“I see.” Her brow crinkles and there’s a flash of something I don’t recognize before she continues. “I think you are being too hard on yourself. You are not responsible for what other people feel. But, as I was saying earlier, you can choose how to respond to it. You need to get these outbursts under control. Think before you speak. And that will only be possible if you learn to filter the incoming emotions. I think it’s possible you’re not in control of your own feelings because they are being overpowered by others—that’s why you need to learn to balance them.”

“Yeah, I know,” I sigh. “I just—I don’t want anyone to get hurt. That’s all.”

Something warm flares, but it’s not pity. There’s sun on my face for a moment before the sharp edge of Dr. Bright’s now familiar curiosity pokes into me.

“I have an idea,” she says brightly. “I think you’ve been given a unique opportunity.”

“Awesome, more unique opportunities,” I mumble.

“If you couldn’t do what you can do, do you think you would have noticed that Adam felt worse after you intervened?”

“No, I guess not,” I answer. “But, I wouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place if I couldn’t do what I do.”

“I just mean that you know now that he’s feeling worse. And maybe you can help make that better,” she explains, a spark in her eye. “I think you should talk to him on Monday. Try and become friends.”

“Why the hell would I do that?” I ask, confused. I’ve literally just told her about how guilty I feel over making Adam feel worse and now she wants me to spend more time with the guy?

“You said yourself that he’s lonely,” she explains. “He could probably use someone who understands what’s going on with him. And it might help whatever misplaced feeling of guilt you have if you befriend him.”

“Using my ability to make someone feel a certain way is exactly what I’m trying to avoid,” I argue. “Isn’t that an abuse of power or something?”

But Dr. Bright won’t be talked out of the idea. She seems to think that the fact I’m feeling Adam’s emotions so strongly is important. That maybe he’s someone I could use in school to focus on and learn how to better balance stuff.

We do some meditation exercises to practice—I try to feel her feelings and then make them fit alongside mine or tune them out. I’m definitely not good at the second part, but I do okay on identifying her feelings. And I’m pretty pleased with how impressed she feels, until her face turns serious and concern creeps in.