CHAPTERS 8 & 9

Chapter 8

An hour later, Andrew knocked on Stacey’s dormitory door and waited for an answer.  He was completely unsure of exactly what he was going to say, but Someone was telling him that this was the place to begin.

Stacey opened the door and a puzzled look crossed her face, not recognizing the stranger who stood at her door,

“Can I help you?” She asked, diverting her eyes from the handsome man who smiled warmly at her.  Surely, he had the wrong room.

“Well, I’m hoping you can.  My name is Andrew.  I’m a friend of Monica’s.”  Andrew managed a small smile as he said this.  He watched as Stacey paled slightly at the mention of Monica and he said a silent “Thank You” to the Father for leading him here.

“Look,” Stacey began nervously,

“I don’t know anything about what happened to Monica, okay?  I met her once and the next I heard, she was in the hospital.  Now, I’m sorry for what those guys did to her, but it has nothing to do with me.  Now, if you’ll excuse me--.” She prepared to close the door, but Andrew moved his hand to keep that from happening.

“Stacey,” He began gently, as his eyes looked at her imploringly,

“Please, just give me 5 minutes.”

She sighed and moved aside to let into the room,

“5 minutes,” She repeated, her tone slightly angry, as she closed the door behind her.  Something about this man troubled her deeply; she just couldn’t put her finger on what it was,

“I just don’t see how I can help you.  I don’t know what happened last week--.”

Andrew watched Monica’s assignment carefully, already knowing that she knew a lot more than she was letting on,

“How did you know that some guys did this to Monica?” He saw the puzzled expression on her face and explained,

“You said it a minute ago…you were sorry that ‘those guys did that to her’.”

“That was just a figure of speech,” Stacey replied quickly,

“Are you a cop or something?”

Andrew smiled slightly,

“No, just a friend who is trying to find out what happened so I can help Monica.”

Stacey was quiet for a moment before looking into his eyes,

“How is she doing?”

“Not great,” He replied, glad she had asked,

“She’s in a coma and no one knows why other than it may have to do with what happened.  Something that happened that night may be causing her to not wake up because she is afraid to face it,” He hesitated, wondering if he should continue.  Feeling a gentle “nudge” from Above, he kept going,

“Monica seems to think I was there while the attack took place and I didn’t help her and I cannot figure out why she thinks that--.” Andrew paused, watching as Stacey’s eyes widened and some color drained from her face,

“Are you okay?” He asked, concerned, as he moved closer to her.

“I…I’m fine,” She replied, moving away from him and to the door,

“Your 5 minutes are up.”

Andrew drew in a sharp breath,

“Stacey, if you know something, please…you have to tell me.”

“I’m sorry, Andrew,” She replied, no longer making any attempt to look at him,

“Tell Monica I hope she is better soon.”

Helplessly, Andrew walked out of the room.  He turned to make one last plea, but Stacey shut the door before he could speak.  Frustrated, he leaned up against the wall, hands in his pockets and looked up toward the ceiling,

“Now what, Father?” He asked softly.  He was more disappointed than he wanted to admit.  Andrew knew Stacey knew something, but why was she so afraid to tell the truth?

Late that night, a solitary figure moved steadily through the hospital corridor, stopping in front of Monica’s room.  Her eyes darted around nervously, but not seeing anyone else around, she breathed a sigh of relief.  Carefully, she slipped into the room and closed the door behind her.

Approaching the bed, Stacey drew in a sharp breath.  Though the bruises were beginning to fade on Monica’s lovely face, Stacey could tell just how severe the attack had been.  She felt shame, like a waterfall, wash over her as her hands clenched the metal bar alongside the bed. Nervously, she cleared her throat,

“Hi, Monica…it’s me, Stacey.  I really need to talk to you about some things that you probably need to know.  First, I want to thank you for saving me from those guys. I don’t know why you did it, or why you would want to, but thank you anyway.” She fell silent for a moment, trying to think of how to continue,

“I haven’t slept much since that night, Monica…too many things don’t make sense to me.  Before you got there, I was convinced those guys were going to…to rape me.  I had never seen any of them before and I know that they don’t go to school here.  You’re gonna think I’m crazy, but I think they were there for you, Monica.  Once you got there, they left me alone.  I wanted to help you, but I was afraid to!  I’m so sorry that I didn’t help you!” Stacey lowered her head as several tears spilled onto her cheeks.

Monica listened to Stacey’s words and yearned to be able to help her.  She wanted to tell this poor girl that she understood, that she forgave her.  She started fighting her way back for a moment, but the effort exhausted her.

“There were two other people there too, Monica.  A woman and then the man you were talking to, the man you were calling Andrew, but I met your Andrew today.  He came to see me, trying to find out what happened that night.  Monica, the man I met today was not the man who was there that night.  I wanted to tell him that today—he was so upset about you and about what you thought.  I could see it in his eyes, but I was afraid to say anything,” Stacey drew in a deep breath, trying to control her emotions.

“Oh Andrew,” Monica thought, her heart pounding loudly,

“I’m so sorry I doubted you, my friend.”

“I left you that night because the woman, Kathleen they called her, told me if I uttered a word about this, I’d wish I’d never been born.  So, I left you.  I did come back later though and I saw someone with you.  I realize now it was your Andrew.  I could tell how worried he was and how much he cared about you,” Stacey smiled through her tears,

“You’re a very lucky person, Monica, to have someone care about you like that.  I’d give anything to have someone care for me that way…..”

“Oh Stacey,” Monica’s mind cried out,

“There is Someone who cares about you that much and even more,” She had to wake up!  She had to!

“Anyway,” Stacey continued softly,

“That’s what I wanted to tell you.  I hope you get better soon.  I’d better go.  I really shouldn’t be here at all, but it was worth Kathleen finding out.  I haven’t had a friend in a really long time, Monica.  Maybe one day I can be as good a friend to someone as you’ve been to me.”

Monica listened as Stacey closed the door behind her as she left,

“Oh Father,” She prayed silently, knowing He heard every unspoken word,

“I’ve been so wrong about so many things because instead of listening to You, I followed my own will.  Please forgive me, Father.  Please, let me wake up so I can make everything right again with Your help.”

Feeling forgiveness fill her with complete warmth and love, Monica slowly opened her eyes.

Chapter 9

As Monica opened her eyes, the first thing she was aware of was pain.  Pain in her head, pain from broken ribs and countless aches like none she had ever experienced in human form before.  Tentatively, and with much agony, she sat up, lowered the bar at her bed and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.  As she stood up, Monica realized she was much weaker than she had originally thought, but she kept telling herself that she had to find Andrew and Stacey…she had to find Kathleen.

Kathleen.  Weakly, Monica moved to sit the chair that was beside the bed as she thought about the fallen angel.  The last time she had come in close proximity with Kathleen, Andrew had been the one who had wound up seriously hurt, in human form.  Every time the dark angel surfaced, it was trouble.  The only relief Monica felt this time was that Kathleen had picked her battle with her instead of trying to hurt her by hurting her friends.

She looked out towards the hall again, wondering where Tess and Andrew could be.  Her heart filled with shame and grief as she thought about the Angel of Death.  Poor Andrew had still gotten hurt in all of this, only she had been the one to inflict the pain.  Tears filled her eyes as she remembered Tess’ words about things not always being as they seemed.  Her heart nearly broke as she imagined how Andrew must have felt as she had made her accusations.

“Oh Andrew,” She whispered as tears spilled onto her cheeks,

“Where are you?”

She was terrified that he had given up and wasn’t coming back.  Stacey had probably been his last hope for answers and as far as he knew, that had failed.  But Andrew had been able to get through to Stacey, who he was a total stranger to, but yet, someone he considered a friend had turned away from him.  How could she have been so blind?  Regardless of what she had heard, she knew Andrew’s heart and he never would have stood by and watched while she had been so brutally attacked.

Her mind filled with the images of that night that she could remember clearly—the blows, the pain, the voice she thought she recognized, talking to Tess, then to Andrew, telling him not to touch her.  Overwhelmed, Monica covered her face with her hands and wept.  The angel’s pain and grief were so great that she didn’t hear the door to her hospital room open.

Andrew’s heart leapt into his throat as he silently entered the room.  The first thing he felt was sheer joy at seeing his friend awake, but that joy was quickly replaced as he realized she was crying.  He felt her sadness with every fiber of his being and he could feel her tears ascend upon his soul.  Tears filled his own eyes, as he watched her helplessly, not knowing if he should dare approach her.  He didn’t think he could take the heartache of her anger and hurt towards him.

“Oh Father, please help me to help her,” He thought silently.

“Go to her, My son, “ His Creator’s voice responded to his heart,

“She needs you now, Andrew.”

Feeling a bit more assured, Andrew carefully approached Monica and sat down on a stool in front of her.

Sensing a gentle presence, Monica looked up into the tender green eyes she knew and loved so well and her own eyes welled up with fresh tears,

“Oh Andrew, I’m so sorry for everything I said to you,” She sobbed openly as she looked away, feeling far too much regret for her actions to face him,

“I know the truth now, but I should have known before.  I never should have doubted you!  I’m so ashamed, Andrew!”

Andrew reached out and took her face into his hands.  When she still wouldn’t meet his eyes, he simply said,

“Monica.”

She looked back into his eyes and through her own blurred vision she saw his understanding and forgiveness radiating from his tear filled green eyes.  Without a word, Monica threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against the nape of his neck as she cried out the remainder of her grief.

Andrew wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he dared, breathing a sigh of relief as a tear slid down his cheek,

“It’s okay, Angel Girl,” He whispered, his hand moving to stroke her hair,

“Everything will be fine now, I promise.”  He held her in silence as her sobs began to quiet before he pulled away to look into her tired brown eyes,

“Are you alright?” He wiped tears from her cheeks as she nodded her head,

“Want to tell me what happened?” He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Stacey was here a little while ago.  She told me you had been to see her,” Monica explained, her voice still trembling a little as she struggled to get her emotions under control again.

Andrew’s eyes widened with disbelief,

“Wow.  Now that, I didn’t expect as she was none too helpful today.  So, she did know what had happened that night?”

“She was there….she was the reason I was there.  She needed help as these four men were giving her problems and were threatening to take advantage of her.  I showed up to help and then they attacked me.”  Monica closed her eyes as the painful images once again flashed before her.

“I’m so sorry, Monica,” Andrew whispered, his eyes full of regret,

“I should have been there…I was sent here to protect you and I blew it.”

“No, Andrew,” She replied, looking into his eyes,

“I sent you away that day…I—“ Monica stopped short, her face paling as a strange realization hit her.  She was still human.  Andrew was still here,

“It isn’t over.” She whispered.

Andrew’s expression filled with concern,

“What isn’t over?” He asked gently.

Monica hesitated for a moment.  Up to this point, Andrew had no idea about Kathleen and maybe she wanted to keep it that way.  The last thing she wanted was him hurt anymore than he already had been.  But looking up into his eyes, she realized she desperately needed him now.  Not only had she missed him lately, but also she was his assignment.

“This isn’t over, Andrew.  I’m still human and you’re still here….and Kathleen is responsible for all of this.”

“What?” Andrew couldn’t believe what he was hearing,

“Kathleen?  Are you sure?”

“Yes, Andrew.  Stacey told me, but I think I’ve known for a while now.  I’ve been feeling…uneasy the last few weeks…”

“Not quite yourself?” Andrew added quietly.  Seeing her slowly nod, he sighed,

“Yeah, me too.”

Their eyes met in disbelief at the fact that their feelings had been as one.  Andrew had always known he had felt very connected with Monica, but this was something new.  As a strange thought crossed his mind, he drew in a sharp breath.

“Andrew, what is it? “ Monica watched as he got up and walked to the center of the room,

“Andrew?”

“Nancy.” He stated flatly, unable to meet her eyes,

“I started feeling this way right before Nancy took her life that night.”

Monica was quiet for a moment, before she responded,

“Yes, you’re right.  Kathleen must have been there that night.  She may have even had something to do with it.” She waited for him to turn back to her and when he didn’t, she knew why.  Shakily, she got to her feet and carefully approached him.  Reaching out, she touched his arm.

Andrew turned around and looked into her weary eyes,

“And I blamed you,” He said softly, reaching out to touch her cheek,

“I’m sorry.”

“I think things happened exactly the way Kathleen wanted them to,” She pointed out,

“I think what we were guilty of, Andrew, is not realizing sooner ‘that things are not always how they seem’.”

“Did Tess tell you that too?” He asked curiously.

“Yes…you know, if it weren’t for Stacey, I’d wonder if we had an actual assignment,” She joked, both of them beginning to see that Tess had known they both had lessons to learn.

“Well, speak for yourself,” Andrew grinned,

“You’re my assignment and speaking of which, it’s late and you should be resting.” He wrapped his arm around her waist to help her back to bed,

“With any luck, maybe you’ll be released in the morning.”

As Andrew helped her back into bed, Monica reached out and clutched his arm,

“What are we going to do about Kathleen?  She threatened Stacey if she told anyone about what happened.”

He was quiet for a moment as he pulled the blanket up over her,

“Well, I’d say we’d ask Tess, but I have a feeling we are in this one alone,” He smiled as he sat on the edge of her bed,

“Well, not really alone,” He added, looking upwards before turning his eyes once again to Monica,

“Maybe we need to ask Him what to do next.”

“”I think you’re right,” Monica replied as both angels, one in spiritual form and one human, bowed their heads and offered up silent prayers, both of thanks and of their need for guidance. 

Once they had finished, Andrew looked down at Monica with concern on his face,

“You look tired.  Why don’t you try to sleep?”

She nodded her head, her eyes never leaving those of her friend,

“Will you stay with me?” She asked, her voice hopeful.

Andrew could tell that she still felt afraid and he knew that being human could do that to an angel, and especially after all she had been through the past week,

“I’m not going anywhere,” He replied tenderly,

“I’ll probably try to catch a few winks myself right here.” He prepared to settle back into the anything but comfortable chair.

Slowly and carefully, Monica moved over in her bed and patted the now empty space beside her.  Andrew got up and lay down next to her, her head coming to rest on his arm.  He looked at her and saw that some of the anxiety had left her face.

“Better?”

“Yes, thank you,” She replied, already starting to give into the exhaustion that was creeping over her.

“You know,” He whispered, watching as she began to drift off to sleep,

“You are probably the most pleasant assignment I’ve had in a very long time.”

Monica smiled and slipped her hand into his as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Andrew watched her sleep for several minutes before he closed his eyes and offered up to their Creator prayers of healing for his friend.  After a moment, he felt a warm light surround them both as he thanked God for His gift.  Then, knowing Monica’s wounds had been healed; he fell into a fitful sleep.