Dying Inside
by Robert Silverberg· 2023
What if you could read anyone’s thoughts? And what if you could use them to your advantage without anyone else knowing? For forty-one-year-old term paper grifter, David Selig, this is his all-seeing, all-knowing reality. That is, until his life-long ability begins to wane. And when telepathy is no different from any other drug, its user is prone to the same kind of withdrawal, superpower in tow or not.
Born with this telepathic ability, David grew up assuming everyone else wielded it. It wasn’t a power at all, just a normal function of being alive. Though, as a precocious youngster, he began to read the thoughts of others, finding their faces told a story different from their thoughts. And then the epiphany arrived: he was a freak, and he had to hide his ability at all costs. Of course, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t make good use of it first.
Spying on others turned into an obsession, one that serves him and his college term paper venture well. Understanding the thoughts of his clients informs his plagiarizing, and it delivers satisfying results. That is, most of the time. But he can’t exempt his personal life from his own prying mind, which is determined to experience it all.
Entering his lovers’ thoughts during climax is a high that nothing else can offer. It brings him a euphoric sense of control while also drawing him closer to his partners. But it also pushes them further away, including one of the great loves of his life, Toni. And with a fading power that’s decimated his relationships and clouded his decision-making, David is left to ask: can I still find purpose in my life?
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What if you could read anyone’s thoughts? And what if you could use them to your advantage without anyone else knowing? For forty-one-year-old term paper grifter, David Selig, this is his all-seeing, all-knowing reality. That is, until his life-long ability begins to wane. And when telepathy is no different from any other drug, its user is prone to the same kind of withdrawal, superpower in tow or not. Born with this telepathic ability, David grew up assuming everyone else wielded it. It wasn’t a power at all, just a normal function of being alive. Though, as a precocious youngster, he began to read the thoughts of others, finding their faces told a story different from their thoughts. And then the epiphany arrived: he was a freak, and he had to hide his ability at all costs. Of course, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t make good use of it first. Spying on others turned into an obsession, one that serves him and his college term paper venture well. Understanding the thoughts of his clients informs his plagiarizing, and it delivers satisfying results. That is, most of the time. But he can’t exempt his personal life from his own prying mind, which is determined to experience it all. Entering his lovers’ thoughts during climax is a high that nothing else can offer. It brings him a euphoric sense of control while also drawing him closer to his partners. But it also pushes them further away, including one of the great loves of his life, Toni. And with a fading power that’s decimated his relationships and clouded his decision-making, David is left to ask: can I still find purpose in my life?