Tim heard Aunt Helen’s lecture in his mind. It was one of many lectures she delivered again and again and again for thirty years. She was always lecturing. Always telling him what to do in her cold, hard voice.
That day, Aunt Helen screeched her lectures nonstop. Suddenly, Tim found himself choking her. Just for ten seconds. Just long enough to teach the old witch something.
He now saw the clock out of the corner of his eye. He had been choking her for fifteen minutes? He let go of her throat. Her lifeless body slumped down in her chair. In his mind, he could hear her shriek: “It was supposed to be for only ten seconds! Ten seconds! Every second counts!