It began like a whisper. I found that I could feel others desires if I concentrated. At first I had to physically touch them but the ability seemed to hone itself into an ever-sharpening insight and contact became unnecessary. I found common desires to be universal, wealth, sex and power. The insight into others continued to grow until I could see beyond desire and actually hear thoughts. I must admit to using this ability to become shamefully wealthy and for a time was consumed by my own desires. A sinister realization began to make itself apparent; I could not stop listening.
My mind was being taken over by the thoughts of an ever-widening mob, a constant murmur growing in strength and volume. I tried to totally isolate myself to gain some peace from the never-ending din that invades my mind. I bought an island and from it I did not wander and for a time was at peace but the ability continued to reach out, one by one peoples thoughts far distant began to whisper once more. Distance was becoming irrelevant and the voices once more filled my mind, never ceasing in their redundant chatter. I waited to long to seek help and by the time I did the voices were drowning out my own thoughts.
When the doctors arrived they found me shrieking in frustration, completely incoherent. After being sedated all I could utter was "too many voices!" over and over. Even under heavy sedation I could not concentrate enough to be coherent, in desperation I gouged my eardrums out with a pen but the voices did not stop. I was diagnosed as a schizophrenic and institutionalized. I spent what seemed an eternity among the mad, their thoughts ever tormenting me until I had lost my grip on sanity.
Sedated and consumed by the thoughts of the insane I sat drooling and whimpering, even my own name was lost to me. They tell me I suffered severe head trauma from my leap off the roof of the hospital but I woke to silence this morning and I cried with joy. I did not understand where I was or even who I am but the voices were gone but I was alone with my thoughts. Slowly the details of my plight were explained to me and fragmented memories and facts came together. An old man greets me in the mirror, eyes haunted by a lifetime lost.
Eventually I was released and sent home to my peaceful little island. My doctor flew in to check on me today, I shook his hand and with a shutter of horror realized I could feel his desires...
William VanDorin © 2001
