With his hands tugged in his pockets, the blond angel walked along the city park; the last golden sunrays of the afternoon adding a special colour to his surroundings, making flowers and trees look like a painting and the lake, a mirror of the now orange sky.
Despite the fact that he loved all his Father's creations, Andrew's mind was not set on that beautiful scenario. Now that his assignment in that lovely small town had finally come to an end, he wondered what would become of him and Monica and their love. Would she ever remember their romance? And if so, what would be her reaction? Those questions had been in his mind for a while now and longing for answers, he stopped his walk on a spot near the lake and turned his green eyes to the horizon.
"Father...I want to ask for Your forgiveness, for I've been selfish. Angels are sent here to accomplish a noble mission and I was too blind to see that. I was too blind to realise that, in Your infinite wisdom, You placed me away from Monica because there were people who needed an angel next to them, not because of what I feel for her. I thank You for showing me the right path to follow and to put the right words in my mouth so that I could bring comfort to one of Your children."
He made a short pause, contemplating the placid lake before him. It reminded him of Monica and of one of the many short pauses in between assignments when they took an opportunity to do simple things that only a human form would allow them, such as going bowling, playing pinball and having some ice cream. On that specific occasion, he tried to teach her how to throw pebbles in the water and make them bounce on the surface of the lake. Andrew was patient and encouraged her in all of her attempts, but she never made it – and there was not a single sign of disappointment in her sweet doe-like eyes. Sharing that moment with him was what mattered to her.
"And now I'm here to beg for Your mercy. I love Monica." The angel of death kept on talking. "There is nothing I can do about it but to nurture this feeling inside my heart, even if she never remembers what happened between the two of us. Please, don't take this away from me...please, Father, allow me to continue to be at her side as I'll never ask from her anything else other than her friendship..."
And then tears formed in the corner of his eyes as he heard God's loving message – his love for Monica, a lovely Irish angel moulded with such special care, was genuine and pure and it would never be condemned or considered wrong. His lips curved in a crying smile, as he still could not believe that the conflict and worry that had been haunting his heart over the last few weeks had finally been shattered.
"Thank You, Father. I promise I'll honour these feelings and the gift of her company, even if it takes a life time for her to remember... or even if she doesn't remember at all, being able to be close to her is already more than I deserve."
The silence of his surroundings was only broken by the occasional chirping of the birds and by the soft sound of the leaves as the soothing summer breeze passed by. The blond angel had been so absorbed in his prayers and in the peace of that green area that he initially did not notice the other angel who had just materialised a few steps behind him. She was smiling and her auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, with a few strands flying with the soft wind. And for a moment she did not speak as there was so much to say to him that words did not seem enough to express what she was feeling.
But it did not take more than a few heartbeats for the angel of death feel her presence – Monica had an aura of love and serenity that would be noticeable anywhere she went. Andrew frowned and swallowed hard before turning around to face her and was immediately greeted by her affectionate gaze back at him.
"I suppose I'm... 'improving' my sense of direction as I managed to find you at the first attempt..." She joked, tilting her head to look at him; her smile never fading.
