CHAPTER 8

Monica slept during the entire afternoon, under Andrew's attentive and worried eyes. The blond angel remained by her side, gently caressing her hair and praying for her recovery. She was so weak, so fragile that he even wished she went back Home, in her angelic form. That way she would be protected from all the harm there was in this world. But a sudden thought made his heart ache with despair and deep sadness: her leaving could mean her staying away from him maybe for the rest of eternity.

But was he ready to let her go away from him once again? Was he going to give up on her for the second time, even if that was the only way to save her? Frowning with concern, and trying hard not to think about it, Andrew bent his head and kissed her cheek lovingly. Then, he stood up and walked over up to the window. The angel squinted his eyes, trying to see beyond the trees and bushes that surrounded the small cabin, his ears trying to capture any small sound that could bear resemblance with footsteps. He wondered if those men were away, if they'd given up on looking for her or if they remained following them.

"Father... Please, help me... show me what to do to save her... Make her heal, I know You can." He quietly prayed.

Andrew remained by the window for some time, wondering if someday he would be able to just enjoy Monica's loving company, her laughter and her sweet manners once again. Although she would always treat everyone who met her with kindness and affection he knew perfectly well that he was the one to receive most of her love and attention, as the little angel would never hide that a great part of her affection was dedicated to him.

Time passed slowly that night but finally the first sun rays shone through the horizon and the stars in the sky started to disappear. Andrew's memory went back in time and a bittersweet smile appeared on his handsome face as he remembered a day at the beach, a while ago.

(Andrew's flashback)

The blond angel had been walking along the deserted beach for a few minutes, with the gentle morning breeze disarraying his short blond hair and the warm sun rays on his face. At some point, he stopped his walk and looked around, visibly searching for something or, in that case, for someone. And a broad smile appeared on his face as he saw a pretty auburn lady sitting on the white sand, with her long hair flying up with the wind and wearing a loose white dress that went up to her ankles.

With her knees drawn up to her chest, she was drawing abstract patterns on the soft sand when Andrew arrived. He chuckled, imagining what could be there in her mind as she drew. But the also saw as her lips curved into a sweet smile even though she remained with her eyes fixed on the sand – she felt his presence even from the distance through the connection they shared. The blond angel knelt right next to her and kissed the top of her head, taking a seat right by her side.

"Hey, angel."

It was then that Monica finally stopped her drawings and turned her head to face him, her smile now ten times broader, melting his heart over and over again. "Hullo, Andrew."

"You seem rather concentrated on your... drawings!" he said, observing the childish traces along the sand.

"Oh, in fact I'm not sure of what those are... I drew these while was thinking about some things, you know."

"Oh, I see..." the blond angel knew her well enough to know that she was arranging her thoughts before voicing them to him and he waited patiently until she spoke again, "I'm a wee bit embarrassed, you know, Andrew..."

"Embarrassed?" he frowned with concern. Monica nodded, "... and a little ashamed..."

She tried to avert her eyes and turn her face to the ocean in front of them but Andrew cupped her chin and made her look at him again, "Monica, angel, did something happen? Why can I see a trace of sadness in your eyes, baby?"

"You'll think it's silly of me..."

"Of course I won't..." he tenderly caressed her cheek, "Please, tell me what happened."

"Nothing really happened... It's just that... well... I was just sad because I was here, looking at the ocean and then I remembered I'm afraid of water... I'm embarrassed for being afraid of something that God created..."

He raised his eyebrows with that confession and immediately pulled her against him, in a warm embrace. "Oh, angel, there's no reason for you to feel sad!"

"I can't help it, Andrew... I just wish I didn't feel like this..." she sighed with resignation, and rested her head over his shoulder.

Andrew was silent for a few minutes, tenderly caressing her hair while drifting in his own thoughts. Then he turned to her once again, "May I ask you something?"

"Of course you can, Andrew."

"Come with me?"

"Yes... but where are we going?" she wanted to know, taking his proffered hand.

"We're going to take a walk on the beach, sweetie."

Hand in hand, both angels strolled along the sand, watching the sun rising in the horizon, "This has been the best part of the day so far!" he said, not missing the slight smile back on her face.

"Yes... And I have to confess that walking barefoot is good. But walking barefoot in the sand and with you is even better!"

Laughing, he stopped walking and looked at her face, "You're a gift, Monica. A present from God that I'll never be able to thank enough for."

"You're a present too, Andrew. The best present I could ever receive."

Her blushing face, along with those sweet doe like eyes and the way she looked at him made his heart skip a beat with so much love. How come that sweet creature could even exist? And what's more: how could he ever exist without that adorable angel? At that very moment, he concluded that it was not possible. Not anymore.

"I want you to feel the ocean water on your feet..." he kissed the palm of her hand smiling reassuringly at her. "Don't be afraid, I'll be holding your hand all the time."

He loved her a bit more when he saw that she was making a huge effort in gathering all her courage and follow him, "Okay..."

They walked towards the water and, never releasing her hand, the blond angel instructed his beloved friend, "Let your feet get wet by the water foam."

"Okay..." the meek and at the same time scared expression on her face, and the way she bit her lower lip melted his heart for the hundredth time. An excited yelp escaped her when the cold water touched her delicate skin and he felt her squeezing his hand. Andrew watched as, little by little, Monica got accustomed with the water and with the small waves gently crashing against her ankles. Becoming bolder, she gave a few more steps into the water and giggled at the ticklish sensation produced by the waves.

The blond angel just stood there, lost in awe as he watched the little angel enjoying herself for the first time, winning the battle against her own fears. Her innocent, childlike manners seemed to hypnotise him and fill his heart with a wave of tenderness and affection he'd never felt before. A slight smile crossed his handsome face when she touched the water for the first time, never releasing the hold on his hand.

The minutes that passed since then were never counted and both angels would surely remain like that for a good part of their eternity. Noticing that her initial fear was finally gone and that she was now enjoying herself, Andrew chuckled and whispered into her ear, "Looks like a certain little angel is having a really good time in the water!"

She turned to face him – their faces only a few inches from each other, and her broad smile would be etched in his memory forever, "I am!"

Andrew couldn't resist and kissed her cheek lovingly and tenderly, surprised when she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly, "Thank you..." she whispered, resting her head against his strong chest. Overwhelmed with emotion, he wrapped her in a warm embrace and kissed the top of her head repeatedly. "I'm the one who is grateful, angel. Eternally grateful."

(End of Andrew's flashback)

A slight smile crossed his face as that happy memory came to his mind. Maybe it was then that he started to realise how much he loved her. And he promised himself that someday he would make her happy again, as happy as in that perfect moment.

But a sudden noise took him out of his reverie and he looked at the now light blue sky: some birds were flying up in the tree tops, apparently scared by the movement in the woods, and that could only mean one thing: those two men were close to the cabin.

With his heart racing, he walked over up to the bed and gently caressed Monica's face, "Angel? Baby, wake up, please..."

He waited patiently until she opened her eyes and looked at him a bit confusedly, "Andrew?"

"Baby... how are you feeling?" he wanted to know, helping her sit down in bed.

"I'm... I'm not sure..."

"Do you think you can walk?"

"Walk? Why? What's happening?" she was immediately alarmed by the urgency in the tone of his voice. Trying not to scare her even more, he lay a gentle hand against her forehead and checked her temperature, frowning with deep concern as he noticed her fever was giving no signs of receding.

"I was thinking... It's morning already and if we leave now we can find help easily." She could easily see in his green pools that there was something wrong, something he wasn't telling her, she could even feel the urgency coming from his heart.

Biting her lower lip and not wanting to lie to him, she sighed, "I... I guess I could make it if... if you help me..."

"Are you sure?" he asked, hating to force her to do that.

"Y-yes..."

"Ok... then I'll pack something for you to drink and we're leaving now."

He had no other choice, they were running a huge risk remaining at the cabin and he had to find help, especially because Monica's condition was getting worse every minute and her human form wouldn't resist longer. Dreading to think about it, he placed a bottle of water and a can of soup inside an old bag and placed it on his shoulder.

Despite being terribly sick, Monica was aware of Andrew's anguish and worry about her physical condition. She could feel it through the connection both angels had established since from their first meeting, many years ago. Besides this, the Irish angel could also feel great sadness and regret inside his heart. He was truly sorry for lying about his true feeling for her. As a matter of fact, even though she was still deeply hurt, she knew how terribly scared he was about losing her.

"Andrew?"

"Yes, baby? Is there something wrong?" he immediately sat across from her, taking her hand and squeezing it tightly.

"No, I'm... I'm just so grateful, you know... For having you by my side..." she reached out and touched his face, noticing all his emotion and sadness, "... there's no other angel the Father could've sent other than you... And He and I know you're accomplishing your assignment wonderfully."

Lost for words, Andrew tenderly caressed her cheek, "I'll only say I've accomplished it when you're safe and totally healed, baby. You're the most precious thing I have and I won't lose you a second time, that I promised myself."

Shedding a lonely tear, she wrapped her arms around his neck, in a weak hug that filled his heart with a multitude of loving and at the same time sorrowful feelings. "Don't thank me, angel... I don't deserve it... Just know that I'll do everything I can to protect you..."

"I know..." she weakly replied, closing her eyes for a brief moment, also lost in a flood of emotion. When they parted, he gently lay both hands against her cheeks and brushed a tender kiss on her forehead. Andrew helped the little angel stand on her feet and wrapped a supportive arm around her waist, "Lean on me, angel. When you feel tired I want you to tell me, ok? We can stop a little so that you can rest."

"Okay..."