What No One Else Could Hear

Chapter One

Mira Everwyn didn’t remember when the voices started, only that they never stopped. She learned to live around them, like a soundtrack she couldn’t turn off.

“Mira! Come get breakfast. We have to leave soon!” Mom called.

“Coming!” I said, even though I didn’t want to get out of bed.

I pulled myself out of bed and fumbled down to the kitchen.

“Come on, sit down,” Dad said.

“We have to leave soon,” Mom added as she placed bacon and eggs on my plate.

I sat down and started picking at my food while my parents started talking about the trip. I was never that good at conversations. At school, most people forgot I was even there.

“Do we have to go?” I asked quietly.

Confused, Mom looked up and asked, “Why wouldn’t we?”

“It’s just…” I started, but cut myself off. I can never tell them about the voices. No one ever understands.

“Never mind,” I muttered.

Still confused, Mom and Dad went back to eating.

After breakfast, I quickly went to get my bag. When I came back out, Mom and Dad were waiting by the car.

“You okay, hunnybun?” Dad asked with the nickname he gave me when I was four.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked.

“You just seem a little off today. You’re not getting sick, are you? Or are those girls bullying you again?” Mom asked worriedly.

“No! Why would you say that? It’s fine. I’m fine!”

“We trust you, honey, but if you DO need something, you know where to go,” Dad said.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“We should probably get going then!” Mom said.

“Yeah!” Dad added.

As they started driving, the voices got worse. I can never make out what they’re saying. Sometimes it’s a quick memory of something that’s happened to me. Sometimes it’s a flash of my family doing something I don’t remember. But sometimes, every so often, I’ll hear people.

People talking. People crying, laughing, or calling for help.