Everyone wants to be special. As much as we all talk about being in the human race together and working together for the greater good, we still want something that sets us apart from everyone else. Something good. Something cool.

If you were a lonesome kid like I was, then you probably started these kinds of thoughts pretty early in life. For me, it was superheroes. I could have an innate ability that no knows about, not even me. I just needed to unlock it. And then it would be okay that I had no friends. Because superheroes are different from everyone else. Better.

Granted I wasn't so far in the clouds that I actually believed this about myself, but boy did I imagine the heck out of it. I'd be walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night in complete darkness, imagining I could see like an owl. Look at me go! I don't need any lights! Because I can see in the dark. I'm special.

Night vision isn't really superhero material, but I still felt special imagining it. It was a cool ability that no regular human had. And it seemed attainable because it was such a small skill. I saved the big abilities--like flying--for when I needed a boost. (Ha, look at me making puns by accident. Turns out that's one of my real special-but-useless abilities.) I'd push a swing out as far as it would go, lay my belly onto the swing, and push off with my feet, assuming the Superman-in-flight pose. Whoosh. Back and forth, eyes closed, flying in my mind.

Weightless.

Problem free.

Someone else.