A Gentle Touch

Physical and emotional boundaries should be respected. Michelle Liew

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Laura was a product of love and nurturing--blessed with a loving family, physical touch was the perfect expression of love. Bumping into others on a crowded bus or train wasn't something out of place.

But she had a unique ability--her fingertips unveiled the secret feelings--joy, rage, grief--of others. Each touch was a whispered, poignant confession--it was a gift she took pride in, and had come to rely on.Though those around her wore masks, she peeled them away with a simple touch.

She wove through life, catching the echoes of others' hearts as she brushed against their shoulders and sleeves. Then, she bumped into Colin on a crowded train. There was a blink, a short breath--and nothing.

Panic raised the hairs on her skin. She wove her way through the crowd to stand next to him, deliberately knocking against his shoulder. Still a void.

Colin turned to look at her, a knowing grin slowly forming on his face. "Didn't your mum tell you that you shouldn't touch strangers without permission, Laura?" And the void vanished.

Laura stumbled back, a chilling dread wrapping around her ribs. Colin was inside her mind. He had, in an uncanny twist, reversed her gift.

He turned to her and smirked, raising his eyebrows in a calculated taunt. Then, he left. Laura was too rattled to follow. She felt his void slither inward, a darkness she couldn't shut out.

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This work is NOT AI-generated or copied from any source. The presence of AI tags is coincidental.