"Oh Tess, I just love the bus, don't you? So many interesting people to watch, all sitting on the same mode of transportation." Monica, the Irish angel said as she smiled at her angel supervisor, Tess. They were sitting on the public city bus in the city of San Francisco on a hot, spring day. Tess had brought Monica here on her next assignment, but Monica still was unaware of who her assignment was, but she knew whoever it was, he or she would be on this bus.
"Yes baby, I know you like the bus. I think you like the bus because you like people, and Lord knows there are lots of troubled people on this bus, but you're here for one girl in particular." Tess said as she leaned back against the hard bus seat.
"A girl, Tess? Which one?" Monica turned her head all around to look for a girl who looked like she was in trouble, but could find nothing.
"Angel baby, this assignment won't be easy, but I have no doubt in my mind that you'll do everything you can to help this young baby." Tess continued, as Monica continued to stretch her head around.
"A young girl. Ah Tess, I don't like when they're young. Young girls shouldn't have troubles, they should be enjoying life while they're young, because the real troubles begin in adulthood." Monica said sadly.
"Not for this young baby. She has troubles that are beyond her years. This girl is only 14, but has more trouble in her life than even some adults." Tess shifted in her seat and turned to look at a young girl sitting in the seat behind the angels, alone. Monica turned to look, and she found a young girl, staring down at her feet. She had messy brown hair, and melancholy brown eyes. Monica could feel the pain from this young girl right away, though not knowing what was wrong.
"Oh Tess, she looks so, so, sad." Monica said, knowing this young girl wouldn't hear her because the angels were invisible to her.
"Yes angel girl, she is a very sad little girl. She struggles with more than she should be at this age, and it's because of her mother, I hate to say." Tess seemed angry now. Monica tilted her head.
"Tess, is it really as bad as you're making it sound?" She asked.
"Baby, this little girl feels no love from her mother. Her father died when she was a toddler, and she has no friends either. In fact, she gets teased at school. She can't find solace anywhere in her world. She's alone. She has no way of venting out her frustrations. Do you remember when I told you human beings have to find ways of releasing their feelings, and not keep stuff bottled up, or it can become dangerous?" Tess asked. Monica nodded.
"Well, this girl is one of those humans who has no way of release. So she's had to find her own way of letting herself express her anger and depression." Tess added.
"Does she have somebody to talk to?" Monica asked. Tess sighed.
"No baby, that's the problem. If she had somebody to talk to, she wouldn't have her little problem." She replied. Monica narrowed her eyebrows.
"Well, if she doesn't talk about it, how does she release it?" She asked, worried as she stared into the sad eyes of this sullen teenager.
"We're in California baby. You remember how hot it is outside? Notice how every single person on this bus is wearing short sleeves, or tank tops? Well, this little girl isn't." Tess said, as she stared at the young girl's long sleeve sweater. Monica looked too, and didn't want to believe it.
"Oh Tess, she's not…she's not –" Monica didn't want to know, but Tess continued.
"Pull up her sleeve baby, see for yourself. Don't worry, she won't feel it. She can't see us, or hear us." Tess said. Monica seemed hesitant, but she turned around and reached her arm down over the seat and gently took the girl's sleeve, watching carefully to make sure she didn't see her, but as Tess had promised, the young girl didn't move. Monica gently pulled up the long sleeved shirt and gasped quietly at the sight.
"Oh Tess, I-I." Monica didn't know how to react, she could only allow herself to cry. The sight in front of her was too much to handle. The young girl's pale arms were covered in deep scars, small and large. There were so many, Monica couldn't even count them.
"Tess, please tell me she didn't do that herself. Tell me it was an accident." Monica begged as she willed herself to look down again. Tess shook her head sadly.
"Sorry baby, but this girl is so depressed and because she has no way of releasing that pain in healthy ways, she cuts herself." She replied as she saw that Monica wasn't taking it too well.
"How am I supposed to help her?" Monica asked, not knowing what to do.
"Become her friend baby. Teach her there are good people out there who she can talk to. Teach her to trust and release her fears and anger in better ways than cutting herself." Tess said, as Monica sighed.
"Tess, she seems so cold, how am I supposed to get her to open up to me?" She asked.
"That's your job to figure out. I can't tell you everything angel baby. There are some things you need to figure out on your own. But I can tell you how you'll meet her." Tess replied as she handed Monica the newspaper, opened to the classifieds. Monica narrowed her eyebrows as Tess pointed to an ad. Monica read it and looked up.
"A room for rent? What does this have to do with me?" She asked.
"That's where this little girl lives. Her mother is renting a room in the basement for some extra money. You'll be renting that room to get close to this girl. You'll go right when you get off this bus." Tess replied. Monica sighed and looked at the girl again. When she looked back at Tess, she was gone.
Monica knew she was alone now.