CHAPTER 5

Monica kept her head low all the time as Tess conducted her to her cell. The idea of confinement caused a lump to form in her throat and she anticipated all the anguish that would take over her soul once she was left there. When the older angel made a stop before her temporary shelter, though, something did surprise Monica.

"I'm alone in the cell?"

"There were other two inmates here but they were transferred yesterday." the supervisor informed, and watching the doubt that insisted on remaining in the angel's eyes, she added, "And baby, you know you'll never be alone here..."

Monica sighed deeply, seeking in the depths of her soul the courage to face that challenge. "Yes, I know..." she reached for Tess' hand and squeezed it, "Thank you..."

It was almost at the end of the afternoon when the little angel was delivered to the state prison and placed on a cold cell. Monica didn't see it at first, but there was a reason why she was the only one in that small space. Much to her surprise, time passed fast that evening and soon there was dinner time and the siren echoed through the entire prison building, announcing it was time to go back to their cells.

Monica lay down in her bed, with her knees drawn up to her chest and staring at an invisible point ahead of her. And once there was darkness in the corridor, she felt her heart beat a little faster. Darkness always surrounded her in the worst moments of her existence...

But then again, all of a sudden, she felt a pair of strong arms around her, holding her tightly. Her soul was immediately involved by the warmth coming from another angel's love, as powerful and devoted as hers.

"It's okay, angel... I'm here with you..." Andrew's voice whispered against her ear came as a flood of relief to her troubled heart. He was glowing in his angelic form and she immediately turned around to wrap her arms around his torso, head up against his strong chest and eyes finally closed as now she didn't have to be afraid of what darkness could bring - God had sent her a guardian angel to shield her from any harm.

"... I spent the day hoping for this moment to come, so that I could hold you in my arms like this once again..." he said, daring to tighten the hold around her small form a bit more, taking in the great sadness that had invaded her gentle heart.

"Why do I feel so scared, Andrew?" her voice came out as a whisper and she felt the light touch of his lips against her forehead. "I feel such a failure for being so afraid to do my duties as a messenger of God..."

"You should never say that!" he gently, yet firmly, admonished. "You're scared now because this gentle heart of yours has been hurt so many times lately."

"I should let it go by now... Otherwise what do I serve for?"

With infinite patience, Andrew cupped her chin and lifted her head up so that she could look at him. The only source of light was coming from the lamp at the beginning of the corridor and it was enough to allow her to see his green pools gazing at her. They were filled with nothing but trust and deep love.

"I could spend the whole eternity counting the reasons for your existence, but it wouldn't be enough..." he said, wanting nothing but to take that fear away from her heart. "And if you are here, baby, if God sent you here it's because He knows you are the only one who can accomplish his assignment. You and I know that His plan is perfect."

"Then why don't I feel ready?"

"Monica... angel, listen to me... Remember that little girl you saved in a ski station? Remember how you were ready to give up on you in order to save that innocent child?"

The little angel bit her lower lip at that memory and she knew he was telling the truth - she would do anything to save wee Sarah from dying with cold and hunger in that cave, lost up in the cold mountains after an avalanche had trapped them.

"I... I would never let anything bad happen to that little girl..."

"I know that, and so does God. And that's why you're here now, baby. Someone might need you as much as that child, who would have certainly died if it wasn't by the presence of an angel by her side all the time."

"What if I fail?"

He shook his head. "You won't. For I know that here in my arms I hold a very precious treasure in the form of an angel, and I know that this little angel can face the most difficult challenges because she has a wonderful heart, filled with much love. It has touched so many lives before... it has touched my existence too, and in a way that I'll never ever forget."

The power of his gaze was such that Monica felt like he could see deep inside her very soul. The beauty of his loving feelings managed to flood her spirit and renew it, and for the first time since that assignment had started, she felt at peace. Gently cupping her cheek, Andrew brushed a gentle kiss against her forehead and then, watching as she never broke their gaze, he bent his head and slowly crossed the small distance between them. He brushed his lips against hers so gently, so lightly that it really felt like an angel's caress, a reminder of how much she was loved. Now and always.

Invisible to the human eye, Tess watched as her angel babies held each other, when Monica was already fast asleep in the arms of her dearest friend. Andrew, on the other hand, remained with his green eyes permanently focused on his precious treasure, either stroking her auburn hair, partially fallen over his arm, or whispering loving words into her ear, chasing any possible nightmare away. He even chuckled as she unconsciously snuggled closer to his neck, as if begging him to stay a bit more. And Andrew smiled and kissed her forehead, certain that to him she was the most beautiful, the most special, the most loved amongst all God's creations.

When the morning sun crossed the blue sky, the Irish angel who would marvel at the intensity of its rays and offer her prayers of thanks opened up her eyes. Even though she couldn't see the morning colors and the beautiful art work signed by God, she did feel better. Andrew's arms were no longer holding her small form, but the memory of his loving presence and especially of his loving and reassuring words whispered against her ears managed to touch her soul.

She sat down in her bed and conjoined her hands, closing her eyes afterwards. "Father, please forgive me for doubting that I was capable of fulfilling this assignment, because in a way I was doubting You. If You put me here, it's because You trust me, and because I can be useful somehow..." she prayed, "Thank You for making me realize it... for sending an angel to speak to my heart the words that I needed to hear... I feel so grateful..."

"He knows that, baby."

That sudden but familiar voice caused Monica to raise her head up again. Tess was standing at her cell door and had brought her breakfast. Time passed slowly that morning, but the certainty of an assignment yet to be accomplished made it bearable now. It was finally lunchtime and the inmates headed to a large patio where food was served and where they would eat.

Monica picked up her plate with food and headed to the huge table that lay on the patio. Still with some apprehension, she gazed at all those women walking around and eating their lunch, trying to imagine what terrible thing they had done to be sentenced to live in a place like that, far from home, far from their loved ones. She had been there for a day and even with her dearest friends' loving presence she had found imprisonment hard to bear; but what about someone who had been an inmate for years, trapped like an animal inside a cell with only a few square feet and granted with just an hour of sun per day?

The Irish angel soon spotted an empty place to sit and walked towards it when suddenly a tall and strong woman, with an aggressive, rather threatening expression on her face bumped into her and Monica saw her dish fall on the floor.

"Hey, when I walk, you get outta my way..." she said, and her voice was equally intimidating. Her hair color was fading and she looked older than she probably was, and judging by the way she was staring at the scared little angel it was far too clear that she would have to spend years locked in that prison. "...if you know what's good for ya..." she added and then left.

Monica looked at her food now spread on the floor and then back at the unfriendly inmate. Frowning a little, she thought for a few seconds and then decided to follow the woman and talk to her. But before she did, the little angel heard another voice coming from behind her.

"Don't do it if you know what's best for you..."

Monica turned around and saw a short thin woman. She had long dark hair and the color of her skin revealed that she hadn't been exposed to the sun lately. But what called Monica's attention the most was the great sadness that she could see in the woman's eyes. That look of anguish and despair was the same she had held in her eyes since she had been arrested in that dark alley and accused of a crime she hadn't committed.

"I didn't mean to-" the little angel spoke, but the woman cut her off.

"I know. And she knows that too." Saying that, the woman turned around and started to walk, but something made Monica insist on speaking to her.

"I'm sorry, I..."

The inmate, however, didn't seem the kind of person who enjoyed talking. Much on the contrary. Anyone who looked at her could notice how introspective and shy she seemed to be, and the hint of fear and defeat in her eyes. She walked away from Monica without saying anything else, and the angel elected not to insist, at least now. But with her doe-like eyes, she followed the woman's steps and saw it when she sat down away from everyone.

Something about that inmate had touched her heart.