9: Soft truths and Real challenges

No

No

Not today, not ever. I am determined to triumph and I will. True failure is giving up. Tempt me as you want sweet sleep but I must work on discovering my power tonight after a couple of failures in other gift trials. I have met with some success in the telepathy department, so everyday before I sleep I practiced. Practicing telepathy is tricky, it has to be done when I feel sleepy or tired. The more exhausted I am the greater the rewards.

Who knew battling sleep will be this difficult?

It becomes more alluring especially as I have to stay awake.

Okay okay Zenith. You can do this. First step, increase body temperature. Check. Drink water, check. Battling sleep now seems more bearable. My eyes close a fraction, and I shake my head. I extend my hand out in front of me to incorporate more movement to staying awake.

Every night for the past two weeks I have been trying hard at it. Eventually I sleep off. Kira my teacher tells me I have primed my mind, there is no reason why I should not be able to be telepathic. Although, she also says that if I have to try this hard at it, it may not be my primary gift.

They are God like individuals amongst the fold that have 2-3 gifts and I aim to be like one of them. I can have two gifts, heck four even, it all depends on my willingness to do the work.

I can do it. I chant. But the sleep weighs heavily on my eyes, I can do it. My eyes droop lower. The more exhausted I feel, the greater the rewards, I can do it.

Ahhh. I have never been so sleep deprived in my life. Maybe I should just stick to finding my primary gifts. No no. Focus Zenith, Focus.

I try one last herculean effort to stay awake before I topple to floor, fast asleep before my head hits the ground.

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A few weeks ago

Zenith! we are going to have a weekend to remember!! I share in Ese's excitement as she practically yells through my phone. We have been planning towards this weekend for the past month. It's time to kick back, relax and celebrate. Ever since I opened my new cafe I haven't taken the time to celebrate so I'm going to do that this weekend with my best girl.

We did some last-minute shopping . And I'm standing in front of my mirror dressed in one the latest additions, a blue silk gown with ruffles.

Ese this gown is gorgeous on me.

Yeah, I told you so,I'm the model amongst us so i know about these things. I'm in your parking lot now, stop wasting time and let's be going.

Rushing to do last minutes check to see if I left anything behind. I step out my apartment with my carry on luggage, fumbling a bit with locking the door and holding several things at once, I finally conquer the door. I head to the stairs, the elevator is being maintained and boy am I glad I stay on the second floor. In my hurry, I bumped into a man and my articles spill to the floor. I apologize but before I can pick up my things, everything goes dark.

I wake up with a splitting headache and I see the worried face of my mom seated next to me.

Mum

yes darling how are you feeling?

Just a little bit woozy.

I look around the unfamiliar surroundings, where am I? I was supposed to go on a trip with Ese. How did I get here?

Ese had to go on the trip alone.

What do you mean she had to go on the trip alone. How can she go on our girl's weekend getaway without me? That doesn't make any sense.

I tried to struggle to my feet as I talk. My mom gently presses me back to the bed.

Relax, you still feeling the after effects, if you stand up too quickly, it could affect you negatively. So just rest a bit.

After effects of? what are you talking about?

Zenith baby there is something I should have told you years ago. I look at her confused.

Something you need to tell me? What is the matter mom?

Please do not say anything yet and listen, I need to get all this out.

First of all, I'm very sorry and I want you to know that I love you.

I always have. Please don't hate me.

Hate you. I could never hate you. What are you talking about?

You are not human!!

I squint my eyes at her for a while before I throw my head back and laugh.

Hahaha. Good one. Oh is that why. hahahaha Its okay. Nice one Mom, Almost choking on my chuckles. You are Ese didn't have to. I appreciate the effort. This is a really nice surprise.

Okay Ese, you can come out now, I say smiling and the door opens. But it's not Ese who steps in but a red haired woman.

Your Mom is telling you the truth, you are one of us.

Pishhh. Please. I roll my eyes. Enough with this prank already lol.

The lady crosses over to me and holds my hand.

𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐, 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝑲𝒊𝒓𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

Did you just say something?

𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕.

I look at her lips, but they were tightly sealed so if she wasn't talking with her mouth, how..

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆? 𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒚, 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘.

I look at the woman, my eyes wide as saucers and hers intensely staring at me.

Eyes rolling into the back of my head. I faint.

Just a typical Zenith doing typical Zenith things on a typical Zenith day.