Let Down

Dave a young man who was average is all ways that count from his face to his height and even his accomplishments the only nice thing about his appearance where his crystal blue eyes . As he sat in the stillness of the church contemplating the enigmas of life. He sensed a uniqueness within himself, a distinct essence that set him apart from others. Looking up at the priest, whose wise face radiated serenity, Dave felt a sense of comfort in confiding his innermost thoughts although that comfort did not diminish his reluctance to do so .

Amidst the chaos of his mind, Dave struggled to come to terms with the Red Event - a strange occurrence that had granted people extraordinary abilities. Dave himself had been imbued with such powers, but the knowledge remained shrouded in darkness and secrecy. He had not even shared this truth with the priest he now confided in .

Dave found himself seated within the sanctuary of the church, gazing heavenward with an unexplainable sense of hope. He believed that with faith and the strength bestowed upon those who are truly devout, he could overcome any adversity he faced. It had only been a month since the Red Event had occurred, a phenomenon that had caused incredible changes in those who had been touched by it.

In the wake of this event, a woman named Azula had emerged, soaring through the skies and decimating drug houses and gangs in New York City. However, there were also darker incidents, such as the prison break caused by a terrifying criminal who had gained superhuman powers after slaughtering several prison guards.

In the heart of Dave, there lived a turmoil that only he could understand. Though he was born into a family of means and did good deeds for charity, he knew that within him lay a power that could control the very thoughts of others. This frightened him deeply, and he had not used this ability in a month, save for one accidental instance.

Dave had always felt like he was living in the shadows of his more accomplished brothers. His life was a constant disappointment, and he struggled to find any sense of purpose or fulfillment. In the midst of his despair and disillusionment, he stumbled upon Mary, a woman of exquisite beauty. Her long, flowing locks of golden hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes were a mesmerizing blend of emerald green and sapphire blue. They were eyes that could pierce through his soul and leave him breathless. In her presence, he found a sense of purpose and joy that he had never experienced before. She was his ray of light in the darkness, his oasis in the desert of his life., and everything changed. With her, life felt like sunshine and spring. For the first time, he felt like he truly belonged somewhere. She was the only person who had ever shown him genuine kindness, and he couldn't help but fall deeply in love with her.

Their relationship started off as a friendship, but soon blossomed into something more. Dave would take her out on the weekends and buy her everything she wanted or needed. He treated her like a treasure, always hoping that she would eventually reciprocate his feelings. But deep down, he knew that she didn't love him the way he loved her. She accepted marriage his proposal mostly for his wealth, and it was a hard truth for him to accept.

Despite this, he clung onto the hope that over time, she would come to love him for who he was and how he treated her. But as the days went by, he couldn't help but feel that his life was still just a constant letdown. Mary was the only bright spot in his existence, even he knew she did not bear the same love he had for her. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her. But he knew that he had to try to hold onto her, no matter the cost. One evening, they dined at a fancy restaurant, and as he looked upon her, he saw the way she gazed at another man, a famous actor or celebrity, a gaze filled with lust, a gaze he rarely saw pointed at him. It caused him a pain and sadness that he knew would never fade, the pain of knowing that the person he loved would never love him in return.

That night, in a drunken stupor, he witnessed his fiancée giggling over the phone with the joy of a teenager in love a smile and a laugh that he never heard, and it was too much for him to bear. He wondered how different his life would be if she loved him how happier they would both be, and in that state of mind, he used his power to change the neurons in her brain ever so slightly, believing that it would be for her own good but secretly he knew it was selfish action that it was wrong but in that moment he did not care and he did it anyways . The consequences of that small change would prove to be enormous, and things would never be the same again.

One might believe that this circumstance could never improve, or that his actions were akin to the monkey's paw, where the outcomes may seem positive, but ultimately lead to a realization that the love was not genuine. However, this was not the case for Dave. This past month spent with Mary was the happiest he had ever been, and he felt true joy. Yet, despite this, a feeling of guilt persisted within him, threatening to dampen his happiness. Could he truly call what they had love if he had forced that feeling upon her? Even if the result was her happiness, a direct consequence of the love she now held for him, he questioned if it was genuine. Was she truly happy, or was her happiness just a side effect of the love he had imposed upon her, violating her free will? He did not know. These thoughts troubled him, leading him to ponder if Mary's love for him was fanaticism, a love he had expected, but not desired. Seeking answers to the questions that plagued his mind and heart, he decided to go to the only place he now resides the church , one far away that no one that knew him could possibly now he was here .

Dave stood at the back of the church, watching as the other congregants filed out until only he and the priest remained. He wondered if a conversation with the priest might bring him the answers he sought, but he hesitated to approach him. What would he say? Would the priest see him as a demon, someone who had the power to take away the free will of the Almighty's creation? These thoughts raced through his mind as he debated whether to approach the priest or leave and continue to grapple with his guilt alone.

Beside him sat the priest, his silver hair cascading down his back and his warm, knowing eyes fixed upon him. They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken words. And then, as if his very soul had summoned it forth, the priest spoke. His voice was soft, yet strong, and each word felt like a balm for his troubled heart.

"What troubles you, my son?" the priest asked. "Though we may not find the answers today, know that this holy sanctuary is a place of solace and reflection. Share with me the burdens that weigh heavy on your heart, and together we shall seek the wisdom of the divine , you look like you could use some help from him"

I doubted whether the priest could offer me any real help. What if I was a monster, unworthy of redemption? What if I had committed unspeakable atrocities that could never be forgiven? These fears weighed heavy on my mind, causing my voice to tremble as I spoke. "What if...what if I wasn't a good man?" I asked, my doubts laid bare. "What if I had done something terrible, something unforgivable?" The words hung in the air, a heavy burden that threatened to crush me. Would the priest turn away from me, repulsed by the depths of my depravity? Or would he offer me a way to find absolution, no matter the cost?

The priest's gentle eyes looked upon me with understanding, as if he could sense the guilt and shame that weighed heavily on my soul. "None of us are perfect, my son," he spoke with a calm yet powerful voice. "We are all flawed in our own ways, but it is in recognizing our mistakes and striving towards redemption that we find true strength."

His words struck a chord within me, resonating deep in my heart. I took a deep breath and found the courage to speak my truth. "Father," I began, my voice trembling with emotion. "I have done something...something that I regret. I have hurt someone I care about deeply, and I don't know how to make things right."

The priest listened intently, his expression one of patience and empathy. "Tell me more," he encouraged.

The words trembled from my lips, barely audible above a whisper. "I can't tell you more," I said, my voice shaking with fear. "You might fear me if I did."

The priest listened intently to my words, his kind eyes never leaving mine. "Fear not, my son," he said in a calm, reassuring voice. "For even in the darkest of times, the light of God shines upon us all. No matter what sins or troubles you may have, know that His grace and love is infinite. You have come to this holy place seeking solace, and I am here to offer guidance and comfort in His name. So, speak freely, and know that I am not afraid, for I am with God, and He is with me." His words washed over me like a warm embrace, and I felt a glimmer of hope and faith stir within me. Could it be possible that there was still a way for me to find redemption and forgiveness?

The weight of my fears and doubts began to lift as the priest's words filled me with a newfound sense of hope. I took a deep breath, and slowly began to share with him the burden that had been weighing on me for so long. As I spoke, his gentle eyes never wavered from mine, and his words of comfort and understanding never faltered. In that moment, I knew that I had truly found a safe haven within the walls of the church, and that with the priest's guidance, I could begin to heal and find my way back to the light.

As we spoke, I felt the darkness that had consumed me begin to recede, and a warmth spread through me that I hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time in what seemed like forever, I felt a sense of peace and serenity, knowing that even in the midst of my struggles, I was not alone.

As Dave prepared to leave, he couldn't help but feel like something was off about John the priest and so to his regret he looked at the priest face a face of calmness and a smile that made me even guiltier for what I was about to do so I looked deeper, beyond the face that he wore beyond his flesh and straight into the priest's mind, and I saw through the facade of calmness and realized the man wasn't just anxious but he was also terrified , terrified of him. The priest was only telling him what he wanted to hear so that he could get away from him and leave the church , Dave felt betrayed the first person he opened up to had attempted to trick him and would have ruined his life as a consequence .The fear of being reported to the government or experimented on was real, and Dave knew he had made a mistake by sharing his secrets with anyone.

But he had to do something to protect himself , he hated what he was about to do , but he steeled his heart , this had to be done for his safety Without a word, he focused his powers on the part of the brain that governed short-term memory a part he didn't know existed except from some old video he must have watched but to his powers just knowing it could be done was enough and his powers didn't let him down and erased the past twenty minutes from the priest's mind. As the priest slumbered in his chair, Dave slipped out of the church a thought in his mind ,it didn't matter if it was Satan who give me this power or if this was some elaborate test from God , he did not care he is done being let down. these powers where his and he is going to make sure that after today nothing will stand in his was .