Epilogue

EPILOGUE

A month after she had got out of the comma, Erika was finally ready to leave hospital and start a new live as a secretary in the car workshop where Monica, Andrew and Rafael worked, as they were leaving soon.

Tess, Monica and Andrew went to the hospital to pick her up and when the young woman stepped out of the building, the morning sun rays touched her face, causing her to smile. “Of Father, thank you...” she whispered.

“There’s a bag of clothes in the car and you have a small apartment rented not far from here.” The supervisor spoke.

“I don’t know what to say...”

“Well you’ve just said everything when you crossed that door, baby!”

Monica placed a supportive hand over her shoulder, with a cheerful expression on her face, and then looked at her two dearest friends somewhat anxiously, “Can we go now?”

“Sure!” Andrew replied, enthusiastically. They got into the red Cadillac and Tess turned the motor on.

*

Half hour later, the oldest angel stopped the car in front of a prison building and Erika’s smile was replaced by a worried frown. “What... What are we doing here?” she said, her voice trembling with apprehension.

The Irish angel looked at her questioningly, “Don’t you think there’s someone you should visit?”

“He doesn’t want to see me again...” the girl replied, feeling the presence of tears threatening her eyes.

“That’s what he said in a moment of anger...” Andrew interrupted her, “But don’t you think you should listen to what he has to say to you now?”

“I’m afraid...”

“I cannot believe someone who faced the darkness and the evil to save two complete strangers is afraid...” Monica said.

They walked along the corridors of the building up to a meeting room, where Rafael and David had been sitting for some time. When the officer opened the door and Erika entered, together with the other angels, the young man stood up and walked over to her. No words were spoken between them, but the tight, almost fierce embrace the couple shared, spoke a lot.

“Erika... I’m so... so terribly sorry for the things I said to you at that night... I’m so terribly ashamed of them right now...”

“And I’m sorry for everything I did to you... the trouble brought to your life... for every lie I told you... I’m the one who’s ashamed now...”

“It doesn’t matter anymore, sweetie!” he pulled away just a few inches to look at her face, “When Rafael told me you were in hospital, so badly hurt... when I was faced with the possibility of losing you, I realised I loved you a lot more than I myself knew!”

Those words caused two big tears to fall from her eyes, “So... Do you still love me? Do you still accept the love I have to give you?”

He gently wiped her tears away, “I am the one to make that question; I am the one who has to ask you for your forgiveness and for you love...”

He knelt in front of her and held her hand, “Would you please, give me this honour?”

Erika shed more tears and, sobbing, she also knelt on the floor. “My forgiveness and my love? There’s only one of these two things I can give you... my love for you, Dave. That’s what saved me; that’s what made me a real person. I cannot forgive because there’s nothing to forgive. Nothing. Everything bad that has happened was only a bad dream, a nightmare that is already over. I love you, Dave. I love you with all my heart.”

“I love you too, Erika. God, I love you so much...”

And then they shared a loving kiss, sealing all the love and affection both felt for each other maybe from the first moment they had met, almost a year earlier, and which not even the most evil creatures could destroy.

And, being such a sensitive little angel, the inevitable happened: Monica started to cry with that moving and emotional scene. Andrew was quick to give her a handkerchief and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him and kissing the top of her head. Gratefully, but not less calm, she buried her face in his chest and continued to cry.

Although they were a bit ‘emotionally stronger’ than the Irish angel; Andrew, Rafael and Tess exchanged a contented and equally moved look: it was far too clear that the love David and Erika shared was so strong that it had managed to defeat the most dangerous threat in this world: evil itself.

****

“Joy, how in the world did you manage to get there?!” Monica spoke, finding the little puppy dog trapped in a stone far from the bank of the lake she and Andrew had been visiting in the last few days. After David and Erika’s meeting at the prison, the two angels had been given some more days off and decided to spend most of their time in Heaven, at the same spot they had stayed to heal their injuries.

When they finally found their ‘precious baby’, Andrew chuckled at the worried look on Monica’s face and, knowing that the water level was just a bit over her knees, he sat down on a stone and crossed his arms. “Well, there she is!”

“She needs help!” the Irish angel spoke, looking at him with a pleading face. but her dearest friend didn’t make any movement. “Well, the last time I ‘rescued’ our precious baby, I ended up all covered with mud; so this time it’ll be her mom to do the rescue!”

Monica stared at him slightly indignantly, “Oh... But this is a lake, the water is crystal clear...”

“Another reason for you to do it, my angel!”

Even more annoyed, she sighed deeply, “Very well then!”

Then, she entered the lake and walked carefully in the puppy’s direction. Highly amused, Andrew was unsuccessfully trying to hold his laugher as his dearest friend stepped clumsily in the water. Joy, for herself, stopped barking and was suspiciously eyeing her mom coming closer to her. With the water level over her knees, the hem of her long white dress became wet, causing it to be a bit more difficult to walk.

“You’re a very naughty wee angel puppy sometimes, you know?” she exclaimed, hearing a feeble bark in reply. But when the angel came closer to Joy, she stumbled into one of the many small stones in the bottom of the lake and lost her balance, falling in the water a second later.

Being so protective of the little angel, Andrew’s smile was immediately replaced by a worried frown and, feeling terribly guilty, he stood up and rushed towards Monica, who remained on her knees, now completely wet.

“Monica? Monica did you get hurt?” he asked.

“No...” she spoke, hiding a mischievous smile upon her face, “Just a wee bit wet!” and then he was taken by surprise with the sudden splash of crystalline water right on him. “Hey!” he exclaimed, taken off guard with that sudden attack.

“And if mommy gets wet, daddy gets wet too!” she spoke, never stopping to throw water on him.

The sound of her laugher put his heart at ease a second later, reaching his ears like a pleasant melody. “Oh yeah? You asked for it, mommy!” With a smile back on his handsome face, Andrew splashed her in return, now listening to her squealing and Joy’s excited barks.

“But what the heck is going on here?” Tess’ strong voice echoed through the air and the two younger angels stopped that little ‘war’ when they saw her glaring at them with a stern expression on her dripping face. And when they realised they had accidentally splashed the supervisor, Monica and Andrew looked at each other without knowing what to say.

“Tess...”

“We...”

“We were...”

“I know exactly what you were doing! Setting a bad example to my little baby girl!” she stormed, and looking at the small puppy – who had the most innocent face in the world, “Come here with grandma, baby! You don’t need to watch this!”

And surprisingly, the chubby little dog got into the water and moved her tiny paws, swimming until the bank of the lake and causing her ‘parents’ to stare at each other with shocked faces.

“I thought she was in trouble! I didn’t know she...”

“Spare me from your feeble excuses, Miss Wings!” Tess replied, gathering the chubby dog in her arms.

“But Tess, she was...”

“No ‘buts’, Mr Halo! And... if you think you’re gonna get into my car like this to spoil my upholstery, you’re way too mistaken!” she walked away from them with the naughty little dog in her arms. Monica and Andrew looked at each other and on the following second, burst into laugher.

*

“I’m glad that Monica, Tess, Andrew and wee Joy are visible tonight! They’re so beautiful!” Monica spoke, sitting on the back seat of Tess’ Cadillac, next to Andrew. After the little mess at the lake, they had changed into warm clothes and Tess finally agreed to lend them her ‘baby’ so that they could go back to Earth and watch the stars at that pleasant night. He had turned the radio on and while they listened to some soft music, they studied the starry sky, like they always did whenever they had some free time.

“Very well! I can see you didn’t forget “the angels’ constellation” that was created about a year ago during our last days off! I’m glad for...” but his sentence was suddenly interrupted by aloud sneeze. A rather guilty expression appeared on Monica’s face, as she knew exactly what had caused that, “Oh, Andrew... I’m so terribly sorry... I... I didn’t expect you to get a flu, you know...”

He crossed his arms with a mock upset expression on his face. “You cheated me in order to attract me to that lake! You and that equally mischievous baby of yours!”

Finding his annoyance rather funny, she tried to suppress a smile, “Aw... She just wanted to play with us a little! And... Andrew, she’s your baby too!”

“Well, that kind of behaviour she certainly didn’t get from me!” he replied, looking at her face and having trouble to keep his fake grumpy mood.

With a cheerful smile, she kept on talking, “But don’t you love us just the same?”

That question defeated him, “Well... you’re changing the subject here, Miss Wings!”

Then, the little Irish angel couldn’t resist any longer and wrapped her arms around his neck, in a tight warm embrace, and placed a tender kiss on his cheek, “Will you forgive me?”

“Hum... I don’t know...” he had an adorable look of indecision in his eyes. Giggling at his ‘lost puppy’ face, she abandoned the back seat for a moment.

“Then wait here...”

Now with a confused frown, he watched as Monica opened the glove compartment, picked up a small present box, and returned to her previous place, “... I had bought it before I... well... before we had that little incident in the lake, but it can also be an apology...”

Surprised and deeply moved with that lovely attitude, Andrew stopped his little game and gently lay the palm of his hand on her cheek, “Monica... angel, you shouldn’t have done that, I ...”

“Oh but of course I should!” she gently objected, “You’re the one who is always saving and protecting me, the one angel that has always the right and kind words to reassure me... I just wanted to say thanks...”

“Monica, you’re my dearest friend... you know that everything I do for you comes from the love I feel right here in my heart and that you don’t have to give me anything in return except this pretty smile upon your face, don’t you?” he spoke, with a serious face and yet tender look in his green eyes.

“I know... but I wanted you to have this with you so that when we’re not together you can think of me.”

Now chuckling as if he had ever needed an object to think about that beautiful little angel, he hugged her tightly and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. “Let me get this straight... so that’s a kind of reminder that somewhere out there there’s a certain gorgeous and adorable angel girl, with a lovely smile, a charming accent, a warm heart and the most gentle soul I’ve ever known, huh? Ok, I guess it can help me!” he spoke, with a playful tone in his voice, and, happy to hear her giggling, he opened the box: it was a beautiful sterling silver ball point pen.

“So... did you like it?” Monica anxiously asked, watching as a content smile appeared on his face.

“Monica it’s gorgeous! It’s really beautiful!” he said, truly happy with that small gift. Monica heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought it could also be useful in some of your assignments...”

“It’s a really good idea, Monica and yes, I guess I’ll need it very soon. I’ll keep it with me forever.” He placed a tender kiss on her cheek and then stroked her face with tenderness, “Angel... have you any idea how much I love you?”

“Hum... looking back at the last few years since we first met I guess I have...”

He inched closer and held her tightly in a warm, big hug. When they finally pulled away, he kissed her forehead and reached for his pocket watch. “Let me show you something... Can you see the second hand of this watch?”

“Yes...” she said, with the same smile but not fully understanding what he was trying to say.

“There isn’t a single moment it moves that I’m not thinking about you, angel, you can be sure of that.”

Monica’s smile grew wider and, this time, it was her who hugged him tightly, “I love you too.”

Smiling, he pulled away just a few inches to check on his watch again, “And, well, I have something to give to you too... It’s not a present but some things I wanted you to know and now it’s time...”

Confused all over again, she watched as he reached out and turned the volume of the radio up. “Now listen carefully, ok?”

“Well... ok, then...” Monica answered, still intrigued with what he had in mind. The radio program they had been listening to was the kind of show in which the audience could phone the radio station and ask for a song, offering it to someone special. They heard as the radio presenter started to read the message.

[i]And the next song goes from Andrew to Monica; it’s called “For You I Will” and, what a coincidence, it’s performed by Monica.”[/i]

The Irish angel’s eyes grew wide in surprise and she looked at her dearest friend with excited brown eyes. “That’s us?”

“Well... yes...” he answered, chuckling at her childlike excitement. “I was looking of a song to play for you and then I found this one and, considering everything we’ve been through some weeks ago, I thought the lyrics would be quite suitable.”

The little angel’s smile grew wider as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder bringing her closer to him. “Now listen.”

“Ok...” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

[i]"For You I Will" (by Monica)

When you're feeling lost in the night,
When you feel your world just ain't right
Call on me, I will be waiting
Count on me, I will be there
Anytime the times get too tough,
Anytime your best ain't enough
I'll be the one to make it better,
I'll be there to protect you,
See you through,
I'll be there and there is nothing
I won't do.

I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
Promise you,
For you I will.

I will shield your heart from the rain
I will let no harm come your way
Oh these arms will be your shelter
No these arms won't let you down,
If there is a mountain to move
I will move that mountain for you
I'm here for you, I'm here forever
I will be your fortress, tall and strong
I'll keep you safe,
I'll stand beside you, right or wrong

I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon (yeah, yeah)
I will be your hero your strength
anything you need (I will be..)
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
Promise you
For you I will

For you I will, lay my life on the line
For you I will fight, oooooh
For you I will die
With every breath, with all my soul
I'll give my world
I'll give it all
Put your faith in me (put you're faith in me)
And I'll do anything

I will cross the ocean for you (I will cross the ocean for you)
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
Promise you (Promise you)
For you I will, I will, I will, I will,

I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero your strength
Anything you need, (Anything you need)
I will be the sun in your sky (yeah, yeah)
I will light your way for all time
Promise you (I promise you)
For you I will (Ooooh)
I promise you
For you I will [/i]

The melody died little by little and when Andrew pulled away to look at her face he saw that she was crying. “Oh Andrew.... It’s beautiful!”

“Yes, but it’s not supposed to make you cry!” he said, smiling and gently wiping away her tears.

“I can’t help crying, you know that!” she replied, and he nodded his head understandingly.

“Yeah I know this kind loving heart of yours pretty well!” he cupped her chin so that she could face him, “These are just some of the things I’d do for you, my angel. And no matter what happens, no matter how hard an assignment is or the danger it involves... No matter how difficult the situation you’re going through is, one thing you can always be sure of: I’m here for you, Monica. I’m here forever.”

“I know... in fact, I know that very well, more than I’d like to know...” she placed her hand against his face, “And you can be sure I will always do the same for you..”

“I guess now it’s my turn to say that I know that...”

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose. Then, the little Irish angel buried her face in his chest again, still sniffling.

“Monica sings beautifully... Quite ironic, isn’t it?”

“Hum... not really. I’d say it all depends on the point of view...” Andrew spoke, softly running his fingers through her perfumed hair.

“What do you mean?” she raised her head to look at him.

“She can sing beautifully but... it’s your voice that touches my heart, angel!” he said, touching her nose and smiling tenderly at her. With a tearful smile, she tightened her hold on him and the two angels remained in a pleasant silence, enjoying being in each other’s arms, listening to the beautiful songs and watching the lovely night sky, covered with thousands of bright stars. They lifted a silent prayer of thanks for receiving the most precious gift the Father could give them – their friendship, and watched, with contented faces, as a white dove cooed and perched on the hood of Tess’ Cadillac.

The end.