CHAPTER 12

Roy walked along a deserted road with no destination. In his mind, permanent flashbacks of the latest events prevented him from sleeping and filled his heart with unbearable pain. He had shot a woman – a defenceless woman who never did anything to him. And he also let an innocent man pay for his crime. How sorry he was for that! How he wished to have the chance to ask for their forgiveness! But instead of this he’d ran away from the city like a real murderer, and who would spend the rest of his life carrying a heavy burden.

The young man stopped walking for a minute and sat on a rock near the road, feeling extremely tired and hungry. Then, another person came to his mind: Evelyn. The harm he’d done to her hurt beyond words; now that he was clean and thinking straight he knew that. She had a great heart and was the only one who offered him a shelter, her friendship and her love, but he was too angry at the world to realise that.

Roy covered his stomach with both hands and then looked down at the ravine next to the road, pondering about what difference it would make if he left this world after all he’d caused. There was no place to go and looking for Evelyn was out of question, he liked her way too much to do that.

“Have you ever considered the fact that being here, in this world, is enough to make a difference in someone else’s life?”

Andrew’s voice caused him to stand up immediately, somewhat scared and really surprised, “Andrew? How...”

“Don’t ask how. Just try to answer my question.” The blond angel said, looking deep into Roy’s eyes. Truth to be told, Andrew was far from happy for being there, helping that one creature who’d dared to hurt Monica. It was a tremendous effort to be there, doing the Father’s work and fulfilling his assignment. But it was exactly because of his loving Creator and a warm hearted little angel that he was there at that very moment.

The young man sighed and looked down at the ravine once again, with anguish and despair evident in his face. Then he shook his head, nearly crying, “I... I don’t see how I could make a difference... I never made a difference to anyone... all I did was cause trouble and pain.”

“Well... you only make a difference in someone’s life if you try to, if you’re truly willing to. But I’m glad that you recognise your mistakes. Many people aren’t aware of that, you know.”

“How... how is the lady I shot? Is she alive?” he asked, hoping with all his heart to have good news.

“Yes, she’s fine and recovering.” Andrew watched as a wave of relief washed his soul at hearing that piece of news and it was at that very moment that the blond angel was sure that there was a chance for him.

“I’m sorry... I’m so sorry! For her, for you... I know you were accused of a crime you didn’t commit. I know I let you go to prison because of what I did... I’m terribly sorry, Andrew! please forgive me... Tell that lady I’m sorry for what I did!”

A slight smile appeared on the angel’s face, “She knows. She forgave you even before than I did. But I forgive you too, Roy. And I also want to ask for your forgiveness as well.”

“My forgiveness?” the boy was even more surprised.

“Yes... I gave up on you... I gave up on my duties because I was so angry at what you did that... I didn’t want to help you anymore.”

“You didn’t have to help me...”

“Yes, I did. But coming in here and having the chance to talk to you made all the difference, Roy.” Andrew gave a few steps towards him, “Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do – it is the road that will make all the difference.”

The boy felt the truth in those words and after looking at Andrew with questioning eyes for a few instants he lowered his head with a pensive expression on his face. But as he raised his head once again, the blond man was gone. A chilly wind started to blow and the disturbing silence was only broken by the noise of a vehicle coming along the road. Roy saw it when a bus appeared in the corner of the winding road but instead of turning to the left, the driver lost control of the wheel and it went down in the ravine.

“Oh, gosh!” he exclaimed, taking his hands up to his head, his heart racing as the vehicle crashed against the trees, a few metres down.

“See how lucky you are, Roy? Maybe those people in the bus are loaded with money! Maybe they have food in there! C’mon, go there and take everything you can! They’re probably hurt and won’t react!” Gregory spoke, standing next to him, yet invisible to his eyes.

Feeling his entire body trembling with fear and nervousness, the young man started to descend the ravine and a couple of minutes later, he got at the vehicle, “Hello? Anybody can hear me?” he shouted, looking through the broken windows. Desperate cries for help echoed from inside the bus and, moved by an unexpected and incredible will to help, he started to open the emergency windows.

“What are you doing? What’s come over you? These people’s money are inside the luggage compartment!” Gregory shouted, watching powerless as Roy started to help the passengers.

“He finally made his choice, Gregory. What you were trying to do, your plan to destroy his life and the lives of the ones around him has failed.” Andrew spoke, standing next to the demon, who glared at him burning with anger.

“You here? What are you doing in here? Why can’t you just stay out of my way?” he shouted, both he and the blond angel invisible to the human eye.

“One of my duties is to be in your way and help the ones you want to destroy.” Andrew replied, staring firmly at the evil creature.

“Well, I can destroy you too if I want!” the demon replied.

Suddenly, another voice, soothing and gentle, was heard, “No, you can’t, Gregory.”

Walking towards them, Monica was in her angelic form, wearing a long white dress and completely healed. The glow that surrounded her form was so intense and so beautiful that, as she came closer, Gregory had to avert his eyes from her. She stood by Andrew’s side and looked at him with a sweet and reassuring smile on her face. The blond angel’s heart was immediately filled with joy at her beautiful image and at seeing her finally healed.

Monica looked at Gregory and continued to speak, “God’s presence and the wise words spoken by one of His angels made that young man change his destiny. Your plan, Gregory, is very small if compared to the plans of our loving Father.”

“There will be more... I may have lost this battle but there are lots of other tormented souls in this world!” he replied, unable to look at her.

“Yes, you’re right. And there’ll always be God’s angels close to these poor, tormented souls, ready to help them,” the Irish angel spoke, her soothing voice and her calming presence causing him an unbearable sensation of peace.

Proud to hear his dearest friend’s words, Andrew nodded his head, “And you know why, Gregory? Because God loves all His children.”

Gregory couldn’t bear it any longer and backed away from the two heavenly creatures, disappearing through the shadows of the night.

The angels looked at each other and Andrew held Monica’s hand, both watching as Roy helped the injured passengers of the bus.

And one of these passengers nearly made him freeze with shock and surprise: Evelyn had hit her head and was stuck under a chair.