Monsters...

"There's something magic in speaking to the sky. I don't talk to God. I never have. Oh I'm sorry? Should I? Yes yes. Lets. Where to begin. Dear God this is Margie. So... If you're all knowing and all powerful and up there watching over us... Why the fuck did you let me get turned into this exactly?"

"..."

"See? That's why I don't talk to the big man upstairs. One of his little ants turned into something more. And now I want a cigarette. Fuck you and your suggestions." I smiled watching her rant. Margret frowned and flipped me off but took my lighter anyway. I took it back from her and flicked the little plastic button, letting a flame be born. She took a harsh drag and exhaled the smoke with a forceful sigh. She was thinking. I could tell. Normally this would be the point in the silent conversation where i put my arm around her shoulders and told her everything would be OK. But I knew what was coming.

"Can't we run away?" There is was.

"No." I answered stoically and looked over to her.

"Why? We've run before. We can do it again! Hell, if we wanted... we could go to hell and it's be more hospitable to our kind than this...." Deep breath in and "GOD FORSAKEN place!" her yell attracted the stares of a few people. She growled and the hair on the back of her neck seemed to stand on end. She snarled again and spit her cigarette out. I shook my head and pulled out my harmonica.I started breathing softly over the holes, drawing Margret's attention back to me. She narrowed her eyes at the one man frozen in his place. I looked up from the silver instrument and raised an eyebrow at him. He seemed to come to and walked away, though still a little fearful. Margaret sat back down and fumbled with her pack of cigarettes. She took a deep breath. I watched her shoulders rise and then gradually lower. She put on a pair of sunglasses to hide her scared, sad glances about her. Her entire body was shaking, trying to hold back the change. Now, I thought to myself; now is why I'm here.

"Breathe."

"Easier said than done."

"It'd be easier if you didn't smoke."

"Very funny."

"I thought so." The pregnant silence that followed left me feeling uneasy. I seemed to freeze up in place when her violet eyes fell on me. Even through the sunglasses I could see them. Her mouth was drawn tight, her eyes large and watery. My hand extended, as if on its own, and I stroked her jaw gently. She relaxed slightly and a tear graced her right cheek.

"I can't keep doing this." Her voice was airy, and filled with something I heard too often from her. Remorse.

"You can't just stop being you." This is where she said 'You're right' and would mull over it for some time before admitting to herself that it would get better. She would stand and walk away towards the moonrise. I sat and waited, words I hadn't said yet, just sitting on the edge of my lips, waiting to come pouring out. But instead she looked at me. Those damn eyes...

"Yeah I can. I can just... stop." A bolt of lightning raced through me. She pushed a silver bullet into my hand that had been on her cheek. "But I don't want to do that to you." I collapsed, my arms wrapped around her so fast i don't remember anything but the flow of tears from my eyes. I couldn't ell whether they were happy, sad, or understanding.

"You're not a monster."

"Yes. I am."

"No you're not. And that proved it."

"It proved I can't let you fend for yourself." She let out a sad, sarcastic laugh.Her hands were shaking a bit less now. She pulled another cigarette from her pack and looked up at me. I sighed and pulled out my lighter again, flicking the flame alive once again. She lit her cigarette. I punched her in the shoulder..

"Hey!"

"Oh don't start. You deserved that, bitch."

"Hey with the language. Watch your fucking profanity around me. I'll have you know I'm a lady." She laughed. It wasn't sad. It was a genuinely happy laugh and it rang clear in the early twilight.