The Above || Completed

30 Glowing?

"G-Glowing?" I stammered, looking down at my hands.
They were shaking severely and to my absolute shock, they emitted a soft glow around us. I gasped, horrified.
"What's happening to me?" I whispered, my breath wheezing.
Why would I be glowing?
"It's fading. Don't be scared, Maddison," said Grace, recovering instantly in order to calm me down.
I stared down at my hands again, and watched the light dim and go out gradually. It did nothing to relieve the weight on my shoulders.

"I- I don't understand this," I said, still stuttering. "This n-never happened to the humans."
"Maybe praying has a different effect on us," Aeron suggested, coming round to place a reassuring hand on my shoulder
"That's not it," Grace said darkly.
"Yeah? And what is it then?" Aeron asked almost defensively.
"Aeron, she's on our side," I tried to assure him.
I didn't want us to turn against each other.
"Maddison, we know perfectly well that glowing is a definite angelic characteristic," Grace said bluntly.
"I am not an angel," I retorted, frowning.
Grace argued accusingly, "How can we know for sure?"
"Oh, come on, Grace," Aeron snapped. "I believe her. Why else would she be helping me out with this whole investigation? Not to mention, she can't even read the angelic language."
"And I think I'd know if I had a set of wings growing out of my back," I added scornfully.

Grace sighed. "Both of you share a valid point. But haven't either of you considered that Maddison could be an angel without knowing she is?"
Aeron and I exchanged a look of analysis. She wasn't wrong. But how could that be? What circumstances would have allowed that?
"It doesn't add up, Grace. I was born and raised in the Above. Living just as any of us would. I only ever left the Above when-" I broke off when it dawned on me.
Back when I left the Above for Earth, when one of my most important memories was taken from me. Perhaps it was more than just my parents that I was made to forget. Maybe what I had forgotten then, could explain all that was happening now. And my parents could even have something to do with it.
"Devonne?" Aeron spoke up, probably perturbed by my abrupt silence.
"I may have forgotten," I said, looking meaningfully at Aeron, and he immediately knew what I meant.
"Well, that certainly helps. What do you mean you've forgotten?" Grace said, sounding exasperatedly perplexed.
"I know someone who could help us," I blurted. "Follow me."
And they did.

As I led them through the corridors, I felt my heart racing. I had a terrible knot in my stomach and I found it difficult to breathe through my tight throat. I didn't want to know about my parents. About their departure from my life. I didn't want to remember how much they meant to me, because there was still the possibility that although my mind had forgotten, my heart had not. But the past decided to catch up to me. I suppose we must revisit our past eventually in order to move on. For memories are impossible to tarnish and unable to be changed. They're a reference for when we're lost in our journey through the present.

It was time for me to face my past.

^^^

We came around to the hospital wing, where I was almost sure Doctor Griffin would be. Aeron, Grace and I were perfectly conscious that we'd be skipping lunch but our priorities were set higher elsewhere.
"What are we doing here?" Aeron asked.
"Don't tell me this has to do with some medical abnormality of yours." Grace shuddered, sounding quite disturbed.
"No, that's not it. Come on," I said, pushing the door.
When it didn't budge, I mentally kicked myself.
Aeron suppressed a laugh, "It's pull, not-"
"Cornelius," I scolded, stomping on his foot.
He groaned while Grace giggled softly. I was still kicking myself repeatedly in my brain. Assuming I had one after that incident. I'd clearly lost it after my deep reverie earlier. I sighed.

Finally, I pulled the door open and we stepped into the sterile room, where the hospital bed now stood neat and empty. Both Aeron and Grace were still snickering but it died down quickly. Aeron had caught sight of the photograph that was still sitting prominently atop the desk. Grace stared politely at her toes, waiting for me to do what needed to be done.
Aeron piped up, apparently having figured things out about the photo, "Is this-"
"That explains my panic attack, huh?" I tried to sound light-hearted but failed.
Aeron remained silent but his facial expression was that of utter disturbance. I didn't need to do very much to find Doctor Griffin; he entered the room at that very moment, looking no different from yesterday.
"Miss Zeph, a pleasant surprise," he mused upon seeing me. "And I see you've brought Mister Phoenix and Miss..."
"Lance. Grace Lance," Grace introduced herself curtly.
"Right, Miss Lance. What brings you all here?" Doctor Griffin enquired.
I cleared my throat and, very straightforward, I said, "Did you know my parents?"

Doctor Griffin's polite demeanour vanished, replaced with a rather serious assumption instead. Grace shifted uncomfortably while Aeron and I both folded our arms across our chests expectantly.
"Very well, yes I did," Doctor Griffin admitted.
"How?" I asked, feeling my heart in my throat.
He sighed. "Griffin was your mother's maiden name; she was my daughter."
"Doesn't that mean-" Aeron stopped himself from saying anything more.
Doctor Griffin nodded. "Yes. It means that I am Maddison's grandfather."

^^^

!!Author's Note!!

So that happened. Rant if you wish.

Just to let you know, I'll be concentrating more on Love and Heartbreak (my other story on Wattpad for those who haven't checked it out) from now on because now I can finally get a few updates for that in. The Above will get regular updates all the same but Love and Heartbreak is where my attention is at for now.

Thanks for the plentiful comments on the last few chapters. I'm excited to see what impact this little plot twist makes.

❤️