CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

The angel of God walked along an open field, surrounded by green trees and where colorful flowers were spread along the way. A series of valleys could be seen at a distance, and their emerald green would meet the bluest of the skies high above. There was a stream of crystalline water crossing the land and a gentle breeze was blowing up against the angel's face. There, night and darkness were non-existent, and the gentle sunrays only emphasized the beauty of that place.

But the angel of God was also the angel of death, and despite the heavenly scenario around him, he had sad expression on his face. With hands tucked in his pockets, he kept his head low, a turmoil of tragic memories permanently playing on his mind like a painful flashback. His steps were slow but heavy, like his very soul, and at a certain moment he finally stopped his lonely walk.

Sighing deeply, he finally turned his emerald eyes to the horizon, searching for an answer to a silent question, seeking for comfort to his troubled angelic heart. The same heart that was deeply hurt by human beings' attitudes all over the centuries. The same heart that ached at seeing a God's child suffering either from illness or due to the atrocities perpetrated by mankind.

And the same heart that longed for another little angel; the one and only angel who had the ability to fill his soul with much love and tenderness in a world of chaos, and who had left a permanent imprint in his heart. A soul mate who, at that very moment, was far from him doing their Father's work some place on Earth.

Andrew sat down on a small rock and took off a small lilac from his pocket. He had picked it far behind when he started his long walk, after escorting one more soul to her permanent Home. Maybe having that small flower in his hand was a way to remind him of Monica's presence, of having at least something to hold on to once she was not by his side. Sighing deeply, he observed the small plant for a while and then turned to look at the green valleys once again.

But a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I've just heard it. Another victim."

As an angel of death like Andrew, Adam knew exactly how his friend and co-worker was feeling, as he too had been through the same situation along his existence.

"He first beat her badly, but enough to keep her conscious. Then he raped her. And finally, when she was feeling like dirt, he slit her throat." The bitter tone in his voice managed to translate some of the sorrow and anger he was feeling inside. "Sometimes, Adam, I wish I could spend a century or two here, at my Home, just waiting for the day when the human race learns what being a God's child means. But then I realize that when those two centuries are over I will go back to Earth and find out that some men continued as evil and repulsive as when I left. No matter how much technologies and knowledge develop, the human being keeps on proving he has learned nothing but to allow evil enter their hearts." He said, and then turned to look at his friend. "I feel defeated, Adam."

His co-worker frowned and nodded his head. "I know how it feels. But I also know that there will be a moment when your soul will be healed and then you'll feel there's still hope. Love will send the sadness and anger away."

The blond angel looked at the lilac in his hand. "I just doubt this moment will come so soon."

Adam noticed he was fidgeting with the small flower and immediately understood the other reason to Andrew's grief. "You and Monica haven't seen each other recently, have you?"

"No..."

Andrew remembered the last time he and Monica had spoken. He had put her abilities in check, he had doubted she could take care of herself and of her assignment, and spoke hurtful words that went straight to her gentle heart. They had been apart since then - both due to their work as God's angels, and also to Monica's wish that they should be away in order to understand and learn how to deal with feelings of protectiveness and confidence.

In the human beings' time, it had been almost two painful months; in Andrew's heart, a painful eternity.

"Once I've heard that sometimes when you love someone so much you end up screwing things up due to excess of protection... It's a fault I might have acquired from the same human beings I'm disappointed in right now."

"That might be true. But you know what, Andrew? Like humans, angels are not perfect. They do make mistakes and then learn from them. If there's love, every word that was spoken without thinking will be forgiven." A slight smile appeared on his lips as he concluded. "And knowing you and Monica, I'd say that there sure is much love to last for a thousand years."

A small, bittersweet smile also formed on Andrew's face, "I love her a lot more than that, Adam..."

"I know that! I was just trying to put it into numbers for the sake of explanation!"

The blond angel nodded and then his smile quickly faded away. "There's another reason why I'm worried... After all I've seen lately, I'm afraid for her... I fear that she stays on Earth. It's not a safe place. But then, at the same time, I cannot go and tell her that she should go Home because I'm not God, and she is right where she is supposed to be. And I know she would think I'm doubting she can take care of herself if I told her that." He confessed, and then looked at Adam. "But I do trust her, Adam! I do! I have no doubt about the wonderful, amazing angel she is and how much she can help the ones who need her! It's the human beings I don't trust!"

The other angel of death reflected on his words and finally spoke. "Well, learning how to balance this immense love you feel for Monica will take time, buddy. But you could always go to her and tell her how much you've missed her. It'll be nothing but the truth!"

"Thank you." Andrew said, with a grateful expression on his face.

x

The beautiful lady with Irish accent and long auburn hair walked along the park on that sunny day. She watched as the children played along and the couples remained hand in hand, a loving bond uniting them all. Wearing a long flowered skirt, a lilac sleeveless shirt and a beautiful hat, she carried her sandals in her hands, enjoying the feeling of the soft green grass underneath her bare feet. In her sweet brown eyes, however, there two opposite emotions reflected.

Monica's angelic heart would always cheer at the vision of families set all together, enjoying each other's company, loving one another like all God's creatures were supposed to. On the other hand, watching couples exchanging loving words and caresses brought bittersweet memories to her mind, and made her heart ache. For a while, she knew how it felt to share all her fears and dreams with someone who loved her back with the same intensity. Someone who was also ready to listen to her eternal chattering, hold her tight and soothe her heart whenever she needed.

Yet, this same strong feeling had brought conflict and doubt to their hearts, and now they had to follow different paths in order to erase the pain and make room for a new beginning.

Knowing that allowed the little Irish angel to understand the reason for the emptiness that filled her very soul. It didn't make her accept it that easily though. She stopped her walk and observed as a mother and a father watched as their son gave the first steps all by himself. While they monitored the offspring toddling along the grass, the man bent his head and kissed his wife's cheek, removing the strands of hair off her face and tucking them behind her ear. It was possible to see all his affection in the brightness of his eyes. The little boy's sudden fall drew his attention from her but the parents' words of encouragement made the little one rise to his feet and keep on walking, to finally fall into their loving arms.

Monica wondered if her and Andrew's love was like that small child - yearning to grow, but still unstable as it too was giving its first steps. Suddenly, the Irish angel felt something strange: a mixture of anguish and fear that she couldn't understand from where it was coming.

"Angel girl?"

A dear voice caused her to look up and for a moment she felt relieved. "Tess!"

The older angel and supervisor sat down by her side and wrapped her arm around her shoulders, "Baby, what happened? Why are you crying?"

"Oh, Tess... I... I don't know what's going on... Suddenly I felt so sad... Just so sad I couldn't help but crying!"

"Aw, baby, come here..." she held Monica like a real daughter, "I guess I know the reason for all this sadness... And it has to do with a certain angel of death..."

"I guess partially it has... Tess, I've always longed to know what it was like to have someone who would love me the way human beings do... to experience this bond they share, which is so deep..."

"And I guess now you and Andrew do know how it is!"

"But I didn't know it would make me suffer so much..." fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned to look at the supervisor, searching for an answer, "I miss him so terribly, Tess! Night and day, and all this time I've been apart from him, I wonder where he is, if he is alright... if... if he's still thinking of me..."

Tess nearly laughed at the last statement, and tightened the hold on her, "Oh, baby, of course that angel boy is thinking of you! He loves you so much and it's such a strong bond I've never witnessed in my whole existence! And just for the record, I've existed a long more time than you two together!"

Those words, however, didn't manage to amuse the little Irish angel. Monica lowered her head for a while, trying to understand what was going on inside her very soul, and then looked at Tess once again, "It's not just this, Tess... I feel... I feel like... Andrew is sad... Long ago I found out we both can feel what the other one is feeling... And right now... Right now I can tell his heart is so full of sadness and anguish and pain... What can be causing him so much pain?"

The older angel sighed deeply and caressed her auburn hair. "Baby, Andrew is an angel of death. It is his assignment to escort God's children Home, and most of the times their leaving from Earth is premature. Andrew witnesses sad events every day. That's why he's so sad. Every angel would be."

With tears still rolling down her face, Monica returned the supervisor's warm hug and wondered where her beloved Andrew could be and if he needed her company.

"Do I have another assignment, Tess?" The young angel asked after a moment as she wiped away her tears with a light sigh and a heavy heart.

"As a matter of fact, you do, but not until a little bit later this afternoon. I, however, have my own little assignment until then, but I promise you that I'll be back." She gave her charge an encouraging pat on the shoulder as she stood to her feet.

"Might I go with you?" Monica asked hopefully. She really didn't want to sit here waiting with so many things troubling her.

"Don't worry, baby. I'm sure you'll find something to do to entertain yourself. I'll be back for you before too long."