Hey guys, I'm not really a short story writer, but this is one of those times where the writing does whatever it wants, you know? Spawned at four in the morning, this might not make much sense at all, but what do you guys think? Any pointers or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Fear oozed from the girl in front of Grae Elenborough. He couldn't be exactly sure why - the girl was very good at keeping her composure - but he guessed she was shoplifting. He'd seen it enough to see the signs; the loose-fitting jacket, the apprehension she was casting out, and the way she had drifted around the store for nearly fifteen minutes, but only set a can of Coke on the counter beside the register.
Grae didn't care what she stole, he only wanted her out of the store as soon as possible. Her fear was getting to him, seeping into his pores and taking hold of his system, becoming his own. His mind was becoming jumpy and ragged, his hair stood on end, and his palms started to sweat.
He rang her up, scowling at his shaking hands and praying that she didn't stick around to chat. She didn't and as soon as the door swung closed behind the successful shoplifter, the fear drained from Grae's system and only his anger remained. No matter how relieved he was that his emotions were now his own, it didn't help sooth the anger and disappointment he felt towards himself. The whole reason he had taken this stupid store-clerk job was to help himself learn how to protect himself from other people's emotions. He thought that if he practiced, then he would get better at shielding himself. But so far it hadn't worked. Every time someone came in that was scared or angry or depressed, he became scared or angry or depressed and forgot all about shielding himself.
Steaming, with gritted teeth and clenched fists, Grae got ready to close up for the night. He hung his cheap, blue vest in the back room and headed for the door. He flipped the sign to "Sorry, we're closed" and pushed on through the doors.
Just before he was knocked to the ground, he felt someone's emotions flow over him. Then, his mind felt slow and stunted - he was confused. But was it his confusion or the other person's? He guessed it didn't matter much, seeing as they were both sprawled out on the concrete.
As he tried to regain himself, he brushed against bare skin and was shocked to a stop. He had never felt so many powerful emotions packed into one person before and he couldn't believe he hadn't felt them coming. He sat up, searching for the person's face, keeping a grip on a thin wrist.
"I'm so sorry!" she said in an even thinner voice. "I wasn't paying attention...are you alright?"
Grae was biting his tongue against the pain that originated in her and pierced through him. There was so much self-loathing, so much hopelessness, so much desperation. He closed his eyes against tears. He just wanted it to end, wanted it all to end. He wanted peace and relief, even if that meant nothingness. It felt as if his chest caved inward and he had no hope of ever being whole again.
He looked up at the girl who seemed so fragile with her red-rimmed eyes and pale cheeks, and in a moment of clarity he knew that this was hers and what she planned to do.
Fighting through the pain, he did something he had never considered before. He opened himself to her and instinctively started pulling on her pain. It was so heavy and dark, that he nearly gave up, but then he saw those wide, wet eyes and tugged all the harder. Finally, he uprooted the pain from the girl and drew it into himself. Grimacing, he closed himself around the struggling shadow of heartbreak. He held it there, tears flowing down his cheeks, and smothered it until it faded and disappeared.
Victory flushed Grae's cheeks and a new feeling of relief, happiness and cleanliness swelled in his chest as both he and the girl were freed. They stared at each other for a moment in perfect understanding. He had saved her life, sitting there on the cold ground - and maybe, on some level, his own as well.
Smiling as tears of relief sprung to the girl's eyes, he stood and offered her his hand. He helped her back to her feet, and left a steadying hand on hers.
