[ WP ] A story where the main character 's have powers based on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows .

“ Come in! Come in! See what we have to offer! ” the man shouts. The murmuring crowds that pass him hardly pay him mind, and yet he continues to happily invite people into the store, eagerly motioning towards them with open hands. “ We ’ ve got the latest and the greatest! The best on the whole block! Every gadget and device you need, right here! ” 
 
 Aside from a few curious looks, no one pays him any mind, and I watch his face as I slowly approach him from within the crowd. 
 
 “ Come inside and see what ’ s new in the market! Come inside and see the *Future*! Come and- ” 
 
 He pauses as I pass him, and I do my best to ignore the expressions playing across his face. 
 
 “ Come in and… and… I… ” 
 
 His voice lowers, and his arms drop to his sides. No one notices his sudden quieted change, or the look of despair that begins to set on his face. 
 
 I sigh, and continue on my way, thinking over his words. 
 
 The ‘ future ’. That word used to hold more meaning for me. It ’ s very definition implied a great unknown that was yet to be, however terrible or wonderful it might be. It was my reminder that things wouldn ’ t stay the same. But now… It ’ s meaning no longer holds any hope towards me. The future is now but a constant source of worry that troubles my thoughts, and the thoughts of others. 
 
 I see it everyday as I walk along the streets. Just like the man who stood loudly in front of his store, wondering if this was all there was to his life. The people that I observe always pause in their actions within moments of my passing, and I watch them as they slowly comprehend their fears and doubts that manifest themselves from deep within their minds. They always begin to question their life choices. 
 
 I reach a crosswalk, and I wait for the light to turn green so that I may cross it. Beside me a man in a suit idly checks his watch, and as I give a curious glance at his wrist for the time, our eyes meet. 
 
 “ It ’ s about three, ” the man pleasantly replies. 
 
 “ Thanks, ” I respond quietly. 
 
 He smiles. “ No problem. I don ’ t know about you, but my day is only about half done. ” 
 
 I never need to say much for it to happen. People always start with a casual remark, and then they ’ ll continue all on their own. I simply reply, “ Oh? ” and the man quickly continues. 
 
 “ Yup. Just another long day at the office for me. This job ’ s tough, but hey, how can I complain? The overtime is going to be worth it! All I got ta do is show some extra resolve and the boss will promote me for sure. ” 
 
 “ Sounds nice. ” 
 
 He laughs. “ Nice is an understatement. With a bigger salary I wouldn ’ t have to work as hard as I do now, and I ’ ll actually be able to get home at a decent time. I got a son, you know? ” 
 
 “ I didn ’ t ”. The more content ones take longer to affect, and I turn my head back to the crosswalk light, wishing it ’ d turn green faster for his sake. 
 
 “ Yeah, he ’ s a good kid. Does great in school. He ’ s always waiting for his old dad to get home. But with the way work has been lately I feel like I hardly see him. ” He lets out a sarcastic laugh, and slowly, his smile begins to fade. “ I always tell him, ‘ Soon, son. I ’ ll get that promotion soon. Just you wait and see. ’ He never likes that answer, but I… I mean, it ’ ll come. I just got ta wait it out. Hang on until… things get better. After all, I wanted all of this, didn ’ t I? ” 
 
 He pauses in contemplation, and he shifts in uncomfort. “ Things do get better, don ’ t they? As long as I keep working hard at this job, it will get better, right? ” He turns to me and asks with a worried face, “ Things do change, right? ” 
 
 The crosswalk sign turns green, and I leave him without replying. No matter how often people ask me the questions I stir in them, I can never give them an answer. 
 
 After passing another two blocks, I entered the rundown part of town. The people here aren ’ t as friendly as the man in the suit or the man at the store. Muggings are actually quite common here. But even so, I ’ m never harassed for long when I pass through here. Even when the people I effect become aggressive and start to smash the objects around them, they always avoid hurting me. They always avoid my gaze as they begin to break down. 
 
 A hooded person exits an alley ahead of me, and I see the brief glance of cash in his hands before he stashes it away into his pockets. Luckily for him, he doesn ’ t take notice of me as he walks towards the other direction. 
 
 I approach the alley he left, and I look inside to see how he earned his cash. 
 
 A young woman stares back at me, and panic crosses her face as she quickly hides a bottle of pills behind herself. 
 
 “ What the fuck do you want? ” she asks in annoyance. By looks of her clothes and the scattered book bag on the ground, I ’ d guess she was in college. She collects her bag and steps torwards me. “ You got a problem with me? ” 
 
 “ No. ” 
 
 “ Then why the hell are you staring at me? You never seen a person do this kind of stuff before? ” 
 
 “ I… yeah, I haven ’ t. ” 
 
 To be honest, I ’ ve seen this plenty of times, and I ’ ve learned that it ’ s best for people let them work it out all on their own. 
 
 “ Whatever, ” she replies, and she hurriedly moves past me. “ I don ’ t *need* this. It just helps, okay? ” 
 
 She stops and turns to face me, and I remain quiet as the motions play out. 
 
 “ It ’ s just to get through the semester. I can hardly focus at home. I just need this to get through the day, okay? It ’ s not like I ’ m a junkie or anything. I ’ m going to graduate and… I ’ m going to have a life and… ” 
 
 As she becomes quiet she gives me a hard stare, almost as if she was expecting me to finish her sentence. When it becomes clear to her that I won ’ t reply, a scowl appears on her face. 
 
 “ It ’ s not like I ’ m going to use this stuff forever! I can get on my own without it. It… it just helps! Don ’ t you get it? This isn ’ t me! It ’ s a phase! Once I ’ m done with school I ’ ll get off the stuff and live a happy life! I ’ ll change! Won ’ t I? ” 
 
 I ’ ve been around her long enough, and I continue on my way. Behind me I hear her curse along with the sound of her bag being thrown against a wall. “ Fuck you! What do you know? What the hell do you know? ” 
 
 Some steps later her shouts turned into pleas, and her voice became quieter all together as she slumped onto the ground with her hands wrapped over her face. 
 
 The three people I met today are only a few of the many I try to find. Every person I meet brings them to a crossroad, a turning point derived from fear. A chance for them to reconsider their *future*. Unlike me, however, they actually get a chance to change. Myself? I ’ m afraid I ’ ll stay like this forever. Always wondering the streets, bringing others a chance for change while wishing it would happen to me for once. 
 
 But I guess somethings will always stay the same. 
 
 My name is Alazia, and I ’ m the fear that you're no longer able to change. 
 

