"Angel of God..." Elizabeth began. "Who is that, Mommy?
" "Who?
" "That man in white standing there," the girl pointed to the figure with a chubby finger.
"I don't see anyone there, honey.
" "But he's standing there! He's looking at me and smiling...
" "Elizabeth, don't be silly, there's no one there. You're imagining something...
" The words... Old memories suddenly came flooding back to Elizabeth. It happened so long ago...
" "Do you think that's normal?
" "Children often invent invisible friends...
" "Yes, but for a six-year-old girl to have a grown man as a "friend"... Tom, what if she... If there's some pervert hanging around her? Who knows what kind of people work at that preschool? It could be the janitor...
" "Easy, Jenny, let's wait a bit...
" "Let's wait?! In the meantime, some pedophile could hurt my child!"
"Okay, if you insist, there's a way out..."
Little Elizabeth didn't understand the overheard conversation.
The next day, she listened with interest to the kind, elderly man:
"You can confide in me, Elizabeth, I won't tell anyone. Did anyone bother you at kindergarten, for example? Perhaps they touched you even though you didn't want them to?
What could this man possibly mean?
" Elizabeth denied it. There were such nice people at kindergarten.
"So tell me, Elizabeth, about your friend...
" "What friend, sir? I have two friends at kindergarten...
" "No, no. I meant the invisible one.
" "Invisible?
" "Apparently you saw a figure in white...
" Elizabeth's face lit up with a smile.
"Oh, I know. The man in white.
" "Yes, exactly. Who is that, Elizabeth?
" "I don't know..."
Many years have passed since that conversation, and now, at the age of 17, Elizabeth is recalling long-forgotten events. Events that changed her...
Little Elizabeth now went to this man's almost every day instead of kindergarten.
She missed having friends her own age and often didn't understand what the older man meant.
Elizabeth overheard her parents' confused conversation again:
"The psychologist says it's probably not a pedophile or anything like that. She's just imagining things and she believes it so strongly...
" "But she'll get over it, right?
" "The psychologist said it's better not to wait, because it might get worse. He'll cure her of it. It'll cost a bit, but...
" "Yes, let him cure her. Poor thing..."
"Elizabeth, you have to understand that these are just your dreams. What you saw doesn't really exist."
"But... but... He stood there, smiling, and he was so... real, sir. And I think he even leaned over my bed once, but I got scared and screamed, and then he vanished... But he exists!
" "No, he doesn't exist...
Why won't anyone believe me?"
Elizabeth began to cry...
The bitter tears of a misunderstood being, not a spoiled child. Real tears...
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth was crying too... Crying for the fate of the little girl she once was. Why had they robbed her of the joy of life?
A year later, Elizabeth went to school. The psychologist declared her cured. And Elizabeth... had changed beyond recognition. After a whole year of proving and convincing her, the doctor achieved his goal: Elizabeth no longer believed she saw the "white figure," and finally, she truly stopped seeing it. But with that, something died in her young soul...
Years passed...
A year...
"My daughter has straight A's! I'm so proud of you, Elizabeth!"
"Congratulations!"
"- Now go play in the yard..."
"- Don't you want to? The holidays have started, and you..."
"- You can't stay home all the time..."
"- And you'll see your classmates again, are you happy?"
Next year...
"- I'm worried... Elizabeth seems to be avoiding her friends..."
"- The important thing is that her grades are good..."
"- But..."
"- Elizabeth! Don't stay home! Go out with the other kids!"
"- Why aren't you saying anything? You're so stupid! Come on... We're not playing with that freak..."
Next...
"- Elizabeth? Elizabeth?! And you're lost in your daydreams again... Help me with the shopping..."
"- Fourth grade, come on. It's going to be harder here... You'll meet new teachers..."
"- Elizabeth, I'm talking to you, girl! Come to the board! Are you daydreaming again?!"
Three years...
"- How come there are four Cs on your report card?!"
"- Tom! She's trying!"
"- What do you think of that boy from class 6d? Elizabeth, are you listening?"
"- You're not going to any disco, my little lady, until you correct those two in math!"
"- I don't understand what's going on with her..."
"- Why don't you have a pass mark this year? I expected something more from you..."
"- Why didn't you want to dance with him? You're a strange one..." "
- Elizabeth, what are you looking out that window at?"
"- Threatened?! My daughter?!"
"- You're grounded... Oh, that's pointless! You hardly ever date anyone anyway..."
"- Elizabeth, I'll tell you in confidence - Andrew smokes! He said he'd let me try!"
"- You barely got through... Remember that middle school will be even harder, so I advise you to get to studying..."
Another three years...
"- Come on, Elizabeth, don't be an idiot, smoke one..."
"- Elizabeth, who are you hanging out with?!"
"- Are you in danger again?! Do you want to stay in first grade?!"
"- You're beautiful, Elizabeth..."
"- Don't be stupid, he was pulling the wool over your eyes..."
"- Elizabeth, why are you crying? You've already improved your grades... I'm a little sad about those two, but I know you can study better..."
"- So how was your vacation, girls? Do you have any boyfriends yet? Did you remember our bet... What? You don't, Elizabeth?"
"- A new year has started... This is your second year in middle school... I trust that all of you..." "
- You're not my friend anymore! Metalhead?! I'm disgusted by you..."
"- So you don't drink beer?! Time to start!"
"- And this time you somehow managed to get out of those dangers. Do you have to add so much to my worries?"
"Why do you have such a sheepish look in your eyes, you idiot?!"
"Nobody understands me, only you, Elizabeth! I think I'll kill myself!"
"They're on drugs... Don't hang out with them..."
"HE'll be at this party!"
"Elizabeth, my father is sick..."
"Elizabeth!!"
Elizabeth snapped back to reality. Her life wasn't something to remember fondly. It was boring... it was awful... without faith, without hope, without any bright spot in the grayness of everyday life.
She got up and went to wash up. Tomorrow was the start of the high school year. She would meet new people. Now, as the memories flooded back, the pain returned. The pain that had tormented her for 11 years. A pain she couldn't explain. She only vaguely realized that she had once lost something very precious. She couldn't bear this mental pain that was tearing at her soul. To end the torment... But how? Pills! Or maybe slitting her wrists would be better? The idea of suicide flashed through her mind. Pain, pain... She grabbed the razor blade in trembling hands. End it now, as quickly as possible... Life had no meaning... The cold metal was already touching her skin... She uttered long-forgotten words... Suddenly, she glanced quickly around the bathroom. She sensed a presence. Yes! He was standing there by the door... The moment she saw him, the pain vanished. Soothing and peace washed over her in a warm wave. Suddenly, memories from her early childhood came alive, piercing through the later, gray years. She remembered when she was five and lost in the forest. Then He showed her the path and led her to the edge of the forest. This was just one of many times He helped her. Until her parents, wanting to "help" their daughter, made her miserable. She stopped seeing Him, the world lost its color, Elizabeth lost the will to live, no one helped her anymore... Or so she thought. And now, in that moment, in the bathroom, He spoke to her for the first time:
"Why did you stop believing in me, Elizabeth?"
Then tears welled up in her eyes.
"How could I come to you when you no longer wanted to see me?
" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was only six... Please, don't leave me now!"
She wanted to take his hand but didn't dare.
"I will never leave you, Elizabeth. You can always count on me... You know how to call me now, don't you?"
She nodded. For the first time in years, a genuine smile appeared on her face.
"So go ahead, say it, Elizabeth," he said. His warm smile warmed her heart. Elizabeth looked into his bright eyes. Eyes full of love...
And she began:
"Angel of God, my guardian, you always stand by me..."
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