Before a human life enters the world, they are assigned to one of us. We give them company, give them thoughts of joy and ideas. We watch them over until their end, leaving us to a new job. However, we mustn’t interfere with their actions. We can try to talk them out, but in the end it’s their choice.

We are called many things: guardians, spirits, ghosts- you name it. I was assigned this one kid named Caleb. I wish my family a goodbye in the spirit realm then I head through the human realm portal at the center of our world.

Many of us take different forms as we arrive, mostly as animals. This time, I am a fox. I have no coloring like the land fox, but just a hazy blue grey fills my features.

One glance and I instantly fall in love with him. He was beautiful child, sleeping soundly. I curl beside him, keeping watch like always.

But little did I know it was all going to change.

~~~

Over time my job got simpler. I played with him- children can see Spirits until they loose their child-like nature. We had many laughs. Many cries. But most of all, we found tv to be amusing.

That all changed when 5th grade happened. Caleb started to find other things - relationship wise. I never grew concerned by it until the 4th girl rolled around.

Once I saw her, I was drawn. She was beautiful: curly blonde hair with two heterochromic eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Her spirit was a fish, which was odd. Nevertheless, I paid no attention, meeting and greeting.

That was my first failure.

I was paying so much attention to her spirit I didn’t look after Caleb. I didn’t monitor his actions nor make sure to try to talk him out of things if things went too far. When I finally pay him attention of mind, I see him.

Forcing that girl into something she was clearly uncomfortable with.

‘ This isn’t a good idea, we should probably stop ‘

‘ she looks visibly uncomfortable ‘

‘ stop this, caleb!’

All my warnings went unfazed, unheard. No matter how many times I tried, he would commit the same acts with her constantly, her spirit wishing her to speak up. She never did once.

The memory of her terrorized eyes scarred me, even to this day.

Eventually, he got tired of her, and threw her to the side. Her spirit wished me to get him under control, make sure he doesn’t do that again.

I tried my hardest, my best, but it was never enough. He did this to countless other women, manipulating them and guilting them for his own gain. I was sick.

So sick.

The head of the Spirt stared down on me, finished with what he found in this life.

“ We are not to interfere with their life, Zapselo. Even though this man was…wrong, we shall not put them in any danger-“

“ You haven’t seen what I have seen, Commander. All those women’s faces in agony, in horror of what he’s done to them. And how he does it- it’s calculated, premeditated-”

“ Execute him, Guards. You know the rules, Zapselo.”

I let them take me freely, not fighting back in the slightest.

I can’t bear to watch that man do that to any other woman. No one, in fact. The commander knew what I did.

I regret nothing.

I couldn’t stand by and watch this, for the rest of his life. I just couldn’t.