Empathy

Chapter Ten

In one of the stalls, I realized that fifteen minutes had passed in homeroom and I wasn't in there. By now, I think that Luna had told Peri and our teacher, Mr. Briggs, about my little "freak out" as Luna would put it.

Mr. Briggs was a nice man. I've had him as my English teacher since last year and now he became my homeroom teacher after my old one retired at the end of last year. We ended up combining both of the homerooms together, making a big class, the principal of Ambrose High was pretty lenient about it.

I fished my phone out of my pants pocket, feeling the bulky case. Unlocking the device, I went into my contact list. I found Mom's number in my favorites and pressed the the dial icon. It began to ring.

"Hello?" my mom's voice said. "Marvel?"

Swallowing, I said, "Mom, can you come get me?"

"Why? What happened?"

Blowing out a breath, I replied, "I had a Grief Attack today, just now. I really need you to bring me home." My voice rasped, like it hadn't been used in years.

"Jesus Christ," Mom groaned. "Mari, you gotta tell me things as soon as possible."

I coughed. "I did. I just had it a few minutes ago. I needed some time to calm down."

"Where are you right now?" she asked.

"I'm in the girls' bathroom on the second floor of the school." I paused before adding, "In a stall, sitting on the floor."

"Shit, Marvel, that's disgusting. Are you okay?" I could hear the concern in her voice.

"I'm fine. Just the Attack wore me out." I wasn't lying to her, but I definitely wasn't going to tell her that the attack I had was about being an Empath. How would I even explain that one? Yes, people are empathetic, but not to this extent. Not like what I have. Mom has enough trouble raising two teenagers, but how would she react if she found out that one of them had a supernatural power that basically came out of nowhere?

Not likely. I'll tell her when hell freezes over.

"I'll be over in a few minutes. Let me just call the school and tell them what happened."

"The attendance office may have sent you an email already for my not coming to homeroom," I said. A pang of something went through me, not sure if it was me or someone else.

"No worries. I know you're not ditching," she said. A pause before she continued, "Well, technically you are, but you have a valid reason for not attending class."

"Mom," I warned. "I know."

"You know what?" I could almost see her hands flail. "I'll stop talking and come over to the school and grab you. Do you have your things?"

Shit, I left my backpack and textbooks by my locker.

"I left them by my locker, but I can grab my things as soon as I can," I told her.

"Great, do that. I'll be there in a bit." Mom hung up.

"I love you," I said, a slight feeling of being pathetic running through me. Must have been actually me when I felt that. That one saying has been said since the creation of language. Since everyone says it, the phrase lost it meaning because so many people throw it around like it's nothing. I only say it, and mean it, when I feel grateful for the people in my life.

Being an Empath is exhausting. It's such a burden.

Why did I get this ability?

Why choose me?