Vessels

My Death

Like anything having to involve with death, it wasn't very fun. My death was quick though, which I appreciate. If I haven't already mentioned, I am Josh Calinskei. I got shot down by a meager house robber, who unfortunately, tried to rob my house while I was home alone. It obviously didn't end well for me, for the fact that I, myself, am dead. I look around at where I've seemed to end up.

"Dazed kid?"

"Hm?" I looked to see a scruff man looking down at, guess who? Me. He certainly wasn't pale, he had some color here and there on his face, an overall tanned and pretty good looking guy. I was startled by his prescence, I hadn't had enough time to figure out where I was. His wings made it pretty obvious though.

"Yeah, of course. I mean I just died and ended up..." I scanned him up and down again, "...in heaven?"

"Depends if you believe that's where you are right now. Just because I say so, doesn't mean it goes. I don't get to decide, none of us do really? I don't know. I guess you are if that's what you believe."

"Wow. Who gave you marijuana?"

"You've got a smart mouth kid, could your girlfriend-"

"Never had a girlfriend."

"No kidding."

"So, who are you supposed to be, my guardian angel or some cheesy shit like that?" I did jazz hands, giving him a sarcastic smile.

"Kid, you wish I had the time for you, I'm God's left hand angel," he extended his hand to me for a handshake, and I gladly obliged.

"Gabriel."

"I'm-"

"Josh, I know."

"Do I get to ask how you know that or must I be put on some magical quest to find out?"

"Kid ask as many questions as you want with that attitude, no one is gonna bother answering them, but me. 'Cause you got spunk that I would have if I ever got the chance to be human."

"You're an angel, right?"

"See the wings? Yeah, I'm an angel."

"I've read the Bible, but hey, never thought that stuff was actually true."

"Kid, there's truth in everything, same thing goes for lies." I returned to scanning Gabriel, he was rather tall, his black and white suit, spick spanned shoes complimented his white grayish toned wings. He seemed to like my spunk, as I did his.

"I suppose your right." I scanned my surroundings, it looked like any other old city, except something about it was just different. I checked my outfit I had died in, a ruffled, but not wrinkled, faded red long sleeve, a leather jacket, some simple dark jeans, and Converse.

Oh God how I love my Converse

A violent shaking interrupted my train of thought as I tried to maintain my equilibrium.

"K-Kid what did you do?!?"

"Nothing I mean I don't t-think so-"

"Are you kidding me-"

"Shit! I said g-god-"

"Here we go-" We were interrupted with a dim, hollowed out arrangement of lights before us.

"Josh, you dare use my name in vain?"

"Boss, look Josh is new and-"

"Silence! I am asking the boy a question!"

"Yes boss." Michael proceeded to put his head down, ushering me to speak.

"It was a mistake, I-"

"Josh, all is forgiven, but please mind your manners since I have brung you to my home. Be grateful." And with that all the lights scattered away to who knows where.

"Boss likes to mess around with the newbies like that for a bit, you'll get used to it."

"Newbies? As in...dead recruits?"

"No, angels you airhead."

"I'm an...angel?"

"Not yet. Now stop being so inquisitive, it's getting bothersome."

"Fine, just one more thing-"

Gabriel chuckled and took a breath, "What is it?"

"Why didn't your 'boss' show himself?"

"Well, that's the first mistake you've made here so far. First off, boss don't like human terms. The only term for boss is them and all those other pronouns. Gender and features of their body don't play any importance to them nor for them. You humans think you've got it all figured out, when really you don't know jack." Michael twisted his lip into his mouth, sighing.

"They didn't show themselves because it's a thing they made a vow for. No one is allowed to see 'em except their son. And he don't even see him that much. It's just that way.", he huffed the last of the explaination to me.

I looked at him like a little kid that just discovered what they want to do with their life. I looked at him like I looked at blank spaces. I had no idea what to say or do, so I just nodded at him when he finished. He chuckled and called me a 'Curious One'. It reminded me of when my mom would tell me I was her 'Curious George'. I didn't want to start crying, but I did. I hadn't cried about my parents since they died when I was 10. It never became a thing for me. I didn't want to cry about them ever again, but here I was, crying silently.
Gabriel took notice to this in seconds and held me. In silence we stood there. Not the awkward silence, but not the comforting silence either. Just silence.

Just us