Chapter 20

                            Having moved to the living room of the apartment from Monica’s bedroom, Tess now sat on the comfortable

                            couch, her head buried deep into her hands as she lifted up prayer after prayer for her two friends…her “Angel

                            Babies”…

                            The 15 minutes that had passed since she found out about the fire seemed like an eternity as the desperate

                            angel felt her heart beating more wildly than ever and her patience growing very thin. She had been waiting

                            for word from the Father to go and help her friends, but she still hadn’t received that calling to do so…

                            Which started to annoy Tess even more.

                            “Father, please!” she cried, tears rolling down her chocolate-colored skin as she clenched her hands even

                            tighter together as she prayed. "Please…let me help my Babies…Oh, please God…”

                            Not knowing if she had the strength to even continue on in her prayers, the supervisor angel lifted her

                            clenched hands up to her brown, tear-filled eyes and wept into them, shaking her head at the very thought of

                            what was happening to Andrew and Monica at that very instant. Her friends were trapped…and she was

                            unable to go to them…

                            But, suddenly, just as the angel was about to lose her composure for good, she all of a sudden felt a tugging

                            at her heart and a gentle Voice whisper into her ear, full of love and understanding. Removing her trembling

                            hands from her eyes, Tess looked up at the ceiling and listened to what the Father was telling her…her heart

                            souring as she paid close attention.

                            “You must go to them now, My child,” He lovingly whispered into her ear as her heart continued to pound

                            rapidly. “You must. Go to them now and help them…And remember, Tess, I am with you, Andrew and Monica

                            always, even until the end of the earth…”

                            Her tears flowing faster than ever before, the older angel didn’t bother to wipe away the wetness on her

                            cheeks as she lifted up a smile to Heaven, a weak, trembling smile of thanks to the One Who loved them so

                            much and was with them.

                            “Thank You, Father,” she whispered, quickly standing to her feet, her arms wrapped around herself. “Thank

                            You…and please forgive me for my anger…I’m just so worried about those two…”

                            “Of course you’re forgiven, My dear angel,” the Father replied softly and reassuringly. “Of course…You know I

                            love you, Andrew and Monica. Now go and help them, My child…They need you.”

                            Giving her head a slight nod, Tess quickly walked down the hall to the closet and opened it, grabbing her

                            heavy overcoat before rushing to the front door and opening it. Quickly slamming it shut, the angel rushed off

                            into the cold night—having now been transformed into her angelic form—to help her dear friends…

                            The friends that she loved with her whole heart and soul…

                            *****

                            Feeling himself growing weaker as the minutes passed, Andrew continued to grip Monica’s shaky hands tightly

                            in his own as he forced himself to stay alert. Trying to take as deep of breaths as possible from the cool air

                            through the open window, the angel opened his eyes and turned them on Monica’s face before him.

                            His best friend sat close to him on the hard floor, her eyes still turned onto the orange flames that were slowly

                            making their way closer and closer to them. Her hands gripping Andrew’s more tightly, the Irish angel leaned

                            up against her friend as she felt herself grow woozy and lightheaded. The smoke now practically filling up the

                            entire attic and the flames only growing closer with each passing second, Monica closed her eyes tightly as

                            she found herself having trouble breathing correctly again.

                            Her body shaking with another round of coughing from the smoke she found herself inhaling, the angel fought

                            her hardest to stay conscious as she thought she heard Andrew’s concerned and loving voice call her name.

                            But the fight seemed impossible as she felt her body growing more weak than ever…before blacking out, the

                            last few thoughts entering her mind were that her best friend, Andrew, would be safe and get out okay…