Chapter Text
The Beginning of the End of Normal
Everything was normal until the summer of 2002. That’s when my life first changed and would never be the same again.
I was sitting in with my parents in our house, when I began to feel strange. I didn't say anything because I usually never do, but this wasn't a normal thing. It couldn't be. I felt like I was exploding, sucking up energy or something, hungry for it.
"What's wrong with me?” I thought.
My parents couldn't see me in pain, they were watching their favorite TV show. My sister wasn't paying attention, she was too busy talking on the phone with her friends to look at me.
All at once, the feeling locked onto a target, and I understood what was happening. As soon as my dad tried to light his cigar, I knew. His lighter wouldn't stay lite. He would start it, and it would fizzle out. I could feel myself taking the fire, the energy.
"Ahhhhhh stop it stop it!!!!!" I screamed in my mind. I'm in so much pain, hunched over when my parents finally saw what was happening.
"What the hell!,” my father yelled "What’s wrong with you!”
"Sweetheart stop whatever you're doing please,” my mother said.
"I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING!" I scream in agony. “Help me!” Then my dad did that. He knocked me out cold, and everything was black.
Until the dream showed up, but it was more like a nightmare than a dream. I was consuming all the energy in the world, not on accident, because I wanted to. I wanted all the energy for myself, because of my hunger. I had murdered all life and was now finishing off the Earth and making it a dry husk. When it was, I would use the energy I had and go to another world and then the next, to take all the energy in the universe. I woke up screaming.
“Angelina, honey, you were dreaming," said my mother's voice.
"I know, Mother, I know, but it was so real," I said opening my eyes. We were silent for a while.
"Well you have to get your power under control,” my father said. “If anyone found out, they would experiment on you. You know about human ignorance, that we fear anything that we don't understand. You're our daughter so we love you no matter what happens, but others won't be as understanding. You must not let anyone see that you're dangerous. Fear is what controls us. You can not let them fear you.”
I was scared. Scared that I couldn't keep my 'power' hidden. That I would be taken away. That I would end up like the me from my nightmare. Then the electric went out.
"Angelina, please calm down,” my mother’s gentle voice said. “You don't have to be afraid.”
"Fear is a strong emotion,” my father said. “Strong emotions have always lead to power. This isn't any different.”
“Ok, calming down, no fear." I tried to do that. For twelve years I tried.
As I got older, it became harder to have my bare skin exposed, it made me feel like my power was leaking out. So I took to wearing clothes that covered every inch of my skin.
When my powers became too much at my old school, my parents moved. I had a new start, but it didn’t often go to plan. My grades were great, due to my free time I studied. I lacked any social skills and never tried to make friends. I became an outcast and bullied. My powers are tied to my emotions, so multiple accidents happened. I had to keep changing schools to avoid detection. Eventually I became cold, closing myself off. Eliminating my personally completely. One thing I’ll always remain grateful for in those horrible years is that I never killed anyone with my power, no much I really wanted to. My greatest fear, but it had a long way to go before my fear would disappear.
As I left for college, I asked myself what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to help people, not hurt them like the power deep inside me did. So I decided to become a doctor. It put me in the path of more people than I ever needed, but it tested myself in my patience and courage.
I was never one to beat any records, but I became a doctor quicker than anyone else in my age group. My intelligence kept rising as I got older, and my memory was bordering photographic. Being a loner can do that to you. I kept a wide field in medicine, never completely went down a field. I could do mostly every job, from basic surgery and anesthesia to physical therapy and pediatrics. I mostly tended to stick with research, for my own selfish reasons. Eventually, at 27, I stayed with pediatrics. Taking care of little ones makes me smile.
Over the years, I've watched, read, and listened, to everything under the sun and moon, about powers, superpowers and the like. Whether they were fictional or not. None were very helpful.
Once I left the house, I never bothered my family again. One might think it's cruel, but I believe it was the best thing I could do for them. I cause so much strive that I’m surprised my parents’ marriage lasted at all. My little sister didn’t need a freak for a sister.
Having a photographic memory is a blessing, but it's also a curse. Now I remember all my nightmares clearly. They’re horrific and dark, with evil everywhere. And the worst part, that evil, is me.
I abandoned all religion, all hope, all faith. I knew that my God was real, I just didn't believe that he could help me.
“Why waste time on dysfunctional me?” Was a thought I had quite a bit.
Of course no matter what I thought, God had a plan. He knew what was going to happen to me. Along with who I was going to meet.