Cutting the cord, he laid the baby across the mother's stomach. Rebecca heard the thub-thub. She closed her eyes and the darkness was back. Rebecca began to feel calm. She began to feel safe. She broadcast these feelings to everyone in the room. In unison the doctor, the anaesthesiologist, the nurses and her mother sighed. The delivery room remained quiet and Rebecca, again at peace, fell asleep.

Since that day Rebecca's emotions have left her head completely of their own accord. They do not all travel an equal distance; the more intense her feeling, the further she broadcasts it. If you wanted to hear her joy at finding her favourite show on TV you'd have to be very close to her head, almost touching it. But when she falls in love, people a full city block away know. This causes many problems, since the things Rebecca wants to keep to herself the most are the ones she broadcasts the farthest.

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Last modified on September 28, 2011  | © Telegram 2005