King of Nothing

Then (5)

I remember very clearly that I was no the one bothering Liz, she was the one bothering me. I was home alone in my penthouse, minding my own business marathoning the Harry Potter movies when she came crashing into my door. 

At firstI thought it was one of those annoying girl scouts or whatever you call them, asking me if I would like to purchase some of their diabetes-in-a-box-cookies. 

I was ready to shut them down, but as soon as I saw a drunken Liz standing on my doorstep all alone and weeping, I knew I had to help. 

"No-uh, please, p-please." She stopped in midsentence and stared at the wall for a second. 

So I took it upon myself to say something, "What happened to you? You look terrible." 

She bursted into tears and collapsed onto the floor. "Y-You're just the same as he was." I was extremely confused. Next, I swung open the front door and I picked her up like mothers do to their baby's and placed her gently on the green coushioned couch.

"What do you mean I'm just like him? Liz, who is him?" I asked, I needed answers first before I could start helping.

She scratched her head and sniffled. "What do you think, No-uh. You don't th-think I'm beautiful, you called me terrible. He was like that too." She sobbed and I patted her back as she blew her nose into my pillow. 

"Oh honey I didn't mean it like that. You were crying, looking very sad, and you were soaking wet because of the rain. You are very beautiful, why else would I ask you on a date?" I explained to her. She nodded half in amusement, half in tears. I had no clue about what had happened to her, but I wanted to find out, and I wanted to make her feel better. 

"That's what all you m-men say. 'Oh you're beautiful.' 'You're the love of my life.' 'I really like you.' 'It's not the looks like matter, it's whats on the inside that counts.' Well that is a load of crap. Do you want to know what just happened?" She lethargically moaned. I held her hand as a form of comforting as she blew into my pillow once again. 

"Yes of course, I don't mean to impose or anything. I'd be happy to listen, if you want to share of course. Anything to help you." I gave her a warm smile and she looked up at me with those innocent, welled up, puppy-dog eyes. 

"So I've been talking with this guy online for some time now. It was one of those online websites, y'know? It was for a good four months, I took my time. I didn't want to rush into things or anything, especially w-when the internet is where some dangerous things c-can happen. I w-was head over h-heels for him. He said he loved me and he knew I loved him. Then today was our first date. We were going in blind because that was one of the website's policies. He had no clue what I looked like and he had no clue what I looked like. When we first met I was so happy. We sat down for dinner and talked about our lives for a good hour or so, but r-right as the food c-came, he said he had to go to the bathroom. I waited for him for three hours. Three damn hours, and he never returned. He stood me up. And you want to know why? Because I was no beautiful enough for him. He didn't like me, b-because I was no beautiful enough." She laid out the entire story for me in between shrieks and fits of sadness. 

I felt so bad for her, and all I wanted was to make her better. Nothing else mattered. 

"Liz, you are beautiful. One of the most beautiful people I've ever seen. Don't others bring you down, and more importantly yourself. Whenever you get a thought like that, ignore it. Because to someone else you are beautiful, you are gorgeous, and they will love you. They will love you for your wonderful personality and everything else that's part of the package." I smiled at her and clenched both of her hands, she squeezed mine back. 

"You know, you're the first person to ever call me beautiful in my life. You want to know w-what my Mom used to call me? A Saumensch. The english translation to that German word is pig. A girl pig. Not even my own parents thought I looked nice, and parents are supposed to be honest with their children." She let loose a few tears and then wiped them away. "Well thanks for the help. I never thought you would understand. You were the only person I had left. I'm so sorry for burdening you with this. 

She leaned in to kiss me, but I pushed her away. I knew it wasn't right. That would be taking advantage of her in her most vulnerable state. 

"W-Well before this gets any more awkward, I'll get to driving home." She said. I shook my head in disagreement. Before she could leave I snatched her car keys away from her. 

"Oh no you don't. You're wasted. You can't drive home drunk. You could get seriously injured, we can't have that happen, can we? Or I'll get lonely. Here, make yourself comfortable. I can sleep on the couch for the night and you take my bed, and then you can leave in the morning okay?" I said, it truly was not safe for her to be driving home.

"Okay..." It was late and she had given up all her fight. 

"Here come sit. Harry is about to kill a Horcrux." I gestured for her to come sit beside me. She releuctantly came, and we sat there in total tranquility and peace. 

I may have missed my chance with the golden girl. But if it meant that I helped an angel with broken wings fly again, then I was okay with that.