[ WP ] A man finally discovers his superpower ... well into his 80 's .

*Tap tap tap * 
 
 The knock on the door surprised me. I did n't expect any visitors this late into the evening and the nurses usually do n't check up on me until 10:30. 
 
 `` Come in.'' 
 
 `` Good evening, sir!'' 
 
 *That's an unfamiliar voice... * 
 
 I looked up to find a tall man entering my room. He was in his mid-thirties from my estimation. He wore a nice suite with a deep blue tie and his dark brown hair was neatly combed back in a tidy hairstyle. 
 
 *If I had looks like that... * I thought to myself, *Life would be good. * 
 
 His lips curled upwards towards his inviting blue eyes as he smiled to introduce himself. 
 
 `` I'm Pastor Ben from the local church down the street. I like to visit the hospital every so often to check up on patients and ask them if they would like to talk or pray. Is there anything I could do for you?'' 
 
 *Great... A pastor. * 
 
 `` I'm not much of a religious man,'' I admitted, `` but it is nice to have some company.'' 
 
 `` I'm happy to give you some of my time.'' 
 
 The young cleric smiled again as he took a seat next to my hospital bed. 
 `` So what brings you to the hospital?'' He asked. 
 
 `` Oh nothing unusual for a man of my age.'' I laughed. `` High blood pressure, diabetes complications, oh, and let's not forget the prostate cancer. Just the usual ailments for a 83 year-old man like me.'' 
 
 I smiled at him as his face took on a solemn wince. 
 
 `` I'm sorry to hear about all that, sir.'' 
 
 `` Please,'' I interrupted, `` call me William.'' 
 
 `` William... It's nice to meet you.'' The young man inspected me closely. `` You know, I never would thought you were so sick just by looking at you. You look pretty healthy to me.'' 
 
 `` You're not the first person to tell me that, you know.'' I smiled as we shook hands. `` The doctors were quite surprised that I was sick too. Imagine how I must have felt!'' 
 
 Ben laughed and sat up from his seat. `` Well, William, would you mind if I asked to pray with you?'' 
 
 The young pastor looked straight into my eyes. He was charming and kind. How could I refuse him? 
 
 `` I told you I'm not very religious, but I guess I would n't mind.'' 
 
 `` Thank you!'' The pastor responded. `` May I hold your hands as we pray?'' 
 
 `` Why not?'' I shrugged. `` I do n't have that much longer to live anyways.'' 
 
 I closed my eyes as the young pastor took my hands into his and began to pray. As he spoke, I began to feel peace and strength flow into me. *Perhaps this religious stuff is n't as phony as I thought... * 
 
 `` Dear Heavenly Father,'' he paused and groaned slightly as if he were in pain, `` I come to you today with --'' Ben coughed violently, but I was feeling better by the second. *Maybe there's some truth to this prayer thing. * `` With William who is sick and in need of healing.'' The preacher was straining now with each word he spoke. `` Please be with him in this difficult time in his life. Please place your healing hands... Ahh...! GAH!'' 
 
 I opened my eyes to check what was going on, only to find the young man groaning and writhing in pain. His hands were clutching onto mine, gripping as hard as he could. *This should be painful*, I thought, but I did n't feel a thing. Instead, I felt great. 
 
 It was as though this young man's life was flowing into me. I had never felt anything like this before. It was incredible. I felt decades younger. 
 
 Ben kept trying to break free from our hold. `` Please!'' He begged. `` What are you doing to me? Please stop!'' But I would n't let go. How could I? I was being healed. I smiled for his prayers were being answered. 
 
 A few moments later the writhing stopped. This foolish young pastor was no longer groaning, he was no longer anything. Before me was a limp and withered shell of a man, while I felt better than I had in my entire life! 
 
 *I'm sorry. * I thought to myself. *But know that your sacrifice will not be in vain. * 
 
 I got up from the hospital bed and looked at the mirror. The face of a young man in his mid-thirties stared back at me. *What the hell just happened? Actually, who cares? * I was back, and with this newfound power, I was ready to do anything. 
 
 I took Ben's nice suit and tie and headed out the door, ready to live life all over again. 
 
 *I always knew I was special. * 

