Chapter 17

The silent and starry night fell gently over Bountiful and lulled its inhabitants either to a peaceful sleep or to a remarkable sky-watching experience. Whatever they did, those who lived in that small town would certainly feel their hearts lighter as the news about Monica's condition spread quickly and made a whole city celebrate the miracle they had prayed so much for.

Up in the woods that surrounded a cosy little cabin, the angel of death observed the stars and wondered what lied in his future and of Monica's, whose angelic form was resting peacefully inside the wooden little house. Sitting on the porch steps, with his elbows propped over his knees and hands conjoined, he worried about the repercussion of the unexpected romance that had suddenly taken over their hearts and souls. What would be of them when their superiors found that out? And what would be God's answer to the prayers he had lifted on that very night, begging for His mercy and for His blessing over their love?

Besides this, there was something else troubling his mind, something just as disturbing as Monica's previous condition: Tess' words about the Irish angel's memory when she finally woke up from the comma. What if Monica did not remember all those moments they spent together? What if only Andrew had to live with those memories for the rest of eternity, unable to share them with the one angel who was his soulmate?

He was lost in thoughts when his heart quickly detected another presence: Monica had not only awoken from her slight sleep but she had also got out of bed. A second later, he felt her gentle touch over his shoulder and immediately reached for her hand, pulling her to sit right next to him.

"Angel?"

"I woke up and you were not there..." She said, looking at him with questioning eyes.

"I'm sorry, baby. I thought you'd be asleep for a while, I didn’t expect you to..." A smile crossed his lips as she sat down next to him and he saw that her cosmic form was nothing less than stunning – much different from the last time they had spoken. Now, a golden glow surrounded her, her eyes were sparkling and her face was a rosy, healthy one, graced by those meek Gaelic features that he would never get tired of gazing at. "...you are truly gorgeous, angel."

Slightly embarrassed by his flattering, she managed a shy smile. "I... remember the last time we spoke I was feeling a wee bit drowsy and so tired...I couldn’t even talk to Tess properly...But now, I'm feeling so much better, Andrew."

The angel of death took her hand to his lips. "Well, I have the pleasure to inform you that I've been dismissed from my initial assignment. Your surgery went just fine and you're healing, Monica."

Her slight smile grew wider and was the best reward he could have had on that long and troubling day. "I am?"

"Yes, you are, baby!" He replied, and before he knew it, she was already wrapping her arms around his neck, in that always spontaneous way that nearly undid him. Andrew could feel her joy and relief and those sensations did bring him some peace as well. His worries, however, remained.

"The hospital staff and the entire city are lifting their prayers of thanks for your recovery, angel. Dr Richards and his team managed to remove the clot from your brain and the swelling is reducing." He said, stroking her long auburn hair and taking the most of that affectionate embrace before pulling away to look at her face. "You're still unconscious but the medication will be reduced slowly. You were a fighter."

"I don't think I'd have managed to go through it without an angel by my side..." She replied, tilting her head and eyeing with so much love that his heart ached.

But Tess's words to him returned to his mind on the following moment and he could not hide the sadness that they brought to his heart. How could he ever lose Monica's love after having it?

"Very soon, I'll be buying you a double mocha latte and we'll be sitting at a pretty café downtown watching people passing by." He spoke, and playfully lowered his voice. "Just don’t let Tess know about the mocha part!"

She smiled at him at first but something in his dark green eyes made her serious again. "What is it, Andrew?" Noticing his questioning glance, Monica insisted. "Why do I still see so much distress in your eyes?"

Biting his lower lip, the blond angel felt trapped by her inquisitive gaze. Without much thinking, he pulled her back to his arms, in a tight and warm embrace. "Let me hold you once again, angel." Confused, Monica returned that gesture with the same tenderness, even though she did not know the reason for that sudden attitude.

"I want you to know that I love you very much, my sweet angel." His voice was hoarse with emotion and he closed his eyes for a moment, taking advantage of every second spent by her side as if it was the last.

Monica ran her hand through his short blond hair and also closed her eyes. "I love you, Andrew. You know that you can always rely on this love and on the fact that my heart will forever be yours." She pulled away just a few inches apart from him and dared to press her lips against his; that sweet caress validating what she had just said.

The angel of death kissed her back, aware of her intention, wishing to be able to tell her about how great his love was. And once they parted, he was the one who spoke first. "You have no idea of how much joy you bring to my existence."

"Then please tell me what's causing you so much sadness. I can feel there is great worry in your heart." She begged.

It took Andrew a great deal of courage to finally let her know about the latest events.

"As I told you, you'll be just fine, baby. Within a few hours, you'll probably be waking up in hospital and Tess and I will be there at your side when you do."

"If all this sounds like a great relief to all of us, then why do I sense so much distress on your side, Andrew? What is wrong?"

He took her both hands and kissed them. "Tess knows about us."

"She does?" Monica's eyes grew wide with surprise as she heard that confession. "But...how?"

"I told her, even though I didn’t have to. She could read it in my eyes, in my words...A few minutes confronting me were enough for her to confirm that I love you beyond words...beyond my own existence."

That confession brought a bittersweet smile back at her face. "I promise you that I'll honour this love forever, Andrew. No matter what our co-workers and superiors might say, no matter if they judge us, I'm sure that the Father would never allow me to love you the way I do if it was wrong. And I do love you... You're my soulmate, you've always been."

"Baby, I should be the one to promise you to honour our love."

"I know you do, I have no doubt about it!"

After a brief pause, he stoked her cheek and kept on talking. "Tess warned me about the consequences."

"It'll take her some time to understand and accept but I'm sure she will realise that what brings us together is pure and genuine!"

"I think she does, angel, even though she might be having difficulties understanding it."

"I'll talk to her! I'll tell her of my feelings for you and how certain I am of them, I'll-"

"She knows that, baby." He gently interrupted her, realising there was nothing else to be said other than the truth he had been trying to avoid. "When you wake up from the comma, there is a possibility that you... might not remember some things. These dreams, the moments we spent together... they might be all lost somewhere in your subconscious mind."

Her face fell in shock at that piece of news. "What?"

"Your spirit has been travelling with me on several journeys so that you don't feel any amount of the pain your human form has been under all these days. I was trying to protect you at the same time I had to be by your side in case you...did not resist the injuries." His own pain flashed through his eyes as he mentioned his initial assignment. Andrew forced a slight smile and squeezed her hands as he kept on talking. "But you did. You're a fighter and you resisted bravely, and even unconscious, you managed to perform God's work by touching people's hearts. These journeys, however... they're like dreams, angel."

"Dreams that will be etched in my heart for the rest of eternity, Andrew! They made me realise how much I love you! All the memories we shared during this journey will be alive with me when I regain consciousness! I promise you! I promise I'll never forget any second we spent together!" She insisted, refusing to accept Tess' predictions. "This angelic form I am in will be exactly like the human form that is healing in that hospital bed...These dreams will soon become real..."

Broken-hearted, as he knew their supervisor could be right about Monica's recovery, Andrew kissed her lips softly and gently lay the palm of his hand against her cheek. "I will wait, angel... No matter how long I have to, I'll wait for you  to remember, and I trust that you will!"

"I promise you I will!" She said, as two long tears fell from her eyes. "You will always have my love!"

Monica wrapped her arms around his neck and held him for long minutes, crying silently and holding him tightly as if refusing to let that moment go, afraid of the future for the first time in her whole existence.

"Come with me, baby...There's another memory I want to share with you." Andrew spoke, after a few minutes of complete silence.

"I just don’t want to leave..."

Andrew pulled away and stroked her face. "We won't go too far. Trust me..."