One morning, I woke up and realized I could hear everyone’s inner voice. Normally, the orphanage was so quiet you could hear a pin drop but now it is filled with loud and evil thoughts. Every single orphan is just telling their jealous thoughts about the adopted orphans and criticizing themselves. “Why didn’t they choose me? I am a sweet young lady rather than that ugly rat that they have adopted!”.
I tried to ignore the voices, but they were too loud. It was like everyone was shouting inside my head. Some were angry, “She always acts nice, but she’s fake. I should have been the one going to that rich family.”,“No one ever picks me. Maybe if I smiled more. Maybe if I was cuter.”. Others were just sad, “They didn’t even look at me. Not once. I knew it. I’m not special.”. I looked around the room. Everyone was eating breakfast like normal. But now I knew what they were really thinking. It was like their masks were gone. I saw their pain, their anger, their fear. I didn’t know what to do. Should I talk to someone? Tell them? No one else seemed to hear the voices. It was just me.
I stood up and walked out of the dining room. I needed air and silence. But even outside, the voices followed me. Softer now, like echoes in the wind, but still there. I covered my ears. It didn’t help. “Why am I like this?” I thought but then something changed. I sat under the old tree in the garden, and for the first time, I focused on just one voice. It was a little boy—Timmy. His thoughts were quiet and sad. “I miss my mom. I wish I could talk to someone.” so I stood up, walked back inside, and sat next to him. “Hey, Timmy. Want to talk?”. His eyes widened. “How did you know?” I just smiled. Maybe I couldn’t stop the voices. But maybe I could help them feel heard.