Open the letter

?I?ll be in my room? you mutter as you stand up. Your mother just nods and resumes cleaning up. You climb slowly up the stairs turning the envelope over in your hands. Reaching your room you close the door behind you and sit down at your desk.

Your father passed away when you were only a couple of years old, a few months after your sister was born. You barely remember him, only small fragments of memory, photographs, and things you have been told by your family. You sit silently fidgeting with the letter for several minutes, turning it over in your hands and wondering what it could be.

Eventually you slowly open the envelope and take out a sheet of paper and a smaller, blank envelope. Setting the unopened second envelope aside you unfold the sheet of paper. It is written in the same hand as the name on the front.

James, my son;

There?s so much I could say, but I shall keep this brief.

To start with I wish you a very Happy 20th Birthday. I hope you have enjoyed yourself today (or will enjoy the day as the case may be). I wish I could be there to see what sort of man you have become.

As to get to the reason I write this letter to you. What I am about to tell you may seem hard to believe, but I have come to realise the truth of it. You are special.

Our family has a unique heritage, from where I do not know, I did not believe it myself when my Grandfather told me stories as a child. However when you were born I realized he told the truth.

I apologize, I?m rambling. Our family through our male ancestors has had mental abilities; what you might call telepathy, but much more. The ability to manipulate others thoughts, control them even. It has been hidden within the males of our family, and for several generations we have lacked the ability to use it, but? I can?t explain it but when you were born, I knew you would have control over this ability.

The ability should have begun to manifest itself around this, your 20th birthday, it will cause a weakness that will last for a week, while your body adjusts to it?s new power, this will pass.

This ability has limitations. If you use it excessively it will cause a physical exhaustion more severe than you are going through at this time, so use it with cautio. It also requires a? bond (for lack of a better word) to be formed with your target in order to manipulate them.

I?m sorry I cannot offer more information, as I said I did not truly believe this existed and remember little of what I was told. I ask you to watch over your mother and sister, they do not know of your abilities and it is your choice if you wish to reveal it to them.

I wish you good luck with your life and may your powers bring you good fortune and much happiness

Your father, Jason

You sit and reread the letter several times, amazed but believing the words of your father.