Ubiquity

III.

We were soaring in the heavens. They say clouds were made out of the fluffiest of material. They were right, I could hug them. I could make a wish, but I didn’t have everything --- a genie, for example. I had the worst of all supernatural creatures.

I had an archangel and he proved to be liar. No matter how many times I tried to get the image out of my head, it would come back much more vividly.

Noemi, my poor sister.

I failed her. She didn’t even know she was to be a mother. I can still remember the way  her lifeless eyes looked into mine. Her chocolate eyes were melting with joy so vibrant, then to be stipped of it --- it was supposed to be her day! Not her funeral.

“Take me back there, now! I won’t leave my little sister behind!” I struggled in his hold, aware of how close we were. His arms were coiled on my waist while my hands were pushing at his hard chest. I wasn’t going to get sidetracked, not this time. There was too much going on and if I didn’t go back to the reception, then I would go crazy. “Gabriel, damn it, do what I say for once!” My vision slowly became blurry, the tears building up. “I must save her.” I kicked and screamed, anything, to try to release me.

If I couldn't save her, then I would die.

There was no denying it, I was going crazy. I was thinking about suicide and flying with a man in a monkey suit. Well, partly a suit now. The back of his jacket had two gaping holes where his wings were.

“Noelia…”

“No! Take me back!” I whimpered, pounding at his chest with as much force I could muster. “You owe me that much…oh God…please tell me this is just a bad dream.”

He crushed me to his chest, “I’m sorry.” He kept repeating those two words. He was beating himself up about it.

‘I miscalculated.’

To think I could trust him. I went along with his stupid plan, going in like a blind woman. I knew he didn’t meant for anything bad to happen. His sole focus was to help me save my sister. A part of me wanted to cry on him, but I wouldn’t give myself that comfort. I didn’t deserve it. I had to overcome this just like everything else.

But, this wasn’t like anything else you’ve ever faced.

No, this was something personal. Any personal affair I would run away from. But, not this time around.

I was going back to that reception whether Gabriel liked it or not.

“Don’t even think about it,” he growled.

I looked at him, disgust etched on my face, “You...don’t tell me what to do!” This time I didn’t care if I was to fall to my doom. I wanted him to be in agony. To feel what was going through my body. I didn’t think, I reacted. I grabbed one of his dark wings.

“Leave me alone!” I maneuvered my body over his wings like a handle.

Crack.

Gabriel roared with pain, letting go of my waist for a brief moment. With both hands, I pushed off his chest.

It sent me spiraling down into my personal game of life and death.

*******

‘Lia!’

I groaned, “Five more minutes, Mimi.” I rolled over to my side, hoping she would go away and let me sleep.

I never got what I wanted.

‘Don’t make me come down there,’ her tone said she meant it. She kept repeating her threat like a broken record.

‘Don’t make me come down there.’