Angel of Mercy

Chapter 15

For all my readers. I hope you enjoy the last segment.

I waited for James after work the next day, knowing that he'd be late and thought over his expression the day before when he mentioned my work. It had almost sounded like he didn't want me working here, as an Angel...no, that was ridiculous! He knew how much duty meant to me and he would never ask me to betray an ideal that was so sacred to me. The idea was laughable.

And yet, I couldn't shake it from my mind, every child that grew up here learnt how to keep their face devoid of emotion, and for Jame's mask to slip...it was worrying. And I hated to worry.

Leaves crunched under heavy footsteps and my head, almost involuntarily, snapped up to see the cause. My face relaxed into a relieved smile when a familiar form came into view.

'Good Afternoon,' I greeted James, my smile fading as I saw the serious set to his face. He nodded at me and almost frowned.

I could tell he had something important to say, and I knew him far to well to try and push him. Instead, we walked in silence, as I waited for him to talk.

"You could retrain, no one would blame you"

The words appeared to leave him involuntary. I knew it went against his very being to say such a thing. Retraining was like saying you were unhappy, and worse suggested that your assigned job was unsuited to you. It was like saying the government was wrong and that was considered treasonous.

"You know they would"

We continued on, his countenance betraying his worry, his fear for my safety, his guilt for feeling the way he did. I didn't tell him about my love of my work, or my duty to those I worked for. He already knew, and he already knew I would never leave my work, just as he would never leave his. I understood his desire for me to leave was really just his worry for me, a way of his love for me to show itself.

In an odd way, his suggestion of something so abhorrent to me, allowed me to love him even more, and more then that it allowed me to trust him. I knew Mary could not exist here at best she would face, lose the vibrancy that was such a large part of her character, and at worst she would end up under a brother Angels care, condemned for a crime she could not help but commit, unconformity.

I told him of my plans for her escape, and he told me of whispered rumours and half heard conversations. Together we pinpointed the area most gossip suggested another settlement lied. Together we collected a  again of items she would need for her journey. Together we told her of our plan for her. Together we received her thanks.

And as she left our care with the clothes we packed and the food we gave she hugged us both, wished us both well, and left  both of our lives together.

And whilst we lived our happily ever after, I hope and I pray she lived her freely ever after.