[ WP ] You live in a world where every person receives a superpower on their 18th birthday . You eagerly count down the seconds then shriek in horror as you are given a power no one would ever want to be stuck with .

*Sixty* 
 
 For my whole life I have waited for this moment. 
 
 *Fifty nine* 
 
 For the day, the hour, the very second I turn 18. 
 
 *Fifty eight* 
 
 I know, I know - nothing changes when you turn 18. You ’ re an adult in nothing but name. 
 
 *Fifty seven* 
 
 But there ’ s more to this world than bars. 
 
 *Fifty six* 
 
 More than just being able to buy alcohol. 
 
 *Fifty five* 
 
 Buying it yourself, anyway. 
 
 *Fifty four* 
 
 You see, everyone hits 18 differently. 
 
 *Fifty three* 
 
 Some are ready for it. 
 
 *Fifty two* 
 
 They make the graceful change into an adult. 
 
 *Fifty one* 
 
 But most don ’ t. 
 
 *Fifty* 
 
 Most find being an adult pours too much responsibility on them. 
 
 *Forty nine* 
 
 But I ’ m getting off topic. 
 
 *Forty eight* 
 
 Off the point I was going to make. 
 
 *Forty seven* 
 
 Not everyone hits 18 differently. 
 
 *Forty six* 
 
 Here, it ’ s actually pretty similar for all of us. 
 
 *Forty five* 
 
 We might be in completely different situations, but we all go through the same thing. 
 
 *Forty four* 
 
 The same process. 
 
 *Forty three* 
 
 The awakening. 
 
 *Forty two* 
 
 When I was a kid, playing ball with my friends, we daydreamed about what we ’ d get. 
 
 *Forty one* 
 
 Fantasised. 
 
 *Forty* 
 
 See, when you turn 18 you have something very special happen to you. 
 
 *Thirty nine* 
 
 You get… a power. 
 
 *Thirty eight* 
 
 An ability. I ’ ve seen them range from superhuman strength to shooting fireballs from your tear ducts to being immune to asbestos. 
 
 *Thirty seven* 
 
 You have no choice in the matter, of course. 
 
 *Thirty six* 
 
 We used to dream about cool powers, wings and fireballs and all of that. 
 
 *Thirty five* 
 
 Now I ’ m almost 18 myself, I don ’ t know what to think. 
 
 *Thirty four* 
 
 Do I want something cool, or something useful? 
 
 *Thirty three* 
 
 I honestly don ’ t know. 
 
 *Thirty two* 
 
 It ’ s not like I can decide what I get. 
 
 *Thirty one* 
 
 How long left? 
 
 *Thirty* 
 
 Thirty seconds. I ’ ll think for a moment about my life, how it is going to change once I change. 
 
 *Ten* 
 
 Ten seconds left. 
 
 *Nine* 
 
 *Eight* 
 
 *Seven* 
 
 *Six* 
 
 *Five* 
 
 Five seconds left. I ’ m gripping the chair arms so hard I think they ’ re going to fall off. 
 
 *Four* 
 
 Four. 
 
 *Three* 
 
 Three. 
 
 *Two* 
 
 Two. 
 
 *One* 
 
 One! 
 
 The world goes dark. Is this the change? I wait, patiently. I feel nothing. I see nothing. 
 
 I wait some more. 
 
 Still I see nothing. 
 
 Then there is a voice, a murmur in the back of my head. 
 
 **Your power is humility. ** 
 
 I sit for a moment, before I try and cry. I lift a hand and realise I can not even do that. For my hand only touches smooth skin. 
 
 I am 18, and I am blind. 
 
 I am changed. 

