CHAPTERS 6 & 7

Chapter 6

When Monica opened her eyes on the following day, the sunrays were shining through the cave and illuminating its interior. This was a sign that the weather there seemed to be good and they wouldn't have to worry about a thunderstorm for a while. But a worried expression soon clouded over the Irish angel's face once she noticed that Andrew wasn't by her side. She had a clear memory of his arms around her and his voice telling her to have good dreams on the previous night but suddenly it seemed he had never been there.

Rubbing her eyes, she moved to sit up straight but let out an immediate cry of pain: her entire body ached terribly. Breathing hard, she stood still for some seconds and then, very slowly, managed to lean against the stone wall. Her dearest friend wasn't anywhere around and she couldn't hear any noise nearby the cave.

"Andrew?" she called, but there was no reply. "Andrew, are you there?"

Her heart started to beat faster: what if the previous night had been nothing but a dream? What if the tragedy with the boat had put them apart and she was completely alone in that island?

Scared, Monica found support on the cave wall and stood on her feet. "Andrew?"

Very slowly, she managed to give her first steps towards the entrance of the cave, and as she got there, the sun rays stung her eyes as the breeze of the ocean made her entire body shiver with the sudden cold. A profusion of blue - up in the sky and in the ocean just before her, along with the exuberant green forest, made her feel dizzy. After four days staying inside of a cave, under the soft light of a fireplace or feeling just a few sunrays that momentarily reached its interior, that scenario seemed to swallow her. Monica felt her legs grow weaker and was about to fall when a dear voice reached her ears.

"Monica!"

Andrew was coming back from the forest carrying logs to feed the fireplace later on, but he let all of them fall on the ground when he saw his dearest friend standing there and about to faint. On the following second, his arms were around her waist, giving her support and interrupting her fall.

"Angel?" His concern was reflected in his eyes, and he cupped her cheek and made her look at him.

Still very confused, and quite scared, she reached out to touch his face, checking if the image before her was real. "Andrew..."

"Angel, what is it? What happened?"

"I... I woke up and you were not there... I was... I was confused... I thought..." Monica finally looked straight into his eyes, "I thought that you were gone..."

Guilt tore over him as he heard that. How could he leave her alone like this? Why didn't he wait until she was awake so he could go and grab some silly logs for the fire? Mentally scolding himself, he shook his head and took her hands in his own. "I'm so sorry, angel... I went to pick up wood for the fireplace and I didn't think you'd wake up before I was back."

"This place... the ocean... I... I suddenly felt so... small..."

Noticing how scared and confused she was, Andrew gently guided her back to the cave. "You're still too weak and shouldn't be exposed to the weather like this, angel... Come with me, let's go back inside..."

Once she was once again settled inside their temporary "home," Andrew covered her with the blanket she had left behind and felt her face: fortunately, her fever had gone for good and the mere fact that she had managed to stand on her feet was a sign that her energies were coming back.

"I'm sorry, angel, I didn't mean to scare you." He said, sitting right in front of her and taking her hand again.

She didn't miss the worry and the slight guilt in his green eyes. Sighing deeply, she looked at their conjoined hands. "I'm the one who's sorry... I should have waited for you here..."

"How are you feeling today?" he changed the subject, surveying the bandages over her forehead and arm.

"Guess not ready to go outside yet..." she replied, somewhat jokingly, even though her face remained serious.

He was quick to reassure her. "Well, not yet because you need to eat, and right before I left I prepared your breakfast!"

She watched as he stood up and gathered her food and some water. It broke her heart to see how hard he was trying to protect and take care of her, ignoring his own pain and injuries. His loving words and the tenderness with which Andrew would always treat her made her so deeply moved that it brought sudden tears to her eyes.

"Monica? Angel, is there something wrong? Are you in pain?" The blond angel rushed to her side once again, cupping her cheek and holding  her hand, frowning with great worry.

"Oh, no... no... I'm... I guess I'm still processing everything that's happened to us, you know?" Noticing that he was still not sure about her words, she squeezed his hand, "I was looking at you and wondering if I deserve such a wonderful friend..."

Relieved to hearing that, he shook his head and smiled lightly, "Monica... for many times, I catch myself wondering if I deserve such a wonderful friend like you, baby."

"You mean we're even then?"

His smile grew wider noticing that she was joking again. After brushing away the few tears that fell from her eyes, the blond angel leaned over and kissed her forehead. "We're even then!"

X

On the days that followed, Monica's condition started to improve gradually, and she was once again the talkative and inquisitive little angel that would always endear Andrew's heart. Nevertheless, her dearest friend was permanently watching over her, his protective eyes following her every little step like a loyal guardian. Even when she was fast asleep in his arms, Andrew would keep on observing the expression on her face, attentive to any whispered word she spoke during her dreams, ready to chase away any nightmare.

He was always the first one to wake up and when Monica opened up her eyes, breakfast was already made. That morning, however, he decided to remain in the cave a bit more. Andrew had woken up suddenly, during the night, having dreamt that he was still fighting the waves and trying to save Monica. Once he realised he was safe, and that Monica was sleeping peacefully in his arms, he relaxed. The blond angel still looked around them, still unable to lose the instinct to watch for strangers, even though the impression that the island was deserted grew stronger each and every day.

Little by little, daylight started to colour the sky and he now decided to focus on the little angel sleeping next to him. With a smile playing on his lips, he watched the gentle rise and fall of Monica’s chest, delighting in the meek Gaelic features on her pretty face both when she was awake and now, during her sleep.

Monica stirred then, and woke up. He couldn't hide his amusement at the sight of her eyes opening slowly and her confusion at where she was. Watching his friend as she yawned and stretched like a kitten, slowly coming to full alertness, made her even more adorable to him - if that was ever possible.

"Andrew?" Her soothing voice took him out of his thoughts and he looked down to see her gazing up at him, eyes still slightly glassy from sleep.

"Good morning, angel." He greeted her with a smile; fingers tenderly stroking her dishevelled auburn hair.

"Good morning..." she replied, frowning a little to see him still lying there at that time of the day. "... is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is just fine. I just felt like staying 'in bed' a little longer."

The tiny smile on her sleepy face was by far the best image he could see at that time of the morning. Andrew checked the healing injuries in her temple and arms. "How are you feeling today?"

"I guess I'm getting a wee bit better every day..."

"That's the best answer I could ever get, angel!" he said, relief filling his soul. "Can I bring your breakfast now?"

With a permanent smile, she nodded her head - secretly feeling her stomach churning with hunger. The blond angel gently helped her to sit down and seconds later, brought her food: fish, carefully inspected not to contain any fish bone.

X

After they had breakfast, Andrew stood on his feet and offered her his hand. "Now I want you to come with me!"

Monica gladly accepted his proffered hand and with his help stood on her feet. Little by little, Andrew was making her get used to the island. Always in his company, she would give short walks along the cave surroundings and into the forest, up to the water stream. He had found out its origin was not far and a small waterfall fell from a cliff straight into a small pond, like a natural shower where they could bath and wash their clothes and other utensils.

But that morning, he decided to make her walk on the beach, with the sunrays enhancing her natural angelic glow.

"A stroll around the beach under the morning sun is gonna make you feel even better, angel. And today we'll walk until there..." he said, pointing to a distant spot, somewhere she'd never been before.

"That far today, huh?" The Irish angel spoke, while they walked, her arm permanently wrapped around his own.

"Yep! I haven't told you but we'll catch today's lunch!" he announced, highly amused with her surprised and very anxious expression.

By the end of the day, the memory of the two of them standing knee-deep in the water as he tried to teach Monica to catch a fish caused them to laugh. She succeeded only in falling over a few times, eventually leaving the fishing to him.

Once the worry about their physical condition was gone, and their injuries healed, the two angels started to grow used to this daily routine; living one day after the other, always wondering when they would be rescued and why they were there at that very island.

Chapter 7

Now fully recovered from her injuries, Monica was determined to help her dearest friend with the daily tasks. Fishing, cooking and getting wood for the fire were definitely left to Andrew, and the Irish angel busied herself with taking care of their "home". She washed their clothes and blankets and kept the cave free from sand thanks to a broom she and Andrew made with dry leaves and a twig. She was also the one to get water for drinking and cooking, and once in a while, went berry picking in the bushes not far from the pond.

Initially, Andrew was reluctant about eating the roundish small fruits, fearing they were poisonous. But carefully having a small amount once in a while, and then increasing the quantity showed no side effects, so they came to the conclusion that the berries were safe to eat. The angels in human form knew how poor a diet consisting of fish, berries and water was, but now it was all that they had. In their daily prayers, they asked to be found before the consequences of the scarce food took its effects.

That afternoon, both angels went into opposite directions: Andrew said the tide was high at that time of the day and it would give him the opportunity to catch more fishes than the usual. Monica, on herself, informed him she'd go to the pond to do some "laundry" so that their clothes would all be dry on the following day.

The little Irish angel soon finished her task and hung their clothes on the nearby tree branches. She surveyed her job and smiled, and then looked around her. The forest was exuberant and certainly raised her natural curiosity. It was hot and sunny on that day and there were almost no clouds in the sky. She pondered about the time and concluded that Andrew wouldn't be back from fishing so soon; a walk in the forest wouldn't take too long.

With her hair tied up in a ponytail due to the hot afternoon sun, she walked further into the forest, amazed at the different kinds of plants and trees that grew there. The coloured flowers spread along her completed the beautiful scenario, and Monica was so enchanted with so much beauty that she didn't realise where she was heading until an abrupt change in the surroundings caused her to stop.

The spot where Monica was standing now set the end of the forest and the beginning of a rocky area of the island. Instead of trees and plants, now all she could see were rocks and ragged cliffs. The drastic contrast from what she was used to see was so shocking that her heart started to beat faster, with a fear she herself didn't know how to explain.

She observed the grey landscape in front of her for some minutes, and then slowly approached the area, leaving the forest behind her. It was as if she had been automatically transported to a different place. Eyes filled with curiosity, the little Irish angel started to climb the hill that would take her to the top of the highest cliff, from where she could have a complete view of the island and its surroundings. The slope wasn't too inclined but as she started to climb it, Monica immediately remembered Tess's scolds about her old habit: walking around barefoot. The rock soil was hot due to the sun that, only now, started to disappear in between some clouds. But the little angel was determined to reach the top of the cliff and, even though her feet hurt a little, she finally made it.

The view was breathtaking. Monica could see the entire island, and was surprised at how far she had gone in the last hour. The forest seemed a green carpet that covered most part of it. She couldn't wait to tell Andrew about her new discovery. A flash of light caught her eye and she turned around, now facing the north. The horizon was turning into grey and lightning and rays were also crossing the sky. A storm was beginning to form and the angel frowned with concern, wondering if it could reach the island.

But something else caused her to hold her breath as her heart started to race: a white spot in the horizon was moving slowly and from where she was Monica could perfectly see it was a ship.

"Oh, Father! Father, please, make them find us! Make them see this island!" she prayed, breathing hard.

Quickly, she started an accelerated climb down the hill, nearly losing her balance due to the trembling in her legs. She had to go to Andrew and tell him about the ship, maybe they could light up fires along the beach so that they saw them. Monica was so eager to reach the bottom that she didn't realise that the small rock where she set her foot was loose. The Irish angel slipped and stumbled on the ground.

Monica winced with pain. She felt her ankle hurt immediately, and her knees and palms were scratched and bleeding with the fall. But she couldn't stop there and, with some effort, she raised to her feet again and started to walk; her heart beating faster and faster.

X

When Andrew returned from a successful fishing, he was already frowning with concern due to the abrupt change in the weather. The wind started to pick up faster and dark clouds heavy with rain were quickly covering the blue sky. He lifted a silent prayer thanking God for providing them a shelter, where they would certainly be safe from the storm. But when the blond angel arrived at the cave, his concern grew even more as there was no sign of Monica.

He arranged the fishes in a bowl, and covered them with a cloth, and then went outside, calling out her name. Andrew walked until the pond where she did the washing but, although the clothes were clean and hung on the tree branches, his dearest friend was nowhere around.

"Monica? Monica? Can you hear me?" he called, but silence was his reply. "Father, where did she go?"

And then he felt the terrible sensation that something was definitely wrong. A warning that went straight into his angelic heart telling him the little angel he loved so much needed him. Andrew went further through the forest, in search for Monica at the same time the first raindrops started to fall from the sky.

X

When Monica realised it was the third time she passed by the huge tree trunk fallen on the ground she stopped and tried to control her breath. Biting her lower lip, the Irish angel was aware of her poor sense of direction, but was hoping to find the way back to their "home" once she'd seen the whole island from above. Yet, her nervousness and the heavy rain that pelted from the dark sky, along with the loud thunders that echoed through the oceans, prevented her from thinking straight. Besides this, she was hurt, and her ankle even more swollen.

Tears and the rain water stung her eyes as she looked around her, frustrated and extremely confused. Which way should she follow now? The storm had also brought night earlier that day, and soon, it would all be dark. Walking along that vast green area at night, and in the middle of a thunderstorm was too dangerous. She also remembered her dear friend, who she knew would be desperate looking for her right now.

"Oh, Andrew... I'm so sorry... I'm so terribly sorry..." she murmured, sitting on the ground, knees drawn up to her chest like a little girl who had got lost from her parents.