The People with Useless Power

Chapter One (ADDED AUTHOR'S NOTE 11/15/19)

Hi little ones,

I wrote this story when I was just entering seventh grade. I had no idea how to actually write a congruent plot or realistic dialogue, or how to do anything important in writing.

I'm planning to cringe my way through rereading this.

I'm now well into high school and I'm majoring in the creative writing branch in my arts school. I'm happy and I have so many healthy friendships now, even though I deal with harsher issues than I did back when I wrote this. I'm recovering.

But those issues still bled into this work. And I'm so sorry. So, please, if mentions of depression and dark thoughts disturb you, don't read ahead. Stay safe, lovely.

To everyone who supported me while I wrote this, to acquaintances in real life and strangers online, I want to say thank you. Your comments were, and still are, so kind. Thank you.

Goodnight,
Personality<3

—-

The summer was always hectic in Emily's house, but it was even more insane when her 15th birthday came around. The 15th year of their lives was when everyone in her family had discovered what they could do, or what powers they had: her father could convince anyone of anything, her mother could sew the best clothing, and her brother had telekinesis. With all of the cool powers leaching through her family tree, she had a pretty good chance of getting something amazing, like fire powers or mind reading.

Though, like anyone normal, she was, of course, very, very, very, very, very  anxious.

It was ten minutes before her birthday at 3:34 am. She was tapping her foot at the kitchen table, wringing her hands, and chewing on her blonde hair, but nothing could distract her from the burning question: What will I get? What will I get?

Her family surrounded her with a cake at the 5 minute mark.

She blew out the candles at the one minute mark.

She felt a stinging in her hands at the 30 second mark.

"Happy Birthday," her mom chimed as Emily blew out the candles.

And it was silent.

Her family watched her, expecting something amazing to happen, but nothing did. Nothing at all. "Try something," her brother suggested, "anything."

Emily raised her hand and poked the air- nothing happened. She breathed out forcefully- nothing happened. She twirled her hand- and statistics appeared in the air in front of her. They lined up in front of her vision, like holograms, the numbers surrounding her and engulfing her in a comforting glow.

"Mom, mom, something's happening," she whispered. Her family was frozen, and Emily herself was confused.

Until something else happened.

Emily grabbed one of the numbers, threw it down, and the poverty number in the country went from 6% to 5%.

"What happened?" her father asked excitedly. Emily put her hand down, along with her head, and sighed. A wave of exhaustion hit her, along with a headache.

"I can... I can change percentages."

...

It had been almost two years, and Emily was still disappointed and ashamed of her 'power'.  Her father pointed out how useful it could be, and how it could really change the world, but even changing the big problems by one percentage exhausted her.