The Gift: A Bedtime Story

Hello, beloveds. I wrote this story as part of a collection I am writing for a book eventually. A short story about a gifted girl trying to find her way.nLet's get ready to drift off into the world of dreams.

Music is generously provided by Nature's Eye.

Thank you for listening, dear ones.

Transcript

Hello dear ones and welcome to today's reading,

A story I wrote called The Gift.

Just before we begin,

As always making yourself comfortable,

Arriving fully into this space,

Allowing yourself to relax.

There's no more you need to do right now,

There's nowhere you need to be.

Just allowing yourself some moments for rest and relaxation.

And when you are ready dear ones,

We will begin.

Lila had always felt different.

Not in a way that anyone could pinpoint,

But there was always something off about her.

She couldn't explain it,

How she sometimes knew what people were going to say.

Before they said it,

Or how she'd glance at someone and immediately feel their emotions.

It started small,

Her dreams always seemed to be more vivid than anyone else's.

She could feel the weather before it arrived,

Could sense things that weren't in plain sight.

Her mother would call it imagination.

But Lila knew deep down that something inside her was awakening,

Something powerful.

The first time it really hit her was on the day of the accident.

Lila was sitting at her kitchen table,

Playing with her hair absent-mindedly when she felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

A sense of urgency washed over her,

And without thinking,

She jumped up and rushed outside.

She couldn't explain why,

But she needed to be there.

Across the street,

An old man on a bicycle was about to cross the road.

Completely unaware that a speeding car was coming around the corner.

Lila's heart raced.

Without even knowing how,

She shouted,

Stop.

And the car did.

It wasn't just a lucky timing thing.

Lila could feel it.

She had willed it to stop.

She hadn't meant to,

But the car came to a screeching halt just inches from the old man.

The driver honked and cursed,

But Lila barely noticed as she stood frozen in shock.

Had she done that?

Was that her?

The old man looked at her,

Eyes wide with confusion,

But she couldn't explain.

She couldn't explain anything.

After that day,

Lila's world turned upside down.

Her gifts,

If that's what they were,

Seemed to grow stronger every day.

She could make objects move with her mind,

Sense when people were lying,

And even hear whispers of thoughts if she focused hard enough.

It terrified her.

She didn't understand it,

And she didn't want to be found out by anyone,

Especially not the government.

She knew about the special people that the government hunted,

Those with powers like hers.

Stories from her mother about experiments,

About the way those people were never seen again.

They were taken away and used like lab rats.

And Lila knew,

She felt,

That she was one of them.

She learned to hide it,

To suppress it.

She lived in fear,

Using her powers only when absolutely necessary,

And only in the privacy of her own home.

One day,

While walking home from school,

Lila found herself in an alley.

Three strangers,

Men in black suits,

Stood in her path.

They looked out of place,

And their eyes gleamed with something cold.

Lila Carter,

One of them said,

His voice smooth.

We know what you are.

Her heart hammered in her chest.

She backed away,

Slowly.

I don't know what you mean.

The man's lips curled into a smile.

You know exactly what we mean.

Suddenly,

A wave of panic flooded Lila's mind.

Her powers surged,

Her emotions overwhelming her senses.

With a desperate cry,

She flung her hands out,

And everything in the alley around her began to warp.

The walls shook,

The ground cracked,

And the men were thrown back against the brick walls,

Their forms dissolving into a cloud of smoke.

When the dust cleared,

They were gone.

But Lila wasn't sure what had happened.

She didn't even know how to control it.

She ran.

Lila had spent weeks hiding,

Avoiding the people who had found her.

She couldn't trust anyone,

Not even her friends.

She could feel the weight of her powers growing heavier inside her,

And the fear of being discovered was starting to break her down.

But then,

One evening,

Something happened.

As she walked through the park,

Lost in thought,

She saw an old woman sitting on a bench.

The woman was staring at the sky,

Her expression distant,

As if waiting for something.

Lila felt an odd pump,

A tug in her chest.

She couldn't explain it,

But she approached the woman.

The woman's eyes,

A striking shade of green,

Locked onto hers.

She smiled softly.

You are looking for answers,

Aren't you?

She asked,

Her voice calm but knowing.

Lila's breath caught.

How did you?

Because I've been where you are.

The woman stood up slowly,

Her gaze still fixed on Lila.

I felt what you feel.

I can help you.

Lila was too stunned to speak.

She had never met this woman before,

But somehow,

She knew.

She knew.

The woman extended her hand.

My name is Seraphine.

I'm an oracle,

And I've been waiting for you.

Over the next few days,

Lila met with Seraphine in secret.

The older woman helped her understand what was happening to her.

Lila wasn't just some freak.

She was gifted.

There were others like her,

Scattered all over the world.

People with abilities like hers,

Hidden away,

Trying to survive in a world that didn't understand them.

Seraphine explained that Lila had the potential to be far more powerful than she realized.

Your powers are just beginning to bloom,

But they can be dangerous if not controlled.

You need training,

Guidance.

You need to be with others who are like you.

At first,

Lila was hesitant.

Could she really trust this stranger?

Was this some kind of trap?

But the more Seraphine spoke,

The more Lila felt a connection.

The oracle seemed to understand her in ways that no one else could.

Seraphine told Lila of a school,

An institution for children like them,

Gifted with supernatural abilities.

It was a place where they could learn to control their powers,

And most importantly,

Be safe from those who might seek to exploit them.

I can take you there,

Seraphine said,

But the road will be difficult.

You'll face challenges,

And you'll have to decide who you can trust.

Lila's heart raced.

This was it.

This was the chance she had been waiting for.

A chance to understand who she was,

To stop hiding,

And to finally stop being afraid.

With Seraphine's guidance,

Lila traveled to the school for gifted children.

It was hidden deep in the mountains,

Surrounded by forests.

A place where those with powers could live and learn in peace.

As they approached the gates,

Lila's heart lifted.

This was the beginning of something new.

The school was nothing like Lila had imagined.

It was vast,

With old stone buildings and lush gardens that seemed to pulse with magic.

Children of all ages,

Some with glowing eyes,

Others with strange auras,

Were practicing their powers or walking between buildings.

Lila was assigned to a room with other students her age.

Some were shy,

Others were confident,

But they all shared something in common.

They were different,

Just like her.

Seraphine visited often,

Guiding her through her training,

Teaching her to harness her abilities with discipline and care.

Lila learned to control her telekinesis,

To read minds without overwhelming herself,

And to predict certain events.

And as the sun set behind the mountains,

Casting a warm glow over the scorn,

Lila knew that she was just at the beginning of her journey.

With her mentor by her side,

She had a chance to make a difference,

To embrace who she was,

And to help others who struggled with their gifts,

Just as she once had.

You

Reviews

Interesting—the start of a great story! Thanks for sharing❤️🙏🏼

Loved in so many ways, makes you aware ther are so many children who need the right kind of guidance and protection. I do hope I interpreted this as you meant. I do love they had talked to someone rather than keeping it inside. Thanks 🩷🌺❤️‍🩹💝 lo