Amber descends into a room, looking at the brown haired girl in front of her. She is alone. She is afraid.

Amber steps forward. "My name's Amber." She says. "Do you want to play?"

The girl nods, and they do. They play for quite a while.

But suddenly, the girl looks up. "I wish you were real, Amber."

And Amber fades.

***

Amber sits in a room, hearing two screaming voices and one choked plea. Moments later, the door is thrown open, and the girl rushes in.

"Are they mad again?" Amber asks, although she very well knows the answer. Reaching out a hand, she tries to offer some silent comfort to the girl. After all, it isn't her fault.

But it still hurts to see her look up, and to hear her say, "I wish you were real, Amber."

And Amber fades.

***

Amber looks at the clock. 12:37 am. But the girl is wide awake, and feelings of unrest stir deep in her chest.

Amber sits by her, letting her open up. Trying to tell her that things will be alright. Trying to give her the hope she needs.

And though she knows that it's inevitable, Amber still is saddened by the girl's plea of "I wish you were real, Amber."

And Amber fades.

***

Amber sees her, hopeless and weary. She is finished. She is over.

Amber feels bad. Wasn't a guardian angel supposed to protect their human?

So Amber flew down, holding out a hand. "Come with me." She told her. "Follow me, and I can be real."

The girl takes Amber's hand. Her spirit holds right to the angel as her body plummets down, falling into the waves. But the girl seems at peace, finally at peace.

And Amber and the girl fade.

***

Amber watches the girl, sitting in her garden. Happy. Free.

Amber strides over, smiling. "Do you want to play?"

The girl nods, and the two laugh in the garden, released from the cold world below.

And the girl smiles. "I'm glad you're real, Amber."