Gifted Hands Novels & Stories

It was just that the past three years had made me realize that he no longer was the family I could freely seek affection from. Connor was still looking at me, seemingly waiting for an explanation. But I only lowered my head and replied, "I'm sorry, Mr. Sanders." His frown deepened. He was about to speak up when he caught sight of the still-healing needle marks on my neck. He paused for a moment before reaching out toward me. "What's this?" I instinctively flinched away from Connor's hand. This was something that had never happened before. His hand missed and fell, and his expression darkened instantly. "I'm just trying to look out for you, Wendy, and this is how you're acting?"

"If it were me, I'd keep him close, too. Inventory-variant Gifted are extremely rare. Upgrading their gifts is the hardest among all Gifted." Hayley's hand paused mid-motion. "How do you upgrade gifts?"

"We're here because Great-Great-Grandma Lily wrote me a letter saying I'm supposed to change everything. But I can't change everything alone. None of us can." She gestured to the children around her. "Some of you can see the future or read minds or move things without touching them. Some of you can't do any of that. But we all have something to give." "What do I have to give?" asked Tommy Rodriguez, a non-gifted third-grader. "I'm just regular." "You're not just regular," Baby Lily said, there to help facilitate the first meeting. "You're essential. Gifted kids like me need friends who keep us grounded, who remind us that abilities are tools, not identity."

adds another guest. “Exceptional lung capacity and breath control for her age,” Killian analyzes proudly. “Lucky timing,” I counter. “Strategic execution combined with advanced motor control.” “Accidental success combined with proud parents.” “Same thing.” “Not even slightly the same thing.” The gift opening ceremony that follows resembles a small-scale version of Christmas morning at the White House. Educational toys from tech executives, handmade books from literary figures, art supplies from museum directors, and enough stuffed animals to populate a small zoo.

"Really. Jane can stay with you from now on. She can pick you up from kindergarten and cook you better meals than I ever could. How does that sound? Aren't you happy?" Before I could say more, Mark grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm so happy, Mommy. You're the best!" Then, without a second thought, he rushed to Jane's bedside and called out, "Mommy!" The pain in my chest was unbearable. It had been so long since my son had shown me any affection. I couldn't even remember the last time he held my hand, or kissed the back of my hand like that. And the price for all of that was letting him call someone else "Mommy".

Still feeling the craving for her, he decided to take a cold shower to rid himself of the craving. The following day, Andra woke up and stepped into the living room. She saw Dominic sipping a cup of coffee before the television while staring at a wrapped gift before him on a side stool. Upon seeing him, memories of the brief passion from the previous night hit her and reddened her cheeks, causing her to blush openly. Dominic remembered too and smiled knowingly at her. Then he picked up the gift. "I actually got this for you during my trip. It's actually a sign that I have already forgiven you," he said as she drew closer and sat down beside him.

My eyes were on his hands, his hands that trembled, his hands that were holding the gifts out to me. I swallowed again, readying myself for what was about to happen when I touched him. I tried to push down the giant swarm of wasps that had formed in my stomach as I reached my equally shaky hands towards his, and as I took the gifts from his hands, I brushed my fingertips against his.

Addie nodded, looking up at her big sister’s face. “You know how everyone loved Mama, and everyone did what she wanted them to do?” Addie nodded again, wiggling and getting as comfortable as she could in her sister’s arms. “Mama had a special gift. It’s called Shawishi. Do you know what that is?” Addie crinkled her nose, thinking. “Maybe. Is it one of the five gifts?” She vaguely remembered being taught about the sacred gifts but she thought that they had died out.

She tried not to fidget during the staff meeting, dutifully taking assignments notes on her iPad, but she rose with relief when it was over. Everyone was leaving the conference room when Deedee charged in, carrying a huge padded envelope. "Stacy," she squealed. "A delivery guy brought this for you." "What's that?" Stacy stared at what the receptionist was holding as if it might bite her. "Whatever it is, what's inside sure is huge." Janelle kept her eyes glued to the package. "Open it," someone urged. The outside had only her name and office number on it. No return address. She set it on the table, pulled back the sealed flap, and eased out the biggest heart-shaped box she had ever seen. She