EPILOGUE

Two weeks after the accident with the bus the newspaper headlines still showed how a criminal saved all the victims and remained by their side until the ambulance came to rescue them. The doctors who assisted the passengers said that Roy Taylor’s help was vital and that if it weren’t for him most victims wouldn’t have survived, especially a young woman named Evelyn Parker, who was still recovering in hospital.

The young lady was lying in her bed, looking through the window and thinking about the latest events as a light knock on the door drew her attention back to the present. She watched as Roy opened the door and poked his head inside, “May I come in?”

“Roy?”

“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting...”

“No, please, come in...” she insisted, truly happy to see him there after all he’d done for her. Somewhat timidly, the young man stepped inside the hospital bedroom and she noticed the prison uniform he was wearing. There was also a policeman outside.

“I came here to check on you before... before I’m transferred to another unit.” Roy spoke, standing by her bed. “The doctors said you’re leaving hospital in some days...”

“Yes... it was a serious accident but I’m having a fine recovery.”

“I’m so happy to hear it.”

The girl looked at him for long seconds, with a hint of emotion in her still pale face, “I so wanted to talk to you, Roy... Even before the accident... I wanted to offer my help... You know I’ve been working with this group, they help people who have problems with drugs or who live in the streets, sometimes committing minor offences...”

“I’m happy you’re doing it, Evelyn. I... I have to pay for my crimes, but if I there’s anything I can do to help...”

“You’ve done so much already, Roy, by saving all those people... By saving me... And I know you can do a lot more. I don’t think I could ever thank you enough-”

“No, please, don’t thank me. There’s a lot I need to do before someone thanks me. And... I want to ask for your forgiveness... I caused you so much pain and suffering...”

“I’ve forgiven you long ago, Roy. Everyone deserves a second chance; besides, I was no saint either and needed help as much as you did. Promise you’ll take care of yourself?”

He took one of her hands in both of his and squeezed it. “Yes... to be honest, I had made that promise to me, some days ago.”

The policeman outside the door signalled for him to go, and he kissed the back of her hand, “I’m leaving now, Evelyn. But coming in here and seeing you gave me more strength to face my mistakes, to try to fix them. Thank you so much. ”

“May God bless with you always, Roy.”

“I promise I’ll write.”

“I promise I’ll visit you.”

*

That same night, Roy sat in his bed, inside his cell thinking about his meeting with Evelyn. Her forgiveness and generosity brought an incredible sensation of peace to his troubled heart and maybe for the first time in his life, he felt he’d made a difference. The young man was preparing to sleep when a sudden voice made him turn around and look at the cell door.

“There are more people proud of you than what you can imagine.”

Andrew was standing there, wearing his beige suit and with a beautiful glow surrounding his form. The blond angel offered a kind smile.

“Andrew?”

“I hope that by now you know how good it feels to make a difference in someone’s life... In fact, in many people’s lives.”

The young man stared at him for a few seconds and nodded his head humbly, “You’re... you’re an angel, aren’t you? You were sent by God to help me out...”

“You’re correct. And God has a message for you: He loves you, Roy Taylor. He’s always watching over you like a loving Father because that’s what He is to you: a Father who only wants the best for His child, and Who is very proud of your latest action, despite all the mistakes you’ve made before.”

Moved with emotion, the young man swallowed hard, “Will He ever forgive me?”

Andrew came closer to him and gently placed his hand over his shoulder, “He has already forgiven you, Roy, for He can see inside your heart and He knows how much you regret the things you’ve done. On the night of the accident, when you made your decision to help those people and not to turn your back on them, you proved you’re His child.”

A tearful smile appeared on his face as he heard that, “You were right... Knowing that I made a difference... that my actions made other people’s lives better does feel good.”

“So never forget that, as much as things are difficult for you.”

“I won’t. And I promise you the same way I promised God that things will be different from now on.”

***

Monica sighed deeply as she admired her surroundings on that beautiful and sunny day. She had been walking nearby the cabin, in between tall green trees and feeling the soft grass on her feet at each slow step she gave. The sky was blue, with just a few white clouds passing by, and the smell of flowers filled her lungs with a pleasant scent that resembled her own perfume. As the soft breeze blew slightly stronger she reached up quickly to hold her charming hat and stop it from flying, and didn’t see the amused look in Andrew’s face as he approached her. But in her own face, there was a smile in reply, as she could feel his presence at the moment he arrived there.

The strong connection that put them together was indeed strong and blessed.

As she turned around to face him, Andrew quickened his steps and was right by her side in a heartbeat, gently wrapping his arm around her small body.

“Assignment fulfilled, Angel...” he spoke, burying his face on her shoulder, smelling the sweet perfume of her auburn hair.

“I’m happy to hear it, Andrew, but not surprised at all, you know. The Father chose the perfect angel to accomplish His will.” She replied, returning his warm hug.

He pulled away and gently cupped her cheek, admiring her meek features for a few seconds. “He also chose the perfect angel to be by my side, helping me out all the way, even though I didn’t realise it immediately. And not only during this assignment, but fortunately in all the moments of my existence.” Saying that, he bent his head and lay a gentle kiss on her forehead, holding her tightly once again afterwards. “You know what saddens me, Angel? The fact that I want to find the words to thank you, but... as hard as I try, nothing I can think can express what I really feel inside.”

“You have nothing to thank me for, Andrew... I’m always by your side because I love you very, very much. You’re my very dear friend, who came as a blessing from the Father to me... Even though I didn’t realise immediately...”

He gently pulled away and shook his head in disagreement, “No, Angel... The blessing here is you... and I was the one to receive it when we first met.”

Then, he searched inside his pocket for a roundish velvet box, “I have something here that belongs to you...”

With a permanent smile, she took the little box in her hands and before opening it, she ran her slender fingers on its soft material, staring at it for a few seconds. “I knew you would give it back to me soon, Andrew.”

“All the time, even in the most difficult moments, I would look at it and remember how much you trusted me... and that I could never ever let you down... I know I’ve failed it but, angel, I just-”

“Please, Andrew, don’t say that, you never failed! Your assignment was brilliantly fulfilled and you made all the difference for a troubled young man; you saved his life in many ways... And I know that in all the moments of this assignment you did what you thought was the right thing to do; I know you were trying to protect me, trying to keep me away from evil...”

Still sad to think about all the things that had happened in the last few weeks, he nodded his head resignedly. “I was, and I will always be, Monica. From anything that can harm you... I know God is watching over you and I do trust Him wholeheartedly, but staying away from you... Not worrying about you, angel, is unthinkable to me...” he tenderly ran his index finger along her jaw, “There’s no way I’d just leave the best present I was ever given alone in this world.”

Watching (and enjoying) as her smile grew wider and as her eyes were shining, he encouraged her, “C’mon, it’s yours, open it!”

Monica knew her necklace with the angel pendant was inside the small box; when she opened it and took the shining golden chain in her hands, however, she noticed there was a new pendant hanging in it. And she absolutely loved it.

“A Celtic knot! Oh, Andrew, it’s so beautiful!” she exclaimed, with the exact childlike excitement that he had imagined. Monica took a close look at the sequence of knots and braids intrinsically connected that formed the pendant.

“Yes. The gentleman who sold it to me said something that many humans aren’t aware of, but which was good to hear. He said that the Celtic knot represents the connection of everything to everything. No matter how our lives may twist, turn and overlap, they all fit together as a part of a wonderful whole. No beginning. No end. Just one of God’s beautiful creations.”

The Irish angel finally turned her eyes from her new gift to face him, with a few tears threatening to fall from her eyes despite the broad smile that continued to beam all over her face, “Sounds like a wonderful person then...”

“Well, that was exactly what he said about you when I told him it was a present! But I also have to add that it represents our friendship, Angel. One of God’s beautiful creations that will never end. And which I’ll treasure for my whole existence, I promise.”

“I know...”

Enjoying as she blushed deeply, he took the jewel in his hands, “Allow me?”

“Sure!”

She took off her hat (which had also been a present from her dearest friend) and turned around. Andrew gently pulled her long hair to the side and then placed the necklace around her neck, fastening the clasp and making her turn around again. Now two pendants hung in there and he knew how much that small gift represented to her.

Moved with emotion, Monica wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly, now finally allowing the tears to roll down her cheeks. “It’ll stay with me forever through the centuries, Andrew... And... And I want you to know that I love you very much...” she said, brushing a tearful kiss on his face.

“I know that too, sweetie... And I have another surprise for you...” he said, gently wiping her tears away.

“Another surprise?” she wanted to know, in between sobs.

“Yep!”

Enjoying to see the curious expression on her face, and deeply moved to see how she tried to fight back the tears without much success, Andrew reached for her both hands and held them tightly. “Close your eyes, Angel.”

She eyed him for a few moments, trying to sort out what he had in mind, but it only made him more amused. “I...” The little angel was going to say something else, but sensing that he wouldn’t tell her anything else, she just sighed with resignation and nodded, “... okay...”

Chuckling, Andrew kissed the back of her hands as soon as she closed her eyes and, on the following second, they disappeared from the clearing.

***

The couple of angels reappeared on a vast green field, with a few equally green mountains in the background and the deep blue sea not far from them. Andrew let go of her hands and stood right behind her, placing his own hands over her shoulder.

“Andrew?” she said, burning with curiosity and with expectation.

“Open your eyes, Monica.”

As she obliged him, more tears of emotion immediately pricked her brown pools at the realisation of where she was. “Oh... my beloved Ireland...” her voice came out as a whisper and she had to cover her mouth and stifle a sob, not believing that she was actually there.

“I promised you that we would take a few days off when this assignment was over and I don’t think there’s a better place to take you other than here...” the blond angel spoke, tenderly rubbing her upper arms up and down, feeling deep inside his own heart all the emotions that the little angel was feeling.

“It’s been so long since I last visited these fields...” Monica was trembling so much that he settled his hands over her shoulders for support, slightly worried about her. “We’ve been given a few days off, Angel, and we’ll spend them here.”

Now she turned around to face him, wiping her face as tears blinded her sweet brown pools, “Really?”

“Yes. I didn’t forget the promise I made you a while ago. I told you that when my assignment finished, I’d ask the Father a special permission to take you to a beautiful place, where you could walk around barefoot and enjoy the nature. I have to confess that I was already thinking about Ireland then.” His reassuring smile and the familiar smell of the green grass that reached her nose gave her all the certainty that she needed; that wasn’t a dream, that was the sweetest and purest reality.

With a trembling smile, she looked around her once again, and then finally up to the blue sky, “Oh, Father... Thank You... Thank you so much for this present... You really know my heart...”

“He sure does, baby...” Andrew stood right in front of her, and placed a few strands of her hair behind her ears.

“You know my heart too, Andrew.”

“Well, yes, I guess I do, but I’m sure neither the Father nor me want you to cry...” the blond angel gently started to wipe her tears away once again, but his sweet friend couldn’t help nodding and shedding new ones.

“I know...” Sniffling, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest, “... but I can’t avoid it...”

With infinite patience, and a warm smile, he kissed the top of her head and sighed, “I know... and I’m always here to wipe those tears away, wishing that all of them are tears of happiness.”

“Thank you, Andrew... It’s such a special present...”

“You don’t have to thank me, baby.”

When they finally parted, Andrew wrapped his arms around her shoulders and they started a calm, slow walk through the vast green field ahead of them.

“What about Tess and Joy?”

“Well, Tess said that she’ll stay with our little one and that they’ll meet us in a few days. But if you want me to go and ask her to keep Joy, I-”

“Oh, no, it’s alright... It’s not fair to leave Tess all alone while we’re here...”

“Yes, you’re right. And now let’s get going, cause we’ll be camping here for today and then set off in a small road trip to the south. You’re my host now, Angel! I’ve been to Ireland just once, and we were working then. Now that we have some time off you’ll be the one in charge of showing me the place around!”

Her giggling filled the air and was music to his hears, “I’ll be happy to, Andrew!”

The two angels walked away in the vast field, heading to a spot where it was possible to see some camping material, tents that should be pitched up, logs for the fire and two backpacks. Their hearts were lighter and, at the same time, filled with expectation about the forthcoming days, which they hoped were blessed with happiness and much peace. Laughing and chatting happily, they watched as a white dove crossed the blue sky, flying with the soft breeze that blew in the fields of Monica’s beloved Ireland.

The end