Chrissy struggled through her school day, dodging the cruel remarks from her peers. She felt so much pain that she longed desperately to get home to her bedroom, where she would find solace in the razor blade under her pillow. She knew it wasn't healthy, she knew she shouldn't do it, but whenever she felt sad, that was her first reaction, to cut herself. She didn't know why she felt she had to, but it was the only thing that made sense in her head. Chrissy hated wearing long sleeved shirts in the heat, but she couldn't show her deep scars. Not to anyone.

She continued on through her day, waiting patiently for the day to be over. What got her through her days now was the patient anticipation of going home, suffering through dinner and waiting for her mom to leave the house. Spending time with her new friend Monica was the highlight of her days. She loved hanging out with her, but was careful not to share her secrets. She liked Monica, yes, but she could not tell her about her cutting. She just couldn't.

Little did Chrissy know that Monica had been with her all day at school, watching over her. Of course, Chrissy was unaware of this, because Monica was invisible to everyone, except for Tess, who accompanied her for most of the day.

"How's your assignment coming, angel girl?" Tess asked as the two unseen angels roamed the hallway. Monica shrugged with a small smile on her face.

"Chrissy are I are getting closer, that much I know, but all we've been doing is having fun. There's nothing wrong with that but when it comes to emotional stuff, she shuts down. Oh Tess, she's so withdrawn. I don't know if I can help her." She confessed as she stuck her hands in her pocket.

"Baby, God doesn't put us where we aren't needed. Chrissy needs you, even if the process seems slow. At least she's talking to you. That counts for something, especially since she's been forbidden to talk to you. That little girl has always been afraid of her mother's shadow, yet she is risking everything to be your friend. You should be flattered, angel girl. Especially since Chrissy has never been this close to anybody. Not since her father, but she was two when he died. That's when her mom started drinking." Tess told her as Monica listened attentively, feeling herself getting a tad misty.

"You're telling me, Tess, she hasn't been close to anybody for 12 years?" She asked with a sense of sadness. Tess sighed.

"Anytime she tried to get close to somebody, her mother forbid it. I told you baby, humans need ways of releasing their pain, and for most humans, talking to others is the best way to communicate their pain. Chrissy never had that so she found her own way of communicating her pain." She explained.

"Ah but Tess, it's so horrible. She shouldn't have to cut herself to feel better."

"No, she shouldn't have to but she does. So you need to help her. Give it time; she'll open up soon. Don't worry." Tess patted the angels' shoulder as Monica shrugged uncertainly.

Monica continued to watch over Chrissy for the rest of the day. She noticed during Chrissy's third period class that Chrissy was not paying attention to her teacher. She kept her sleeves pinched tightly around her wrists as she gazed around the room, obviously distracted by something. Monica wondered what was wrong with her, but then Chrissy raised her hand in the middle of her teacher's lesson.

"What is it Chrissy?" She asked, somewhat irritated.

"May I please go to the washroom, Ms. Bates?" Chrissy asked nervously. Ms. Bates rolled her eyes but allowed it. Monica watched as Chrissy took her backpack with her and left the classroom. She went to the bathroom and locked the door, thinking she was alone, but Monica was with her, still invisible. Monica watched in horror as Chrissy dug through her backpack, throwing everything she owned on the bathroom counter.

"Come on, I have to have something sharp. I can't wait any longer. I can't handle this." She whispered to herself. Monica wanted so desperately to intervene, to reveal herself right then, but she knew it wasn't time yet. Oh God, help her. Please don't let her do it. Chrissy reached the bottom of her backpack and found her house key. She breathed what seemed like a sigh of relief as she rolled her sleeve up and placed the key on her wrist. Monica cringed againwhen she saw all the deep scars on the child's wrist and couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't let her do it. She couldn't sit back and watch her cut herself.

Monica took one of Chrissy's books that was resting on the counter and dropped it on the floor. Chrissy flung around nervously and only saw her book on the floor. Monica was still unseen to her, and Chrissy walked to the book slowly. That was weird. Chrissy thought to herself. She picked up her book and began putting all of her possessions back into her backpack, including her key. Monica smiled to herself as she realized that Chrissy had been distracted enough not to cut. Monica watched happily as Chrissy took her backpack and left the bathroom to go back to class. Monica breathed a sigh of relief, but she suddenly heard a familiar voice clear her throat.

"What do you think you're doing angel girl?" Tess asked, with a sense of anger in her voice. Monica turned around and saw her mentor standing with her arms crossed.

"Oh Tess, I couldn't let her do it." She tried to explain herself but Tess shook her head.

"I know you don't like to see it, I know you don't like that she does it, but that does not mean you can intervene. As far as Chrissy knows, you're still back at home." She said sternly.

"But Tess, she couldn't see me, and besides,she didn't cut. I think as long as she distracts herself with something else, she can overcome this." Monica said, trying to find the good in what she had done.

"I'm glad you figured that out baby, but it's still no excuse. I'll let you off the hook this time, but angel girl, you have to remember to step out of the situation when you aren't meant to be in the situation. You cannot intervene like that, understand?" Monica could see Tess didn't like to scold her, so Monica just smiled and nodded. Despite the fact she got in trouble for intervening, Monica was happy with herself, now learning something about Chrissy that could possibly help her in the future with overcoming the painful addiction of cutting.