My Ultimate Superpower

A mother is screaming, "Please, God don't take my baby away from me!" A sister is praying, "God, I know my brother has made mistakes, but please just let him stay here!" A father is crying out, "God, take me! Take me instead! Why does it have to be this way?" A friend is wailing, "God, please just give him one more chance!" As the officer leads the family out for one last time, the dying patient—with one of his last breaths—screams out, "I'm sorry; I love you." These are just a few of the haunting words that I heard one night while making rounds in the HIV unit at a local prison. It was all I could do to keep my composure and remain professional. I would have given anything to have had the superpower of mental manipulation before this family had to endure this horrible scene. The ability to alter the perceptions of others would have given me an opportunity to change this man's entire life. He would have never decided to use drugs; therefore, he would have never acquired HIV which eventually turned into the terminal illness of AIDS. Furthermore, he would have never committed the crime that landed him in prison. I would have been able to instill—honorable morals, noble values, and exceptional character—in him before the crime ever took place. With the ability to manipulate one's mind, I could resolve the issues of criminality, depression, suicidal ideation, bitterness, warfare, and much more. I could have saved this man's life and saved his family a tremendous amount of grief, as well. Ultimately, I could save many lives with the superpower of mental manipulation, and we could live in a crime free world filled with world peace, true love, and exuberant jubilation.