An Angel of Mercy

As she studied him, she saw the young man pull an object out of the pocket of his jeans. Catching a glimpse of something reflective, she could now see that he was holding a small folding knife. Gabby tensed up and wondered if she should run, but soon decided against it; he didn't seem to have even noticed her presence. In fact, the way he looked at the knife was quite unsettling. It was as if he saw that little blade as his best friend in the world. She knew the look in his eyes. She knew what would happen in a moment if she did nothing. Taking a deep breath, Gabby decided to act.

"Hey."

*****

Ken was startled by the unfamiliar voice. Looking up, he now saw a woman in her early twenties standing across the way. She gazed at him with intent, but for what reason he did not know. Looking back at her, Ken's typical awkwardness began to kick in, as he could see that she was quite beautiful. Dressed warmly in a black winter coat and blue jeans, she wore a grey knit cap over her long blonde hair. Upon first glance, she appeared to be of some sort of Scandinavian descent, or perhaps German, though Ken couldn't be sure. His mouth went dry as he tried to find the words to speak.

"Everything ok?" she asked.

"Uh... f-fine. W-why do you, um... why do you ask?"

Smiling, she replied, "I saw you over on the green, watching the movie. By the look on your face, you were having a tough time with it. When I saw you walk off towards the park, I felt I should come and see if anything was wrong."

"N-no, nothing's wrong..."

"Good. Then I shouldn't be concerned about the way you're looking at that knife of yours, right?"

Shaking his head, Ken answered, "I'm not going to hurt you. Promise."

"That's not what I'm concerned about."

"Wha... what do you mean?" Ken asked, his eyes growing wide.

"I've seen that look before," she said, taking a couple of steps closer. "I am, sadly, all too familiar with it. You were about to hurt yourself, weren't you?"

"You don't know a thing about me, lady," Ken muttered, preparing to leave.

"I don't have to know anything about you to be concerned," she fired back.

"Concerned," Ken snorted. "How could you be concerned about me? You don't even know me!"

"Easily rectified. Gabrielle Libertine. My friends call me Gabby," she said, sticking out her hand with a warm smile. When he didn't respond, she smirked and continued, "This is the part where you tell me your name."

Sighing, he replied, "Ken. Ken Dix."

"A pleasure, Ken," she said as they shook hands.

"So... Gabrielle, eh? You supposed to be my Clarence or something?"

With a playful gasp, she responded, "Oh my God! Does that mean you're Jimmy Stewart?! I've had the biggest crush on you for YEARS!!!"

Ken gave a nervous laugh. "Alright, alright, I walked into that one. But in all seriousness."

"No, I'm not a Guardian Angel or the Word of God or anything like that. Just an average person like you." Motioning to the bench, she asked, "May I?"

"S-sure, I guess," Ken answered, scooting to the edge.

"Thanks." Taking a seat, she continued, "So tell me this, Ken: why would you want to hurt, maybe kill yourself?"

His face twisted in pain. "You don't want to know..."

"I do. Believe me, I do."

Sighing with reluctance, Ken relented and began to tell Gabby of the events of the day. He started with Jacqueline and Jason, then the confrontation with his uncle, and finally the fake phone number showing Jacqueline's true colors. Through it all, Gabby sat in silence, maintaining eye contact and nodding whenever appropriate. At last, he finished his story, and Gabby could feel her heart breaking within her chest.

"Ken... I'm so sorry. I can feel the pain in your voice. No one deserves what you've gone through today. I know it's of little help, but I do understand what you're going through."

"Understand?" Ken said, incredulous. "How could a girl like you understand any of this? I mean, look at you. You're gorgeous, and I bet you've always been popular. Just like Jacqueline. Just like Jason. Just like Uncle Lee. None of you could ever imagine the world I live in."

With a stern look on her face, she replied, "I'm going to choose to let that slide, considering everything you've told me. Still, you need to know that what you just said was quite hurtful. Almost as hurtful as the things that have been said to you today."

Ken recoiled. He knew she was right. "I'm... I'm sorry. You're right; I should never have said that. You've been nothing but nice to me tonight..."

"Apology accepted," Gabby said with a smile. "Humility is a rare trait in men these days. Hang on to that."

Ken thought she might be mocking him, but bit his tongue nonetheless. He had already insulted her once, and he wasn't going to chance a second time.

Seeking to turn the conversation to happier topics, she asked, "MIT, huh? You're an awful long way from home, aren't you?"

"Huh? Oh, the hoodie. Yeah, I'm a freshman there this year, just home on break right now."

"Nice. Major?"

"Health sciences. I want to go to medical school after MIT, though I'm still figuring out a specialty."

"Plenty of time to decide that. I'm sure you'll find the right career path," she said with a grin.

As nice as it was to talk about a familiar topic, a few things still bugged Ken's mind to no end. "I still can't figure it out... why would Jacqueline do this?"

Frowning, Gabby replied, "Some people are cruel. Often the ones that are the cruelest disguise it with a kind, warm public demeanor. Jacqueline sounds like she fits that mold to a T."

"And she hid it all that time while we were in school?"

"You were useful at the time, in her mind. She wasn't going to chance losing that. Once she got what she needed, she had no more reason to hide her true feelings."

"Yeah, but still. Why be all friendly to me in the store?"

"In her twisted mind, she probably felt she was doing you a favor. She wanted to ensure you never tried to contact her again. To a cruel person like her... that's her idea of doing you a kindness," Gabby replied sadly. "We just have to hope that there's enough real kindness in this world to counteract such cruelty."

Now noticing a silver cross hanging from her neck, Ken pointed to it and asked, "I guess this the part where you start lecturing me about suicide? That I'm being selfish and trying to go against God's plan?"

"No," she replied with simplicity.

"No?"

"No. Ken, I meant it when I said that I've seen that look before. I know better than most that suicidal thoughts are rarely that simple. There's no switch that can turn them off. It's a tide that must be turned back, bit by bit."

Stunned, Ken started to see that this woman understood what was important in life. Realizing he still had the knife in his hand, he folded it closed and put it back in his pocket.

"Bit by bit," she said with a smile. "My car's around the corner. Is there somewhere I can take you? Where do you live?"

"I'm not going home. Not yet," Ken replied. "Not with my uncles still there..."

"No problem. I'm not going to force you." Thinking a moment, she continued, "It's pretty cold out here. Why don't you come back to my place for a bit?"

"That's... unnecessary. I'm fine on my own."

"Nice try, but no cigar," she said. "I'm not leaving you alone with that knife, mister. And I'm certainly not leaving you alone on Christmas Eve. Nobody should be alone for the holidays."

"Thanks, but... won't your husband mind?"

"He would, if I were married."

"Boyfriend?"

"Nope, just my townhouse and me. Pretty cozy, all things considered. No problems with you coming over, but I do have one condition."

"And what's that?"

Smirking, Gabby replied, "You call your mom right now and tell her you're ok."

Hesitating a moment, Ken soon relented. "Fine." Tapping his phone, Ken waited as it rang. "Hey Mom, it's me... Yeah, I'm ok... No, seriously. I'm fine... Yeah I'm just hanging with a friend. I probably won't be back 'til tomorrow... I will... Love you too... Bye."

"See? Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Gabby teased him.

Eying her, Ken asked. "You're seriously ok with bringing me to your home?"

"Positive."

Taking his hand, Gabby led him to her car.

*****

The drive had been silent for the most part. Ken was still trying to comprehend everything that was happening. Who was this woman? Why would she go to such great lengths for a stranger she didn't even know? Gabby seemed to pick up on this, refraining from prodding him for any further conversation. She could tell he was still processing the events of the day. Soon, they arrived at her townhouse complex and pulled into her garage.

"Come on in, make yourself at home," she said as she turned on the lights. "Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate sounds good, thanks."

"Comin' right up!"

As she hung her hat and jacket up on a rack, Ken couldn't help but stare. He now saw that she wasn't just a pretty face; her entire body was sublime. She wore a tight burgundy sweater and a pair of tight, form-fitting jeans. This ensemble only served to accent her body even further. Her hourglass figure was delectable, her slim waist contrasting with her curvy hips and ample bust. She was also just as tall as him, perhaps a bit taller, with legs for miles. Though Ken had fantasized about some of his classmates, none of them could come anywhere close to Gabby. She was a woman, not a girl, and in the prime of her life no less.

"Here you go," she said, handing Ken a mug.

After blowing on the hot drink, he took a sip, feeling the warm liquid spreading through his body. "Thanks," he sighed.

"No problem," she replied with a smile. "Come on, let's go relax in the den."

She led him into an intimate area with a sofa and a loveseat. The only illumination came from the twinkling multicolored lights on her Christmas tree in the corner. As Ken took in the relaxing surroundings, smelling the delicious scent of her Frazier fir tree, Gabby stepped over to the fireplace opposite the sofa. Flipping a switch, she soon had a comfortable fire roaring from the gas logs. She then sat on the sofa, placing her mug on the side table and patting the spot next to her.

"Come sit. I promise I don't bite," she said with a playful grin.

"Um, ok..." he mumbled, scooting as close to the armrest as he could to give Gabby plenty of space.

"Tell me about MIT," she inquired. "You mentioned you want to go into health sciences. Does that include medical school?"

"Uh, yeah with any luck. Harvard would be my top choice, but I don't know if I could afford it. But assuming so, my dream has always been to be a brain surgeon."

"Brain surgeon?! That's so cool! They're like... the most badass of all the badass doctors! Not just surgeons, brain surgeons!" Gabby gushed.

"It's, uh, not that big a deal," Ken replied as he blushed with embarrassment.

"Well, I could totally see you as a brain surgeon. Don't ever give up on it."

"Thanks."

"So, what then for you, Dr. Dix? What happens once you reach your dream?"

Ken began to feel a strange amount of comfort with this woman, and started to open up to her. "Honestly... I don't know. I mean even if I become a brain surgeon, I'm still hopeless around girls. Maybe Jason's right. I'm gonna die a virgin..." Realizing what he had confessed to her, he turned to Gabby and blurted out, "Not that it's your problem, or anything. S-sorry, I just... I shouldn't have gone that far..."

Gabby just smiled and moved closer to him, brushing her hand against his arm.

"Don't worry about it. You have goals, both personal and professional, but aren't sure exactly how to achieve them. So you're a virgin. That's nothing to be embarrassed about, and it's healthy to express your anxiety about it. That can help you overcome your fears. In all seriousness, I think you underestimate yourself, Ken."

"Underestimate myself?"

"Of course," Gabby replied. "You're smart, considerate, polite, you even held the car door for me earlier! Any girl you'd want to be with is gonna swoon at traits like that. I can also tell that you still think of yourself as unattractive, but I disagree. You wear glasses, yes, but that doesn't make you a dork. Your hair is a little shaggy, but not greasy or anything. You may not have a tan, but your skin complexion is damn near flawless. You have nothing to be ashamed of, be it your looks or your personality."

"You're about the only woman who thinks so," he sighed.

"Doubtful, but if it's that big a worry for you, I can give you a couple of pointers, if you like."

"Um, o-ok I guess."

"Great! Ok, so you definitely give off the 'geek' vibe, but that's not a bad thing. Don't fight it; own it."

"How?"

"Well, you can make just some slight alterations to your outward appearance that can change the way others see you. For example, you could switch to wire-framed glasses instead of your horn-rimmed ones. Your hair is a great color, and would do well in a short, clean-cut style, if I do say so myself. You can also change out your usual t-shirts for some casual polo shirts."

"So... the secret to getting women to notice me is to change who I am?" Ken asked, feeling more than a little offended.

Cocking her eyebrow, Gabby replied, "Are you saying your glasses, hair length, and shirt choices define who you are?"

"Oh, uh... fair point," Ken conceded.

"See? Humility. Such a rare quality these days," Gabby said with a grin. "To be honest, all the changes I suggested are things my brother did a couple of years back. He was a complete geek, maybe even bigger than you. The poor boy was helpless around the fairer sex. But after he made these changes, he no longer came off as the socially awkward geek. He came off as a self-assured, confident geek, one who loves himself for who he is. I see that potential in you, Ken." Grabbing her iPad from the side table, she pulled up a couple of pictures for him. "See? Here's before. And here's after."

"Woah," Ken marveled. He could see the drastic difference. The guy hadn't done anything to make himself stronger or bulkier, nothing to increase his manliness, but the things he did change just popped in all the right ways. Was it really that simple?

"That's great and all, but can new clothes and a haircut get rid of social awkwardness? I still don't have even a shred of confidence around women," Ken said.

"They can help, but a change in your mental confidence is completely based on your willpower. You have to love yourself as much as you want others to love you. If you don't, everyone else will pick up on it."

"Knew there was a catch..."

Gabby bit her lip in frustration. There had to be a way she could give him the confidence boost he needed to love himself, but how? Getting one somewhat crazy idea, she moved closer to Ken.

"I'm guessing from your previous statements that... you've never kissed a girl before. Is that right Ken?"

Poor Ken Dix didn't even know what had hit him. Here he was, sitting with the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, and the unthinkable was beginning to happen. She was moving closer, running her fingers through his hair, and now wanted to know if he'd ever been kissed! This was too much, way beyond any of his hottest dreams. Unable to find the words to respond, he managed to slowly nod his head.

"Close your eyes," she instructed in her sweet voice. When he only blinked in reply, she whispered, "Close... your eyes, Ken. Trust me."

Guided by an unseen force, Ken felt compelled to obey her. His eyes finally fluttered closed, and his breathing became more labored in anticipation of what was to come. A small part of him doubted that she was being truthful, thinking that she'd fake him out just like Jacqueline had. Those doubts were soon quashed as he felt the warm sensation of Gabby's face leaning close to his. He could feel her breathing. He could smell her perfume. If there was a God, Ken prayed then and there that He could make this incredible moment last forever.

After what felt like eons, Gabby finally released their building tension and touched her lips to Ken's. Her kiss was soft at first, allowing him to savor the new sensations he was feeling. Ken was so terrified and excited all at once that he could barely even move his lips in reply. Not that it mattered to Gabby. She had expected his fear, and made sure to keep her technique simple yet enjoyable. After around thirty seconds, she withdrew at last, her face aglow in the Christmas tree light.

"Wow," Ken managed to mutter as he opened his eyes. He soon noticed that he couldn't see Gabby at all; his glasses had fogged up from their kiss.

"Here, let's just take these off," Gabby said with a giggle. She slipped his glasses off and laid them on her side table. "Now then, since we've gotten your first kiss out of the way, ready to really dive in?"

"Dive in to what?" Ken asked, his nerves beginning to fray.

"Kissing, silly! You do know there's much more to it than what we just did, right?"

"More?!"

"Of course! Look, one day you'll get the prime opportunity to kiss a special lady, and I want you to be ready when that chance comes."

"I... I don't want to just be a charity case," Ken replied. "If you do this-"

"It will only be because I want to. Promise," Gabby replied, finishing his thought. "Now, your first lesson in kissing: making the move. I'm a young, attractive woman who has been making eye contact with you all night and finding every excuse in the book to touch you. You may not realize it, but when a woman does that, it means she's ready for you to make the move. Try it on me, just like I did."

Mimicking Ken, Gabby closed her eyes, waiting for the moment that Ken would kiss her once more. He leaned in as she had done, trying to take his time and not rush anything. As he was about to kiss her, he remembered that agonizing wait when he could sense her almost on top of him. Pausing mere centimeters from her lips, he allowed the tension to build up for a few moments. Soon, a huge smile began to form on Gabby's lips; she was enjoying this, and he hadn't even touched her yet! Ken collected his courage and finally met her lips with his, moving them ever so slightly as he kissed her. He only had his instincts to guide him, but she didn't seem to mind one bit.

"Mmm... that was very nice," Gabby whispered as they parted. "Good job in mimicking my technique. Let's try one more. This time, lick your lips just a bit before you kiss me, and try to let our mouths fit together like a puzzle. You can take my lower lip between yours, or I can take your lip between mine. Tilting your head to the side a bit is also a natural position. The possibilities are almost endless. When you're ready, don't be afraid to put your tongue in my mouth. In the future, you'll want to be careful about doing this too soon, but for our purposes tonight, go right ahead."

Ken did as she instructed, and found that the increased moisture to be quite pleasant. It allowed each of their lips to slide along the other's with little effort. All too soon, he felt Gabby take his lower lip in hers, sucking lightly and even nibbling for an instant. After she did this a second time, Ken took the hint and reciprocated in kind, eliciting a contented murmur from Gabby. As their kissing became more passionate, he could no longer resist the urge to taste this gorgeous woman. Still tentative, he pressed his tongue against the crease of her lips, which parted to allow him entry. Though he didn't know what to do once he was in, he soon found himself enthralled in Gabby's passions. Her tongue danced with his, exploring his mouth in a slow, methodical fashion. This gave him the perfect gauge to judge his own efforts by. After nearly twenty minutes of making out, they finally separated, their faces flushed from the experience.