[ WP ] You have always been able to see how long other people have to live . You are invited to a huge party , and after becoming drunk , you notice that everyone around you only has 15 minutes left .

** First time poster, Sorry for the length, got carried away. Hope you like it** 
 
 Its happened for as long as I can remember. Whenever I concentrate on someone I can see a number, normally unique to them, other times a couple would share a number. It took me a long time to work out what this meant. I had been able to see this since I was a child and finally when I was a teenager I had realised what it was, the amount of time they had left until their death. 
 
 When I realised this, I became obsessed. Constantly checking everyone's number, trying to work out what would cause their time to be so long or so short. I had on occasion managed to change peoples numbers. I remember helping my dad through quitting smoking. It was not long after I realised what the numbers meant that I relised it was probably the reason my Dads number was so low. I had spent months supporting him a convincing him to finally give up. When he did his number started to rise, I had never been so happy to have the gift. Although I had never told a single person about this, I felt it was an important part of me. 
 
 Only twice had I ever seen someone with a number less than a day. I remember both of them as if it was yesterday. The first time I saw a low number was while I was waiting for the train to work. Often I would look around and check peoples numbers when I was bored. However that morning was one time I will never forget, I was standing there checking peoples numbers when I saw a man standing alone on the station, staring at his shoes, with a number of 3 minutes. I froze, this was the lowest I had ever seen, this was basically now. I didn ’ t know what to do. I just turned and ran off the station, I don ’ t know why but I had to get out. As I was leaving I heard it. The train arriving and the thud and the screams, and I knew he had jumped. 
 
 The other time was a lot nicer. It was only a few weeks ago when I was walking along the street, again checking numbers, when I saw a middle aged lady walking towards me with a time of 10hrs. All the memories of last time came back to me, however this time I didn ’ t freeze. As she got closer I looked at her and smiled, and said `` I love that dress, really suits you, you look nice''. She looked a bit surprised but smiled. As she walked past, I looked back and checked her number again, 4 years. 
 
 Today was my brothers 30th birthday BBQ. I hadn ’ t looking forward to it. They always seem to get a bit rowdy after drinking, which is quite often. I had planned to leave early, hoping to avoid most of the drama. As I sat there listening to my mother talk about how I never get to see her enough and that I was too busy with work to spend time with her I was planning my escape, what excuse could I use this time? I had already had a few too many to drink so was planning on catching an Uber home. As she was talking to me I could hear my Dad and my brother arguing with the neighbor about the noise. This was normal at gatherings, he hated how often and how loud my family gatherings were, constantly sticking his head over the fence to complain about the noise and amount of people. He had never been nice, always preferring to keep to himself, we would only see him when he wanted to complain. 
 
 As they were arguing, I stared at my brother, and checked his number like I often do, out of habit really. 15 mins. My heart dropped. I panicked, I checked my Dads, 15 mins. Mums, 15 mins. Everywhere I looked, everyone I checked as 15 mins. How did this happen, I had checked mums only an hour ago and she was 26 years. There had to be a reason for the sudden drop in everyones numbers, and I had to be able to do something. Then I realised, I checked the neighbors number, 32 years. He was the only one who survived. He must be the reason, maybe we had pushed him too far. This was obviously the last straw. 
 
 What could I do, how could I stop him, I mean I didn ’ t even know how it would happen. I ran to dad screaming to stop arguing, but he had had a few too many to be reasonable at that point. I pleaded, and begged him to stop arguing and come inside. I think he saw the panic in my eyes and stopped. Asking what was wrong as we walked inside. I didn ’ t know what to say. I could hardly tell him the truth, there wasn ’ t enough time to expain it. 9 minutes. That was all I had. As I was yelling everyone was looking and started coming over, gathering around me. What could I do. There wasn ’ t enough time to get everyone to leave. There was too many people. Only 8 minutes. Think.... Think.... What could I possibly do to stop this. I had to do something. This is my family. 7 minutes. 
 
 Everyone was together now, gathered on the patio muttering and asking eachother what was wrong with me. They were all trying to comfort me, even though they didn ’ t know why. 5 minutes. Then I had an idea, but I had to act fast. He hated us, we had n't been the best neighbors to him, always loud and fairly disrespectful and he had had enough now. So I had an idea of what might stop him. 3 minutes. I told everyone I needed some space, I needed to walk and I slipped out the front and went straight next door. I knocked on his door and was surprised when he answered so quick. I stuttered a few times but managed to get out what I wanted to say. I told him I was sorry for the noise today and all the other times, I told him this was the last time, that we are selling the house and this was our final goodbye to our family home. I told him that this was it. He didn ’ t need to worry again. He didn ’ t respond. He just started and then turned and walked away. As he turned, I saw it. Behind his back. The biggest gun I have ever seen. It sent chills down my entire body. 
 
 I ran back home and saw mum first. I checked as quick as I could. 26 years. It worked. I had done it.
