Having a very trusty and sweet Irish angel wrapped up in his gentle embrace, Andrew guided her along a narrow and bendy trail that cut the woods, amongst flowered bushes and tall trees. Monica never liked to be surrounded by total darkness but on that very occasion there was no reason to fear. Andrew was there with her and his presence always had the ability to soothe her heart and warm her soul. Plus, the stars and the full moon in the sky cleared the path ahead of them and added extra enchantment to that night.
The trail they followed ended not far from a cliff, from where it was possible to see other mountain peaks and far ahead the few city lights that were on at that time. It was certainly not possible to have a perfect view yet but one attentive look would notice that the sky near the horizon was slowly changing its colour. Andrew made a short pause and looked up for his pocket watch.
"Soon, the first sunrays will reach this part of the planet and we'll be able to watch a beautiful dawning." He spoke, gently guiding her up to a spot that would soon be touched by the first lights of the morning. Then he stood behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Another beautiful memory we'll share forever." She said, those words having more meaning to him than to any other living creature.
For long minutes, the two angels remained in silence, watching the display of different colours and shades created by Mother Nature before the breaking of a new day. And when it was clear enough, only a few instants before the first sunray crossed the sky, the blond angel gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze, making her turn around with her attention back at him. In his hand, a red rose suddenly appeared and as she took the delicate flower, Monica felt her heart filled with a mix of joy and sadness.
"I want it to be a little reminder of this moment and of what brought us here." Andrew spoke, pointing that the flower had not totally bloomed yet. "Please, keep it."
Biting her lower lip and shedding two long tears, she nodded her head, touching the delicate bud with her fingertips before turning her eyes back at him. "I will..." Was all that she managed to say.
But the angel of death did not want her last dream be a sad one. He tried to put aside all the implications that involved their romance and focused on the fact that his dearest friend was healed and would soon wake up for a new day. That very thought made him smile. With his eyes filled with love, he cupped her chin up and gently wiped away her tears before bringing his lips up to hers, in a long, languid kiss. It was then that the first sunrays bathed the mountains of Utah and touched their angelic figures as well as all the living creatures that inhabited those woods.
When they parted, Monica and Andrew's gaze was only broke by her sudden dizziness. She was quick to grab his shirt and it took Andrew only a second to wrap his arm around her waist for support. He knew what was happening: it was time for the dream to end.
"Andrew..." The tone of her voice was a scared one, and so was the look in her doe-like eyes.
But the angel of death was serene, as if strangely prepared for that moment. "It's okay, angel, I got you." He said, gently kneeling on the ground and cradling her in his arms.
"I love you!" Monica spoke, feeling her spirit suddenly taken by an uncontrollable sleep.
Smiling, he kissed her forehead with tenderness. "I love you too, sweet angel. And will keep loving you for the rest of my existence."
As Monica fell asleep, her angelic form slowly faded away from his arms. For the first time since his assignment started, Andrew did not escort her back to her human form. Instead, he was left alone in those woods while his soulmate made her final journey back to the Bountiful city hospital.
On his knees, the blond angel remained in agonising silence for long minutes and only then it was possible to see all his sorrow and despair.
A sudden voice, however, interrupted his confused thoughts on his and Monica's future and drew his attention back to the present.
"Now that this assignment is over, I believe it's time we should talk about it."
Andrew did not hurry to rise to his feet and turn around. He knew Sam would search for him and he could also imagine the subject that had brought his superior there.
"Sam..." He finally greeted the older angel, who bent his head acknowledging his presence. "Monica...might be getting out of the comma soon." The blond angel said, with genuine relief.
"I believe you can speak with all property since you've been with her most of the time."
Andrew lowered his head for a moment and then faced him back. "It was the best way I could find to fulfil the assignment I was given."
"Don't you think you ended up doing more than what you were meant to do?"
"Sam... I'm aware that my latest actions may not be approved by my superiors but I'm ready to face the consequences."
"Very well." The older angel gave a step forward. "You've been suspended from your duties. From now on, Adam you'll substitute for you in your next assignments as an angel of death."
"Is it a punishment for bringing relief to a God's child who was in deep pain?" He questioned.
"The way you handled Monica's condition was far from the usual and it alone could be put into check by your superiors. But you know very well that this is not the only reason why an angel is dismissed from his duties."
"You and Tess have been talking?"
"No. I've been here for a while and I saw and heard enough to be sure that my putting you aside of your duties is a right decision."
"So it means that the fact that I'm in love with another one of God's child stops me from being His servant?"
"I'm not here to judge you, Andrew. The answer to your question is yours to find. But as your superior I'm doing what I believe is the right thing to do when an angel cannot feel confident enough to perform his job."
Those words hurt Andrew's heart deeply, but elected not to argue. He knew there would be consequences. Plus, there was something more important for him to take care of: Monica could wake up at any moment and he needed to be by her side, where he had always been.
"Is that all?" He asked, his voice carried much sorrow.
"For a while, yes." Sam's reply had a solemn tone.
"Okay. If you excuse me, there's a place I need to go."
On the following instants, the blond angel reappeared in an ICU room, at the city hospital. Tess had been there for the last hours, and when the blond angel arrived, she looked at him.
"She hasn't woken up yet, but Dr Richards said it could happen at any moment."
Deeply moved, Andrew came closer to the bed and took Monica's pale hand. "It's okay, angel. We're all here."
Seconds later, the two angels saw the miracle they had been praying for materialising right before their eyes: Monica moved her head and her slender fingers curved as to hold Andrew's hand.
