Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 25

Charlie found it very hard to focus on work the next day. She had been left feeling greatly disturbed by her nightmare and anxious about the strange markings that appeared on her wrists. She hoped that they didn't mean anything but knowing her history, that wasn't likely. God, why couldn't she just have a normal life like everybody else?

"Bill you can't be serious. Are you actually gonna go screw your secretary?"

Her worried thoughts were interuppted by two male customers, eating bacon and eggs sunnyside up with two cups of coffee to drink.

"She's been coming on to me for weeks." The man called Bill said. "I've resisted for as long as I can but...I'm a man. I have needs."

"But what about Ellen?" His friend asked.

"Come on Dan, you know there's nothing between me and Ellen anymore. She's a good wife and I still love her but we've gotten into such a rut and we're spending so much time apart, it's like we're roommates instead of a married couple."

"Have you tried talking to her about it?"

"What would be the point? She pretty much ignores me in favor of her career."

"Oh so that's what this is about? You don't really want to have an affair. You're just mad. Bill, I really think you should reconsider what you're about to do."

 "She would probably wouldn't even care if I slept with another woman. She doesn't care about me anymore. The spark is gone."

"We'll see about that." Charlie thought.  

She grabbed a hot, new pitcher of coffee and approached the men.

"Refill, gentlemen?" She offered.

"Yes, thank you." They said.

But as she was pouring the coffee into Bill's cup, she accidentally nudged his shoulder with her hand. 

"Oh excuse me sir." She said.

But the one simple touch from her hand caused something incredible to happen to the man. His mind was suddenly filled with happy memories of him and his wife while his heart was practically overflowing with rekindled love.

"Pardon me Miss but I have to go now." He quickly pulled out his wallet and left a ten dollar bill on his plate. "Keep the change!"

"Hey Bill, where are you're going?" Dan asked him.

"I'm going out to buy flowers and candy. I'm going to give them to Ellen and then I'm going to tell her how much I love her and miss her."

"What about the secretary?"

"I'll keep her around but just for work. You were right Dan, I was just mad that's all. Ellen is the only woman for me."

"Atta boy Bill! Now you're using your head."

"Or rather his heart." Charlie giggled to herself.

One of the few powers Charlie had that she wasn't terrified of and actually enjoyed using on occasion was the ability to replace one's negative emotions with postive ones in order to prevent future sins. To eliminate feelings of anger and jealousy like that man was feeling then reawaken his love and devoution. Making him realize that he doesn't want to hurt his wife or leave her for another woman, he just wanted some attention. And the best way to do that was to just talk to her.

"That's a very speical gift that angels have." Solomon had told her.

"But doesn't tamper with free will?" She had asked.

"No. The power isn't to control a human's will, it's just to help them not be so blinded by the emotion's their feeling at the moment. Anger and sadness can drive a person to do things they wouldn't normally do if they were thinking clearly. In other words, the person is still free to commit that sin if he or she still wishes to do so, but there's nothing wrong with giving someone a little positive influence."