"So you're telling me, it could do anything?"
"Anything at all"
"Shit.." I said in disbelief.
Anything. Literally anything. The possibilities were endless. I could learn to fly! To breathe underwater, to play with fire without getting burnt! I could be anything.
"Woah woah woah. Slow down there little brother, I can see that brain working overtime. The power comes naturally to very few, and an even smaller amount have the strength of will to use it. If you don't? That shit will rip you apart quicker than you can say He-Man. Trust me. I've seen it happen before...plus it's random. Not everyone gets a cool power like me."
With the last statement my brother winked and pointed a thick thumb to his chest.
He was a man of medium height by most people's standards, falling just short of 6ft. With sandy blonde hair that hung long to brush the tips of his shoulders and a strong angular face. A complete contrast to my softer features and short brown hair.
But despite the height, he had the body of a human tank. Literally. His barrel-chested torso stuck out thick with slabs of hard muscle that stretched the material of his t-shirt, warping the dickies logo that was plastered in its centre. His arms were bound with more cords of muscle, and beneath his thick layer of hair you could see strong veins protruding from the skin. My older brother was lucky enough to be born with a very useful power.
He was strong. Like, seriously strong. I'd seen him stop a freight train once by just standing in its way, and come out the other side completely unscathed.
He was powerful, durable and downright scary sometimes.
His words left me stunned. I was the opposite of my larger brother, all soft skin and puppy fat that had yet to drop off, and now he's here telling me that I might not even get a power? Unfair!
I left my brother leaning against the wall of our battered kitchen and heard him sigh before leaving the house. He worked most nights to afford rent as our parents had bailed on us five years ago. It had been me and him ever since.
Both our parents had been breathers, although the details I don't know. I just know that it sent them crazy. Whether it was the rock star lifestyle, the drugs, the commitment, each other, who knew. I certainly didn't, and I certainly didn't let it keep me awake at night.
I know J struggled with that. He was older so had more time with the two of them, more memories to feel sad about. I had less and so it was easier, but if I'm honest, that shit didn't bother me either way.
I learnt early on that things didn't tend to bother me the same way it did other people.
What did bother me though, was waiting for my breath to release. By all accounts I should be one of the few able to access the power. It runs in the family. With two parents who used it and my older brother, the maths was stacked in my favour.
But my impatience was taking over my life. Ever since I hit my eighteenth birthday I hadn't been able to think about anything else. I lost my focus at school, stopped bothering with maintaining friendships. I just couldn't stop thinking about the moment my eyes might glow red, or a sneeze might shrink me to the size of an ant!
And now J tells me I might not have anything. It tore me up.
Walking back to our small, shared bedroom I flopped on the bottom bunk and promptly stewed into a mood of childish annoyance and immature impatience. After a while my eyes drooped and a deep sleep took me.
But when I woke up the next morning? Hooollllyyyyyy fuck.
It happened. Like christmas. No bullshit, no ritual, not painstakingly heroic effort of will to control vast quantities of power. I just woke up and knew immediately that I had my power. I could feel it inside me, vibrating every fibre of my being.
Shooting from my bed I turned and put a step on the ladder to the top bunk. My brother wasn't there. Launching from the bed I hit the floor running to check the kitchen and the open front room. There was no one, he must still be at work.
It didn't dampen my spirits in the slightest. I'll just tell him when he gets home, at least by then I could work out what power I have.
I let out a cry of joy in the empty apartment and threw myself into an excited jump. Then had to sink down to my knees on shaky legs.
My mind raced, I couldn't pinpoint what my ability was. I checked my near naked body first, running my hands along pale skin, feeling for any odd bumps, protrusions, scars or anything that wasn't there the night before. I ran my fingers through my hair and down my neck, feeling for gills or feathers or something. But nothing.
I knew I could breathe because I could feel it. It was like being touched by a single beam of warm radiant sunlight which constantly thrummed against your chest. No matter where I moved the invisible feeling was planted upon my torso, gently warming my spirit and soul within.
J had told me a few months ago that this was to be expected, this funny warm feeling. "It's a lot like love,'' he'd said with a wink, as if I knew what that meant. I was 17 at the time and the closest I had come to love was...well, I hadn't really loved anything before. Still haven't.
But I could pretend I know what it feels like.
Back to my kneeling. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, my skin was fine and my limbs were all in proportion.
Next I moved on to my hands. I began shooting my hands out randomly, pressing my palm up or out at random objects in my living room. I imagined the sofa exploding or lifting miraculously into the air. I spun and pointed a finger at the cheap painting hanging on the wall from the previous tenants, but nothing.
I kept it up for an embarrassingly long time. Long enough for me to think of school only after it had already started. Shit.
Rushing I leapt to my feet and dressed. In seconds I was outside in the pouring rain (without a coat) waiting for the next bus that was due any second.
I debated turning around and heading back home as I waited. School was pointless at the moment, there was no way I could concentrate. Plus the school's community placed a nullification barrier around all school property, so I wouldn't even be able to use my power if I could anyway.