the box she practically ran back downstairs, around the corner and into her room where she stared at the wall until she knew no more.

She knew the next morning would be so freaking awkward. Especially with the whole her-not-wanting-to-touch-anything situation going on, but she'd find a way to make due.

Esper always did.


Edit: 4/13/18