PART 13

CHAPTER 12

Monica was sitting on a white towel under the shade of a huge oak tree, enjoying the soft breeze that never stopped from spreading the perfume of thousands of flowers and the warm sun that shone through the blue sky, and, most importantly, enjoying to play with little Joy. Andrew had left for a while, right before she woke up, and during this short time, the little chubby dog had entertained her “mom” by playing with the cushions,  running clumsily to fetch a small ball made with a series of knots in “somebody’s” shoe laces or by visibly enjoying when Monica tickled her roundish belly.

The Irish angel was exactly doing this when Andrew reappeared, chuckling to see such image. “And now you find it funny, right?” he spoke.

“Well, you both deserve it for all the times you did this to me! It’s her turn now!”

He shook his head with amusement, “Well, concerning me you can forget about it, cause there are two distinguished angel categories: the ones who tickle and the ones to be tickled. I am in the first category and you are in the second, Miss Wings!” he replied, watching as a slight indignant expression appeared on her face.

“I am sure this can be changed someday! Besides, look at this wee baby, she’s enjoying it!”

He knelt right beside her, kissing the top of her head, and gave her a small bouquet with delicate flowers.

“Oh, they’re lovely!” she exclaimed.

“I have something else to give you... I mean, to give back to you...”

“What is it?”

The blond angel reached inside his pocket and showed her the gold necklace with a gold angel pendant liked to it, his Christmas present for her and which had almost been lost some nights earlier.

“Oh Andrew!”

“The clasp was fixed. Allow me?”

“Please. I didn’t like to be away from it for such a long time.” He put her hair aside and placed on the delicate jewel back around her neck.

“Well, it’s back to its place again.”

“Thank you... Can we go for a walk until the lake? I’m a wee bit tired of staying here, you know.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” the look on his face turned into a more concerned one.

“Yes! The cuts on my feet have disappeared already!” she spoke, showing him the soles on her small feet and contracting her toes, causing him to chuckle. “Besides, I’m feeling much better, Andrew, and I think we should go down to Earth to...”

“Hey, hey, hey! You said you wanted to go for a walk until the lake and that’s all you’ll get; nothing else!”

Smiling cheerfully, she sighed deeply and nodded her head obediently, “Ok... I’ll behave myself!”

“Good.” He stood up and helped her to her feet, “Are you really sure?”

“Yes! Let’s go, I need to walk around barefoot, I miss that!”

“Well, I guess I’ll have to do that too...” he said, with a mock upset glare, accusingly showing her the ball of knots she had made with his shoelaces for Joy to play – after the little dog had ripped them off his shoes herself. “Something strange happened with my shoelaces!”

Unsuccessfully trying to hide her smile, she took the playful chubby dog in her arms and hugged her tightly, “Mommy and daddy have to buy you some new toys, right wee one?” she received lots of kisses in reply. Then she turned to Andrew, “She’s such an adorable wee baby!”

Then, watching as he rolled his eyes and knowing that he wasn’t really upset, she grabbed his hand, “Now let’s go! I want to see the lake!”

*

In prison, David walked from one side to another inside his cell, running his fingers through his hair. All of a sudden, Rafael showed up in his angelic from. “Rafael... I... I was waiting for you or Tess... I need to know...”

“How Erika is?”

“Yes!”

“I found her and Tess and I took her to the hospital... but I’ll be honest... she’s deeply hurt.”

“Oh no! No, not Erika!”

“She’s now in human form, once she helped Andrew and Monica and spoiled Monica’s plans, she lost her demon status and became a simple mortal. And in consequence, she’s exposed to all sorts of dangers a human being is.”

“She’s so vulnerable and fragile...”

“Yes. She’s in a comma and the doctors are treating her injuries, which were many.”

“Oh God...” some tears formed in the corner of his eyes and he sat down, staring at the ground, “The way I treated her when we last saw each other... I shoved her out of my life, Rafael! I told her awful words!”

“Angry words said when you knew all the truth about her; but not entirely true, I’m sure.”

“No! I didn’t mean them, I was angry with her; I was still taken aback by the entire truth but... The truth, the real truth is that I love her, Rafael! I love her so much! We were making plans, we... we even talked about marriage!”

“And I can assure you that these weren’t in Monique’s original plan and that Erika was being honest with you then.”

“What do I do now?” he asked, finally raising his head.

The young angel stepped closer to him and placed his hand over his shoulders, “Pray.”

*

Two days later, at the city hospital, Tess was standing next to Erika’s bed, in the ICU, with her hands conjoined and praying. The girl’s condition had remained the same since she had arrived there and the doctors were doing everything they could to save her. All of a sudden, Erika moved her hand, interrupting the old angel’s prayers.

“Erika? Baby?”

A low whimper was her reply, followed by a movement with her head.

“Oh Father! She’s getting out of the comma!” the supervisor exclaimed.

*

“... I’m really enjoying coming here everyday, you know, it’s one of my favourite places here in Heaven...” Monica spoke, sitting on a rock, resting her head on Andrew’s shoulder and watching as the water run over their feet.

“And I’m really enjoying to see you’re getting better each and every minute, my angel. In two days we’ve been here, the wounds and injuries on your body have practically disappeared!” he spoke, absentmindedly playing with a lock of her hair.

“And the same happened to you, Andrew! I’m so glad that the Father performed this miracle with us...” she said, with a rather pensive expression on her face, which he didn’t miss.

“But there’s something else on you pretty little head, right?”

Monica looked at him with a smile, “Well... now that we’re practically healed I guess we should go back to Earth, Andrew. I am worried about Erika... Tess said she’s in critical condition and I’ve been praying for her so much!”

“Yes, me too... She practically gave up herself to save us; not even for a moment did she fear facing Monique and all those evil creatures so that I could go out of that place with you.”

“I want so much to see her...”

“So you two better move your angel butts cause you’re going to Earth right now!” another voice came to their ears and they turned around to see Tess standing right behind them.

“Really Tess? Can we go there? can we see Erika?” the Irish angel asked, already on her feet and all excited.

“Yes!”

*

The doctors were finishing to exam the young lady who had miraculously got out of the comma, surprising even themselves and the nurses at the hospital.

“I’m really impressed, Erika. There are very few people I see returning form the deep comma you were in.”

“... would you say it’s a miracle then, doctor?” she asked, with a low and weak voice, but also with a smile upon her pale face.

“Yes. That’s the best explanation I can use to describe it!” the man said. “I’ll come back later, ok? you try to rest as much as you can.”

When he left the bedroom of the ICU, the girl closed her eyes for some seconds, lifting a prayer of thanks not only for her recuperation but also for the second chance it represented in her life. but, all of a sudden, she heard a familiar voice and opened her eyes.

“Hello, baby, we’re all glad to see you’re getting better!”

Tess, Monica, Andrew and Rafael, all of them in their angelic form, surrounded her bed and, seeing all the angels together caused her smile to grow wider.

“Monica... Andrew.... you’re safe...”

“Yes, we are, and it’s thanks to the Father and to you!” the Irish angel spoke, taking her hand.

Then, the young lady turned to her left, “Tess... I guess I felt your presence here with me all the time...”

“Yes, baby, that’s right. I stood here by your side praying for your recovery.”

“Thank you...” then, she looked at Rafael, “And you are Rafael, right?”

“Yes. I guess we all first met in a rather disastrous night!”

“Rafael was the angel that rescued you from that dark place.” The supervisor explained. Erika’s eyes grew wide, “Oh God! Really? Then I own you my life! Thank you so much!”

“No... Don’t thank me, Erika. Thank God; He’s the One who you own your life to.”

“Yes, you’re right... But I should also thank you because you were the angels He sent to help me, to rescue not only my body but also my soul. When we first met, I didn’t realise that. Please, forgive me.”

“You don’t need to apologise, Erika.”

“Not with words, because you already apologised with your actions.” Monica and Andrew respectively said. She looked at them two angels and nodded her head. “See what you two were capable of doing for each other... It was all the love in your hearts that made me act like that...”

Watching as they exchanged a moved glance, and as Andrew placed his hand over Monica’s shoulder, she lowered her eyes for a moment. “At least you two are together...” the young woman spoke, with sadness evident in her eyes.

Filled with sorrow for Erika, Monica looked at an equally sad Andrew again, and after at Rafael and Tess, and, to her surprise, their two angelic friends smiled mysteriously.