A young Maura sat up late in her bed, crying. She didn't know why, really. She was lonely despite herself. Friends are scarce at her boarding school, and scarcer for her because of her... uniqueness. Usually she didn't mind; if anything she preferred to be alone. But tonight was different. She felt utterly alone. And desperate for someone to talk to.
Before she knew it, she was on her knees, praying. She didn't really know why; she wasn't religious, but she knew people did it when they needed a miracle. She muttered a prayer that was common among the kids, and then addressed the big man personally.
"God, I don't know if you can hear this, but I'm so lonely. I just want a friend who gets me and won't judge me. I hate being Maura the Bora. I can't help liking the things I do. I just-" she stops, realizing she's ranting again. "Sorry. I tend to ramble. I just don't want to be alone anymore. Can you send a friend?" she pleaded, tearing up. After about a minute of trying to calm down, she proceeded to cry some more. Her 10-year old body couldn't take this much grief at once, and because she was already in bed she fell asleep from exhaustion.
Usually, Maura's dreams weren't really spectacular. If anything, she hardly dreamed. But tonight brought nightmare. The kids were taunting her in the middle of the hallway, as they usually did in normal life. Although they transformed into monsters soon after. Their faces became shriveled and grey, and they appeared to try to take her soul away. She became terrified. Cowering now, she feared the worst. But when they grew around, a bright golden light shown through.
A dark-haired woman showed up to defend her. She was tall, unbelievably tall to her. Her hair was a dark black unruly mane that held a little below her shoulders. She was in a suit, and Maura could have sworn she saw a badge next to a gun on her hip. She had defined sharp lines to her, and a bravado about her that made her feel safe. It was the most beautiful sight Maura had ever seen. The figure hugged Maura tight and suddenly the scenery changed.
The figure let go and looked at Maura. "Are you alright?" she asked in a voice deeper than she was expecting. "Did any of them get you?" She seemed really concerned about her, checking her over.
"I'm fine," Maura said, trying to figure out just what went on. "Who are you?" she asked.
"You asked for a friend, didn't you?" the woman asked with a smile, kneeling to match Maura's height. "My name's Maurel. I'm an angel. I can be your friend... if you want." She seemed timid just like Maura when it came to talking to people. "Of course, I'd have to live in your body. Can't get one of my own. But I can do a lot of neat things. And you wouldn't have to cry at night because you'd have someone to talk to."
Maura was a little confused, but happy at the prospect of a friend, even in a dream. "Of course!" she said excitedly.
"Okay, then do one thing for me, Maura," Maurel said.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Wake up."
"So you don't have genders?" Maura asked, intrigued. She knew quite a bit about anatomy, but an angel was definitely something out of her league. Especially since ze lived within her. Midnights not being able to sleep were immensly better since Maurel's arrival. It was like ze was her imaginary friend, only a lot more useful.
"Right. I barely understand the concept myself. That's why we use a special pronoun, ze and zir and zirself." ze explained. It was nice to talk to humans again, and ze took a particular interest in Maura. They shared a lot in common. Ze was happy to be the guardian of her.
"But those aren't actual words..." Maura was torn. She knew that she was dealing with something beyond most humans' comprehension, but there was a part of her that remained loyal to facts as she knew it.
"Use them. For me?" Maurel asked her. Ze didn't like being referred to one way or the other.
"Fine," Maura sighed.
"Hey, a question. In the dream, what did I look like?" Maurel asked.
"You were this tall woman in a suit. I think she was a cop." Maura replied.
"Interesting..." Maurel said. Usually guardian angels took on the form of someone important to them. Ze wondered who this person was going to be to her...