Guardian Angel

The ink splotched as she wrote on a fresh sheet in her notebook. Perhaps she was pressing a bit too hard. Lyrial ripped out the page and stuffed it in her pocket. She stared at the new page and began to start the same letter again. But what was there to say? There was nothing in particular she wanted to write. And would anyone care enough to read it? She doubted it.

Lyrial heard the soft clacking on the hardwood floor as footsteps approached her in the corner of the library. She quickly stuffed her letter under her textbook.

“The library is closing in 10 minutes, Ms. Anderson. I suggest you leave,” the librarian hissed through gritted teeth.

Lyrial watched her retreating back. She was not surprised by her attitude. After all, she was a grumpy old woman who ceased to see much of the world outside this building. Although it might have also had to do with the fact that Lyrial constantly stuck her gum underneath the table, but she chose to ignore that.

She stuck a fresh piece of gum in her mouth and let the flavor wash over her tongue. Lyrial sat there for a few minutes chewing slowly before gathering her belongings and heading home. Outside smelled freshly of rain and puddles hung in the ditches of the sidewalk. It seemed that winters in her town were always stormy and cold. ‘Like me,’ she muttered to herself.

Lyrial was about half way home when she noticed a large, wet splash on her cheek. She welcomed it. She had always loved walking in the rain. The light sprinkling quickly thickened to a fierce downpour, but Lyrial didn’t mind. She kept her path of vision downward, counting the number of squares she walked over.

Suddenly, she felt herself run headlong into something… or rather someone. She bent down to pick up her spilled books and met the cold eyes of Julie Clark, her enemy.

“Well?"
Her voice had always been her worst attribute. It always succeeded in sending chills up Lyrial’s spine.
“Well what?”
“Are you going to pick up my books?”

Lyrial clenched her fists and knew that she knew half moon imprints would be visible in her palms. But she dared not argue. Making her mad would only encourage her to make her life worse than it already was.
Lyrial shoved Julie’s books into her arms and began to walk away, hearing the girl’s wicked sniggering as she passed.

Lyrial ran until she couldn’t see Julie anymore and kicked the ground in rage, splattering muddy water everywhere.
“Was there a reason for that, or were you trying to splash me?”
As Lyrial looked up, she felt the color rise to her cheeks. A teenage boy, about her age, was standing there using his sleeve to wipe off his rain-streaked face.

“I’m sorry,” Lyrial replied in a quiet voice.
“It’s ok. It’s just water.”
Lyrial tried to walk away, but the boy stopped her.
“You’re awfully quick to walking away. Is something the matter?”
She couldn’t understand why a complete stranger would wonder about what was going on her life. No one else had before. Despite the urge to scream out every infantile problem, she replied--
“No.”

The boy looked at her inquisitively, arching an eyebrow. Strangely, Lyrial did not feel intimidated by him like she did with most people. Ignoring her first inclination to stay, Lyrial began walking again. It was a few minutes before she realized that the mysterious boy was walking along side of her.

“What are you doing?” she said, harsher than she meant to be.
“Walking.”
“Well, I would think that was obvious.”
They both ambled along quietly for a few minutes until he broke the silence.
“What’s your name?”
“Lyrial. And yours?”
“Gabriel.”
“Like the angel,” she whispered, unsurely.
“You could say that…”
It was raining harder now, and Gabriel took out a large, blue umbrella and opened it. He tried offering it to Lyrial, but she shook her head.
“I like walking in the rain,” she stated.
“Why?”
“I suppose… I like the way it feels. It lets me know that I’m truly alive.”
He didn’t speak, but simply nodded.
“What’s that?” he asked, pointing to the rain-splattered paper in her jacket. Before Lyrial could move, he had grabbed it and began to read. Lyrial bit her lip, and tasted the sharp tang of blood flooding her mouth. As he read, his eyebrows raised but he maintained an impassive
expression.
“Why did you write that?”
“No one else cares. Why should you?”
“I think that you’re taking what you have for granted.”
“You know nothing about my life.”
“Then tell me,” Gabriel answered, calmly.
Lyrial stared. She took a deep breath and blew it out again, and began speaking.
“You don’t know what it’s like. No one believes that I can do anything and it’s just too much waking up every day wishing that I hadn’t. Basically every dream I’ve ever had was crushed. There’s just no reason…” Lyrial trailed off, tears welling up in her eyes.
Gabriel cupped her chin gently and kissed lightly her on the cheek.
“Then why not prove everyone else wrong? Live your own life.”
Gabriel wiped the tears from Lyrial’s eyes.
“Think about it. If you need me, I’ll know where to find you.”
In an instant, he had disappeared. She took the crumpled note in her hand and read it over. “Dear Mom and Dad, when you read this, I will probably be dead.” Lyrial smiled for the first time in years. She let the letter drift to the ground and continued on her way home, leaving her doubts and fears behind with her letter.