My Heaven

An Angel

She walks until she reaches the middle of the stage. Her movements slow but exact. Her gloves reach her elbow and matches her dress. Its red and sits beautiful over her chest. Its tight, and there is a slit so you can see her right leg. "Feel it tonight" she continues singing. "My heart is right, where you want". Her diamond earrings. Her gentle step. It's impossible to look away. "Put your hands on my hips. Pull me in for a kiss. You're the only one I can miss. Put your hand on my cheek. Your love makes me weak. I'm right where you want. You know you can taunt, me. Kiss my neck. After you I'm a wreck. Pull me into the bed. Touch my face. It's no mistake how I love you." she sings.

How could anyone be allowed such beauty? Her song takes several minutes but it feels like a few seconds. She walks through a hole in the red curtain. She is gone. I have to see her again. I just have to. People clap. The sound breaks me out of my trance. "Wow" I hear Steven say. I take a sip of my beer. I put the glass back on the table. "I'm gonna talk to her" I say. "What?!" James says like I'm out of my mind. Steven and James look at each other before looking back at me. "But she is..." James says trying to find the right word. "Gorgeous and your just...Michael" he tells me. "Well thank you for the support" I say before walking away. I can feel their eyes on me as I walk.

I weave my way through the crowd, the lingering notes of her song still echoing in my mind. I need to find her, to see her up close, to hear her voice again. The atmosphere buzzes with excitement and admiration for the mysterious singer. I approach the stage, my heart pounding as I slip behind the heavy red curtain.

Backstage, the dim lighting casts long shadows, and the air is filled with the low hum of conversation and the clinking of makeup brushes and costumes. Performers bustle about, preparing for their next acts, their faces a mix of concentration and anticipation. I move through the maze of dressing rooms and props, scanning the area for any sign of the singer. After a few moments of searching, I spot her sitting at a makeup table, her back to me. Her blonde hair cascades down her back, and she's still wearing her stunning red dress. She seems to be lost in thought, her fingers delicately adjusting an earring.

I hesitate for a moment, gathering my courage, then take a deep breath and step closer. "Excuse me," I say softly, not wanting to startle her. She turns slowly, her eyes meeting mine. Up close, she's even more breathtaking. Her eyes are a deep, mesmerizing blue, and her smile is both warm and enigmatic. "Hello," she says, her voice just as melodic as when she was singing. "Can I help you?"

I swallow hard, trying to steady my voice. "I just wanted to say that your performance was incredible. I've never heard anything like it."

She gives me the elevator look before turning around on her chair and looking into the mirror. "Okay, thank you" she says as she takes her diamond earing out. I take a deep breath. "I wanted to ask" I try to say but she cuts me of. "If I wanted to go out with you. The answer is no" she says cold. I just stand there like a fucking idiot. "Not what you expected huh?" she asks. "Such a pretty face, with such a dirty mouth. Believe me I have heard it all before. Plenty of men come back here, just to see if I'm willing to get into their bed."

She puts a cigarette in her mouth, before searching for something on her desk. She turns to me. "You got a lighter?"

"Yeah" I say before reaching into my pocket and giving my lighter to her. She takes it from my hand and lights her cigarette. I watch as she closes the lid and places it in my hand. She holds the cigarette and takes it out of her mouth, before blowing a big smoke cloud, right beside me.

Her eyes flicker with a mix of curiosity and skepticism as she looks at me again. "You still here? Most guys would've run off by now."

I clear my throat, trying to shake off the initial shock of her bluntness. "I'm not like most guys," I say, hoping my sincerity comes through. "I just wanted to talk. Your performance was... it was something else. I've never felt so moved by a song before."

She raises an eyebrow, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, that's new. Usually, they just compliment my looks or ask for an autograph." She takes another drag of her cigarette, studying me carefully. "What's your name, soldier?"

"Michael," I reply, feeling a strange sense of relief that she's at least engaging in conversation.

"Michael," she repeats, rolling the name around as if testing its flavor. "So, Michael, what makes you different from the rest?"

I hesitate, trying to put my thoughts into words. "I don't know," I admit. "Maybe it's because I've seen enough of the world to recognize something real when I see it. Your voice, your presence on stage... it's genuine. And that's rare."

She seems to consider my words for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "Maybe you're not just another soldier after all," she says, her tone less guarded. "But why are you really here, Michael? What's driving you to seek out a stranger in a smoky nightclub?"

I take a deep breath, feeling a surprising urge to be honest with her. "I guess it's because we're about to head into the unknown. In a month, we're leaving for France, and after that... who knows? I wanted to hold onto something beautiful, something that reminds me why we're fighting."

Her eyes narrow, but there's a glint of understanding in them. "War has a way of making everything sharper, clearer," she says quietly. "The beautiful moments stand out more because they're so fleeting."

I nod, feeling a connection forming between us. "Exactly. And your performance tonight... it was one of those moments."

She takes a final drag of her cigarette, then stubs it out in a nearby ashtray. "Alright, Michael. It's time for you to leave". I turn around and prepare to walk but I get stopped by her voice. "Wait before you go, can you unzip me?"