In the vast expanse of human existence, I stand as an observer, silently watching from afar. I feel their conflicting and complex emotions as they walk by. They're all dreadfully bland.

Then, I feel it. I feel you. I move quickly, traveling across piles of garbage and the horrors of the sewers until... I see you. 

You move swiftly through the floods of people, staring at your feet as you walk. I can feel your pain, your suffering. What troubles you? Fired from your job? No, your troubles run deeper. The loss of a loved one? No, you've hurt your very soul. I feel loneliness.  A boy? Of course. A classic love story gone wrong. Your heart aches and I feel it. What did he do to wound you so deeply? Irrelevant. I've made up my mind. Don't you fret dear, I'll help you. I'll heal what was broken.

 

Night 1

Your home is lovely. Quite modest. It's clean, well organized and exceptionally decorated. I move through your walls until I reach your bedroom. Taking form at the foot of your bed, I see you there, curled up into a ball and clutching your pillow ever so desperately.

Oh no, my dear, you're in pain. I see a wet spot where you've buried your face. I move towards you. Your bright blonde hair stands out in the darkness. If only your heart shone as bright as your head. Next to your bed lies a photograph. I recognize you, but who's the other woman? A friend? Sister maybe? No, older. Mother. I pick it up and turn it around. 

 

 

Does your mother know your pain as deeply as I do? How could she? I lay the photograph to rest and place my hand on your shoulder giving you a subtle nudge.

 

 

Your eyes begin to open gently. They're red and drowned in sorrow. You jump, before rubbing your eyes and reopening them. I feel your shock, your surprise, then fear. What's wrong?

 

 

Your scream startles me.

 

 

 

You point through me. Could it be? I turn around. Nothing, no monster anywhere.

 

 

You grasp your pillow and launch it towards me. You grab another. I move, but you follow me. Once more I'm hit. Then again and again. Why, Amber?

I phase through your wall, retreating, till tomorrow.

 

Night 2
My appearance frightens you Amber. Your fear blinds you to our friendship. 

There you are, so beautiful in slumber. It's a shame you've been crying again. I cannot begin to imagine what terrors haunt you so viciously.  This time I grasp you, not physically, of course, but I grasp your mind, waking you. You try to move but my hold remains strong. Your eyes dance around the room until eventually they reach me.

 

 

Suddenly, a loud, repulsive noise echoes throughout your home. Someone's at your door. I loosen my grip and quickly retreat to the shadows out of sight. It begins with the twitch of your pinky finger, then the motion of your arm followed by a shift in your body. You jolt up. 

 

"MONSTER!", you scream.

 

You pause, then rapidly glance around the room. You don't see me. After a few rapid breaths, you get out of bed. I follow you downstairs and watch you open the door to a boy on the other side. Your conversation is quick. He forces a few shallow words of affection onto you before you slam the door. If I could not tell from the tears in your eyes, I feel your sadness. I can do nothing, except watch you.

 

Night 3

I shall not give up on you Amber. I understand my error from last night. Words are hollow, meaningless. Perhaps a gesture of kindness shall help. I've made this for you.

It's a rose blessed with petals of amber and a dark black stem. It's special, Amber. It blooms with the brightness in the soul of whoever touches it. As your soul heals, together, we will watch it glow to a level of majestic beauty never before witnessed.

 

I grasp the flower and it blossoms ever so slightly. I waste no time in reaching your bedroom where you lay in your angelic glory. Carefully, I take form and place the flower gently into the palm of your hand. A dim aura surrounds it. You take notice. As you see the flower in your hand, you smile for the first time since I've seen you. Then, confused, you sit up. Your head swivels to meet me. I smile.

 

"It's for you" I say.

 

You sit there in shocked silence for a few moments. Then...

 

 

Again you launch your pillows at me.

 

 

With nothing else to throw, you throw the one thing left we have left, our rose. It hits me, then the ground. You try to move again but something stops you. No...I stop you. You're paralyzed. I pick up our rose. It's lost its glow.

 

 

I look back at my rose. It's withered to dust.

 

 

I move towards you. I place my hand on your cheek and look into your eyes.

 

 

I saved you Amber. I helped you overcome your pain and sadness. You no longer felt heartbreak or sorrow. In that moment, all you felt was fear, pure fear. I see them now, flashing red and blue lights, a traumatized officer, a grieving mother, a regretful ex-boyfriend. They're here for you Amber. The boy even brought you flowers. Ashame, you never liked roses.