Conner puts the gun to his chest, ready to let his pain stop.
It was over.
Emily was no longer his.
Leona had wronged him.
His mother never cared.
His father was never there.
Cara wouldn't talk to him.
Conner was alone.
But, before he can pull the trigger, he hears a voice.
Stop!
And for some unknown reason, he does.
He pulls the gun away from his chest and looks for the voice.
At the gate leading into the park, stands a girl.
She's absolutely beautiful and Conner has to wonder if he's already dead.
No one so beautiful can be human.
She must be an angel.
"Am I dead?" he asks.
She runs to him, but stops when she sees he still has the gun.
"You're alive." she says.
"Then let me do this!" he pleads.
"Tell me why before you do."
And so, he does.
"No one will give a damn. No one ever does."
"I'll care." she says.
"But, I don't even know you." he replies.
"It doesn't matter."
And so he sits the gun on the ground.
Why can't he do it, when he wanted to so much not a moment ago?
This girl is crazy.
"Tell me your name."
"Vanessa."
Such a beautiful name.
"My name is Conner. But I haven't felt like Conner for a long time."
"Why is that?"
"Because Leona was bad to me. She taught me things no boy my age should have known. My mother is beautiful, but colder than ice. Emily gave up on me. Why shouldn't I give up on myself?"
"I wouldn't give up on you." she insists.
"I doubt that." he laughs bitterly.
She takes his hand.
"I won't give up on you."
He looks into her eyes, and softens.
Her chocolate brown eyes hold no lies.
"Why me?" he asks.
"I acted purely on impulse." she replies.
"You still don't know me." he says.
"No, but I want to."
"I need help."
"Then, I'll help you."
And she tugs on his hand and leads him out of the park, away from the gun.
"I'll buy you some coffee, and then we'll talk about it." she promises.
"Okay." he says.
He doesn't know why, but he trusts her.
And at this moment, he doesn't want to pull the trigger.
Thank you.