[ WP ] You 're walking down the street when you notice a man playing guitar on the sidewalk . He has a sign which says , `` I can read minds . Think of a song and I 'll play it . ''

I was heading home late from work when I saw him. A man who sat in the corner of the subway. He was much smaller than I. His long, dark hair hung over his deep face of wrinkles defined by dirt. He held a sign that was torn and water logged but legible. `` I can read minds. Think of a song and I'll play it,'' it read. 
 
 I walked towards him as I sang `` Bohemian Rhaphsody'' in my head. In seconds, the notes bounced of the tiles walls, reflecting sound through the empty space. His voice rattled through my veins, and I began to shake. Then he stopped. I raised my eyebrows and stared at him. 
 
 `` Think of another,'' he said. 
 
 So I did. Sure enough, the man began playing the song I was thinking of. His rough voice rang through my ears. I continued to stare in disbelief. 
 
 `` Come here, son,'' he said, gesturing for me to sit on the ground. 
 
 I sat next to him. His eyes were soft. As I looked deeper, they reminded me of my mother's. The wrinkles on his face began to smooth. His hair lightened, flowing into bouncy curls. I saw my mom. I had n't seen her in years. My eyes filled with tears as she held my hand. 
 
 I wiped the tears from my eyes. `` Mom --'' I stammered. But she was n't there anymore. He sat next to me gripping my hand. His nails dug deep into my skin as I tried to pull away, screaming. No one was there to hear me. 
 
 He tugged me to the ground and whispered into my ear. `` Do you want to know a secret?'' I kicked and pushed but for some reason he was able to hold me still. He placed his pointer finger on my forehead and I knew. 
 
 `` You're not from here,'' I said. 
 
 He smiled at me and vanished. 
 

