Are you sure about that? I heard inside my head.
“What?”, I said out loud, instinctively, before I caught up with my thoughts enough to realise no-one had said a thing. A man opposite me looked up from his phone and frowned, before deciding I looked like a harmless crazy, and went back to whatever was capturing his attention on his screen.
I said, well, thought I suppose, ‘are you sure about that?”
Sure about what? I thought, tentatively
Sure about the idea that you are glad no-one can hear your thoughts.
I looked around again, trying to find someone who was holding their fingers to their temples or something, or looked like James McAvoy.
You can hear my thoughts? I asked internally.
Well obviously. But that isn’t the question I was asking. I was asking if you are really glad no-one can hear them.
Am I going mad? I noticed a beautiful smile on a face I hadn’t noticed, facing away from me a couple of rows down, and I knew they were smiling at me.
No, you’re not mad. I could almost hear the smile in my mind, but I felt that this might be suggestion. I am reading your mind. But that’s not the really interesting part.
Not the really interesting part? It's pretty fucking interesting to me, it's my mind!
The smile again. Sorry of course, your mind is very interesting. But I read minds all the time. The really interesting thing is that you can read mine back. I can’t read minds!
OK well, explain how we are conversing without saying anything or facing each other or even being near each other? Can you explain that?
I thought about this for a time. Then realised that they were probably listening. Then I thought something rude about people who eavesdrop. There was a single snatched laugh from further down the carriage.
No, I thought more directly, I can’t explain any of this. So, should I be? Should you be what?
Should I be glad someone can hear my thoughts, I thought.
Ah, finally, we are back to the real question. I can’t tell you what to think, but I know I am. I thought I was the only one left.
Can’t tell me what to think? Was that on purpose?
I don’t know, came the 'smiling' reply. You tell me.
I tried, but there was nothing.
I can’t? I thought.
No, I can’t see more deeply either. Surface thoughts only. That’s normally plenty, most peoples internal monologue is running 24/7. I just wondered if it would be different with someone who could read as well.
Normally? I’ve never done this before! I thought.
Oh, now I understand! I was worried you were just odd, with the reaction. I can hear everyone. You are clearer than most, but this is normal for me.
The train announcer called out our impending arrival at my station.
Shit, I thought. This is me. Look… or listen. Or… whatever you do with your ESP. Would you let me buy you a cup of coffee?
I looked up and saw them nod.
