The Voices Inside My Head

In simpler times, being mute was a straightforward aspect of my identity. I couldn't communicate verbally, and that's who I was. My mother, and perhaps even I, eventually adapted to this reality. Life in my high school in Shanghai was relatively平稳; despite my disability, I felt accepted and treated with dignity. As I approached my final year, Year 12, I cherished the sense of normalcy I experienced. Although I didn't have many close friends, I coped well with the situation. However, everything took a dark turn when those haunting voices began. They emerged within the minds of my peers, and from that moment on, my world was forever altered. These voices weren't concerned with typical teenage concerns like academics or relationships; instead, they dwelled on sinister thoughts and plans, things they wished to do to each other. Unbeknownst to everyone else, I became privy to their twisted inner worlds, which shattered the peace I once knew.