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Description
"I have granted you an audience. You should be honored."
   I looked at my client for the day, Marianne. I had heard about her from around, as she lived close to my home. Her mindset intrigued me. I wanted to get to know her, if only superficially.
   Her posture was straight and her eyes proud. They did not, however, seem focused at me or anything else, really. It was like she wasn't completely present.
   "Yes…" I replied. "I'm glad we got this chance to talk."
   "So am I, so am I, but I am very busy. It is rare that I get to sit down with the common folk, even though I enjoy doing so. I have so much cleansing left to do."
   "This is exactly what I wanted to talk about. Tell me about the cleansing. Tell me about your mission."
   "It is always wonderful to preach to a disciple. This is what happened in my life. It must have been two months ago now. You see, the Lord's messenger came to me in the middle of the night. It was pitch black outside, darkness filled my room. I was about to turn on the lights, when I heard a voice say "no, Marianne. You must not see me. Not until your task is done.
   'I was very confused, of course. I asked: "what task? Who are you?" And the voice told me he was the angel Gabriel, who had been sent by God to inform me of my mission. He said that the world is crawling with sinners of all kinds, and that I was the one to redeem them. I was the savior of all the people on this earth."
   "That's quite a message. Did you believe it?"
   "Oh, yes. After all, it came from the Lord himself. For all of my life, I had lacked a sense of purpose, wandering around aimlessly. Now that meaning had been given to me. I had never been religious before that night, but suddenly it all made sense.
   'I began to preach to people in my midst, carrying with me a small vial of water that I blessed myself. I baptized the ones around me. They did not believe me when I said I was sent by God to cleanse them. They said I was crazy, or ill. They did not comprehend. Nobody did. It is part of their sinful ways. I will turn them around."
   "Your sister was one of these people, wasn't she? She tried to get you help."
   "Yes, "help". Madison has always wanted the best for me, but she does not realize the truth. She wanted me to speak to a doctor, said I was sick. I told her that I was feeling better than ever, that God had shown me the way. Still, she argued and said I probably needed medication. I got mad and told her I was perfectly healthy, and that she should stop talking like that to God's ambassador."
   "Do you consider yourself above other people, who are not sent on a mission by God?"
   "Of course. I go by a higher purpose than they will ever know. I am the Chosen One. Not them. The sooner others understand this, the sooner they can be purged."
   "What sins needs purging?"
   "All of them. Promiscuity, selfishness, jealousy, atheism. Everybody sins, and everyone needs cleansing. I can provide this for them, if only they are willing."
   "How do you intend to do this?"
   "I baptize them in holy water. Those who have already been baptized, I do so anew. They need another purging that only I can provide. After this, I have them confess their sins to me."
   "How many have come to you for redemption?"
   "None willingly, but they will appear. People will realize their sinful way must be redeemed. They will understand that I, and only I, can insure their way out of hell."

I spoke with Marianne for a solid three hours. Usually I tried to keep the time less than one, but she was persistent to share her views. I agreed with Madison on that Marianne was very sick. My thoughts wandered, wondered if she would ever ask for help for her condition. My objective was not to judge, however, as she was ill, and not insane. I left Marianne and turned down her offer to baptize me. Later I met with her sister and asked her to update me with news of Marianne's condition. She promised to do so. I thought about my latest conversation, and I was struck by one thing. However deranged Marianne was, she still ha taught me something about humanity. That everyone can find a purpose.

Description
"I have granted you an audience. You should be honored."
   I looked at my client for the day, Marianne. I had heard about her from around, as she lived close to my home. Her mindset intrigued me. I wanted to get to know her, if only superficially.
   Her posture was straight and her eyes proud. They did not, however, seem focused at me or anything else, really. It was like she wasn't completely present.
   "Yes…" I replied. "I'm glad we got this chance to talk."
   "So am I, so am I, but I am very busy. It is rare that I get to sit down with the common folk, even though I enjoy doing so. I have so much cleansing left to do."
   "This is exactly what I wanted to talk about. Tell me about the cleansing. Tell me about your mission."
   "It is always wonderful to preach to a disciple. This is what happened in my life. It must have been two months ago now. You see, the Lord's messenger came to me in the middle of the night. It was pitch black outside, darkness filled my room. I was about to turn on the lights, when I heard a voice say "no, Marianne. You must not see me. Not until your task is done.
   'I was very confused, of course. I asked: "what task? Who are you?" And the voice told me he was the angel Gabriel, who had been sent by God to inform me of my mission. He said that the world is crawling with sinners of all kinds, and that I was the one to redeem them. I was the savior of all the people on this earth."
   "That's quite a message. Did you believe it?"
   "Oh, yes. After all, it came from the Lord himself. For all of my life, I had lacked a sense of purpose, wandering around aimlessly. Now that meaning had been given to me. I had never been religious before that night, but suddenly it all made sense.
   'I began to preach to people in my midst, carrying with me a small vial of water that I blessed myself. I baptized the ones around me. They did not believe me when I said I was sent by God to cleanse them. They said I was crazy, or ill. They did not comprehend. Nobody did. It is part of their sinful ways. I will turn them around."
   "Your sister was one of these people, wasn't she? She tried to get you help."
   "Yes, "help". Madison has always wanted the best for me, but she does not realize the truth. She wanted me to speak to a doctor, said I was sick. I told her that I was feeling better than ever, that God had shown me the way. Still, she argued and said I probably needed medication. I got mad and told her I was perfectly healthy, and that she should stop talking like that to God's ambassador."
   "Do you consider yourself above other people, who are not sent on a mission by God?"
   "Of course. I go by a higher purpose than they will ever know. I am the Chosen One. Not them. The sooner others understand this, the sooner they can be purged."
   "What sins needs purging?"
   "All of them. Promiscuity, selfishness, jealousy, atheism. Everybody sins, and everyone needs cleansing. I can provide this for them, if only they are willing."
   "How do you intend to do this?"
   "I baptize them in holy water. Those who have already been baptized, I do so anew. They need another purging that only I can provide. After this, I have them confess their sins to me."
   "How many have come to you for redemption?"
   "None willingly, but they will appear. People will realize their sinful way must be redeemed. They will understand that I, and only I, can insure their way out of hell."

I spoke with Marianne for a solid three hours. Usually I tried to keep the time less than one, but she was persistent to share her views. I agreed with Madison on that Marianne was very sick. My thoughts wandered, wondered if she would ever ask for help for her condition. My objective was not to judge, however, as she was ill, and not insane. I left Marianne and turned down her offer to baptize me. Later I met with her sister and asked her to update me with news of Marianne's condition. She promised to do so. I thought about my latest conversation, and I was struck by one thing. However deranged Marianne was, she still ha taught me something about humanity. That everyone can find a purpose.