[ WP ] After 267 years you finally learn the truth about your immortality ...

I am a leech. 
 
 I was born October the 4th, 1750. I grew up to be a fine lad. Educated, well put together. I had myself a lovely bride. She died well before her years. 
 
 The strangest thing happened on the day she died. I felt weak. Like all my years were catching up with me. Then a friend put his hand on my shoulder and the feeling faded. 
 
 I outlived all of them, even grandchildren. I was thought to be a demon. I believed them after a while. I needed to leave. I boarded a ship in 1912, holding on to the promise at a new life across the seas. 
 
 She sank. Oh how she sank. I was cold, so cold. A woman grabbed at me, no life jacket on her. She pushed me under trying to stay afloat. I felt it again, that feeling from long ago. A warmth returning to my body. I was under for longer than anyone should have been able to survive. Yet, when I surfaced it was the woman who was dead. I recognized her as one of the maids. We'd shared a special moment together. 
 
 The boats saved the remaining few of us. I had made it. 
 
 I was drafted. Screwed on both sides. Called to arms by my home country only to have my new one join as well. Never suffering a wound, many tags to my name. They called me plague. 
 
 A second time I was called to fight. This one more horrible than the last. No wounds again. This time a friend saw me holding a dying solider. The light of his eyes faded faster than he would have expected. I was given the nickname leech. It came from habit of mooching off others. How right they became. 
 
 I stand with my baby in my arms. He does not have much longer left to live. Doomed from birth the doctor's gave him a month. I wanted to give him mercy. Deep down I knew all along how my power worked. Ever since my first love died so long ago. I'm too afraid to admit it to myself. I slowly leech the life from him. His grip growing less tight. That warm feeling returning. I pretended it was mere happenstance. 
 
 I am a leech, a cursed gift. 
 
 *** 
 Sorry, that was heavy. I hope you liked it anyway! r/TheYogiBearhaWrites ( I have happier stories there ) check it out if you like. 
 
 ( Also for the curious, the gift works much better when he has a connection with the person. ) 

