CHAPTER 10

When Monica opened up her eyes on the following day her beloved Andrew had already left. She knew that would happen, it wasn't a surprise to her. But especially considering the latest events, his absence was amazingly more painful to bear. She let out a sigh and looked at her surroundings, wondering what that new day would bring but also remembering that at least she wouldn't have to deal with the inmate who had hurt her on the previous morning. Flashbacks of Sheila's attack kept playing on her mind whenever she closed her eyes like a permanent nightmare, and in an attempt to cast them away she bowed her head and conjoined her hands.

"Father, please, give me the courage that I seem to have lost... Help me, please... I so want to fulfil your assignment... I so want to help this young woman who seems as miserable as I am in here..."

And then she prayed in silence for the following minutes, until a move on the doorknob interrupted her. It was the doctor who took care of her followed by Tess. "Oh, you're awake already! It's a good sign then!" she said, and proceeded in examining the patient that had touched her heart and raised her compassion for other human beings - something she seemed to have long forgotten. Monica looked at Tess and the supervisor's gaze back at her was one of encouragement and that, besides Andrew, there was another angel watching over her.

Some time later, as the doctor predicted, Monica was free from the infirmary and back to stay with the other inmates. It was still breakfast time and Tess walked with her up to the place where food was served and made sure she got a tray with it.

"Now you heard the doctor, you have to eat. This human form of yours has to be strong until this situation is over and you know how angel boy and I worry about it!" the supervisor spoke, the tone of her voice a severe and caring one.

The little angel let out a tired sigh as they walked. "I know... I know how much you two worry about me and sometimes... sometimes I feel ashamed of causing so much trouble..."

Tess' frowned at hearing those words. She stood before Monica and made her stop walking. "Now you listen to me, Miss Wings! Don't you ever think of apologizing because of that! Yes, we worry very, very much about you because we love you! Besides, you're here doing God's work, which makes Andrew and I amazingly proud of you!"

Those words, spoke in a harsh, scolding way, warmed the Irish angel's heart and caused a tiny smile to appear in the corner of her lips. "I love you so much, Tess..." she said, tilting her head and looking at the supervisor with admiration and gratitude.

"And don't I know that?" she replied, matter-of-factly, causing Monica's smile to grow wider. "And I cannot hold you here, we're in public, and among the other inmates."

"I know..."

Tess's face then softened as she realized it was time to leave her dearest friend. "You take care of yourself, baby. I'll be watching over Sheila's friends so that they don't get in your way."

As the supervisor left, Monica found herself alone again, standing amongst strangers who didn't care if she existed or not. She made no difference in there - at least, not at first as no one would have thought that an angel of God had been sent to that prison in order to perform a miracle.

And on that morning this miracle seemed a bit closer to be achieved. The Irish angel spotted in between the many inmates, hidden in a corner and invisible to the others, Abby.

"Excuse me... may I sit here?" Monica asked, carefully approaching the solitary inmate. Abby shrugged her shoulders and the angel took a seat in front of her. Carefully placing her tray on the long, decayed wooden table, she spoke again. "I wanted to thank you for what you did for me yesterday..."

"You should stay away from Sheila. She doesn't like you and that means you have a problem." The woman replied, not facing her back.

"When I first came in here I thought no one cared... I felt... extremely lonely and prayed to God asking for reassurance... And after yesterday's episode I realized that I was wrong... that someone was still capable of caring..."

Abby stopped eating. "Seems you're luckier than me, then..."

"Do you have a family?"

The young woman sighed, obviously that question brought up immediate sad memories. "Yes..."

"And... do they come to visit you?"

She shook her head. "They're far away..."

"Then I trust you're in their thoughts all the time..."

Finally, the young woman raised her head and looked at Monica. "And then I'd say you trust too much..."

So much disbelief and lack of faith did shock the Irish angel, and at that moment she could somewhat see herself mirrored in Abby. That made her want to help her even more. "I do... Even though I have moments of doubt, but then I'm always proved that I'm wrong and confronted with reassurance."

"Wish I could say the same..." Abby said, more to herself than to Monica.

"Someone who is ready to help people like you did yesterday has a lot of potential to believe. When you saw Sheila attacking me you were quick to call for help without expecting anything in return and was aware that your act of kindness could be dangerous to you. And yet, you did help me."

For the first time, the inmate looked at her. "There's no hope for me, you see..."

"Oh, yes, there is. You're God's child too, Abby. All of us are. When I first got here I guess I forgot this fact... but we're all deserving... you are deserving too."

"Thanks for your words, Monica, but... I guess I gave up believing this..." she stood up and started to walk away. Monica also rose to her feet and gave a few steps.

"And I cannot believe that someone who acts the way you acted yesterday could have done something so terrible up to the point to be here..." the angel spoke, causing the inmate to stop. Something in those words did have an impact.