AN ANGEL NAMED ANDY

A different angel.

Once upon a time, far above the cotton clouds, into the heart of galaxy where the angel palace rose outshining the stars, lived a little angel named Andy. He had dark long hair, green warm eyes and brilliant white feathers. He looked nothing like the other blond, blue eyed angels and for that they envied him. He was different and small like a flower fairy, not bigger than a baby's palm. The other angels never spoke nor played with him giving him grief and sadness for his different green eyes and his dark shiny hair. It felt like he was invisible. An outcast.
Little angel Andy, lost in his thoughts sat on a twig dreaming about a life he was not allowed to live. His bright eyes sobbed quietly as he gazed down the friendly stars. He longed so much to be an angel with a mission and a quest. To help and provide and share unconditionally all the love he had in his fairy size heart. Be there for a human child. To open his white wings and make a wish as a fully grown guardian angel. The blue and fuchsia clouds of galaxy sizzled him with care like a warm blanket and nurtured him to a dreamless sleep.

A soft mammy voice drag Andy from the dreamless world. A song, a laughter and a warm feeling of love ordered him to open his eyes. For a moment the thought that he was still asleep crossed his mind. He blinked so hard that it ached. "Where am I?" He uttered softly. He was no longer on his favorite twig, but inside a small room. A big window with light green curtains, an Apache helicopter hanging from a ceiling decorated with stars and planet stickers, books and toys tightly set on shelves. Across the invisible angel a bed with a young boy under a thick blue cover with green stripes and yellow planes. By his side his mother was reading him a story about a fighter plane. The soft like a murmur voice brought sleep to the boy's lashes who seemed exhausted although in bed. The pale face looked ill, robbed of life. The mother laid down the thick book and touched with affection her son's cheek. A lonely tear escaped her eye as she stayed there, motionless watching her baby boy dreaming.
"I am on a mission. I am a guardian angel." Little Andy repeated feverishly again and again as time danced around them three. Not long after the stars joined the dark sky, angels' joy faded slowly. By the time sun gloriously welcomed night, Andy was aware of an unspoken family secret. Kas, the young boy, was sick.
The following days, little angel became an acute observer of that family's life. Overshadowing their every breath. Overhearing their every word. Like a breathing shadow he kept company to a sad sister, who tried her best to make her younger brother laugh. Sympathize with a skeptic father who had no idea how to be there for his frail son. Is a kiss and a hug enough? Or just a story and a "good night son, tomorrow you 'll be up on your feet", would do. Watch over a child who counted his living moments secretly, knowing there was no time left for his dreams to come true but still smiling to his mother. The same mother who had more strength inside her than all the angels together as she stood by that bed day after day loving and encouraging and fighting for her son. A mother who prayed every second of each passing moment for her youngster and was ready and willing to offer her life in exchange for his.
Angel Andy became a witness as each and every one of them bare their souls into the darkness of the boy's room. The days passed by and Kas was robed of his energy entirely. By the end of the month he was a mere ghost of himself. His sad eyes filled Andy with sorrow. Awaken hidden feelings little angel didn't know he had. Brought back memories he had tightly put aside. Dead memories. Angel Andy had no recollection of a family life because he died, still while inside his mother. All he could remember from then was a warm, wet feeling of cuddliness and safety. A soft murmur and a distinct sound like ocean waves. What he had forgotten though, was his mother's pain and piercing scream the moment the doctor announced the baby's coming fate.

Sitting on a soft brown teddy bear over the desk by the window, watching all four of them, the parents and the children struggling to inhale every moth of their remaining precious time as a family, a thought crossed Andy's mind like a falling star. "Life is not fair." He tangled his fingers under his chin. No! Life was not fair. Life never gave him the opportunity to be alive, to have a family like this one. Death stole his chance to a human future and brought misery and despair to the only being that treated him with love. His mother.
And now, he was appointed guardian angel to a dying kid, rendered useless every moment of his mission, not knowing how to help and be there for him. A silent witness to Kas's last and most difficult days as he prepared himself. Advising a mother, a father and a sister how to continue their path through time without him. No! Life was not fair to him either.
Anger shadowed the fairy size angel like a red flame. With open feathery wings, he felt useless as he waited along with the others, loyal member of the household by now, the Angel of Death to come and kiss the boy. Fury, questions and the purpose of his mission danced around him with frenzy. "What am I doing here? What's the point of being an angel if I cant save a sick little person?" Life was being unfair one more time and he had no power to change it. Andy's feathers were brilliant white, so white that were almost visible. His round face was strawberry red and his dark green eyes were set on fire.
The mothers' cry alarmed angel Andy who flew and stood high above Kas to pray and soothe his pain, the same moment the crying woman took the boy into her arms. Sorrow and pain were not enough to stop the Angel of Death who appeared like a hawk inside the room, dark and confident, eager for his mortal duty. The black figure took by surprise the white angel that stood with open wide eyes staring the fellow creature he had only heard of. The swift motion of the black robe reminded Andy the mission of the Dark Angel.
"No! Leave." A strong loud voice stopped the big - man sized - angel who stared questionably at the miniature guardian, posing on air protesting his chest like a bodyguard between him and the boy. "He is mine and mine shall remain." Yelled mighty at the world the guardian angel who meant his words to reach heaven.
"Your mission is over little one. Let me do my duty." A baritone voice filled the room with authority.
"My mission just began. He is mine and as mine I choose his fate. And I choose life." The fairy size angel addressed with no fear the morbid Angel of Death. Suddenly his stupid size had no meaning anymore.
"It is not you who decide the fate of mortals. You are merely an instrument like I. Emotions are of no use to those who deliver death. Nor to those who guard life like you. Little one." Words, true reminders of the rules of the Unknown Kingdom.
"Guard life. That, I do Death and I will fight you with my life. Leave. I order you." For the first time decisive, incredibly strong and true to its choice. A fierce soldier of life angel Andy. Flying stoutly between a breathless boy and the Dark Lord. A broken mother and a speechless sister. Across a father too frozen to cry.
"You have no life your own to give. Little one. You are a pone among the heavenly others. Stay aside or my wrath will fell upon your wings."
"I shall not. I have life and I spare it as I like. The boy shall live and I shall die." Words grave as a tomb.
Brilliant light emerged from the depths of the fairy sized angel's heart and brightened the place. His feathers gloriously tapped the air. His words bore strength, plead and sacrifice. With closed eyes he sent his wish to Heavenly Father. An ancient hymn swept over the room like a mist and harpian melodies escorted Andy's request.
"Little one!" The distinctive voice of the Angel of Death, made Andy open his eyes. "Come. Your life is his". With open arms the human sized angel waited. His task done. "HE granted your request." Added meaningfully, looking towards the sky through the window.
"Mother." A frail boyish voice shuttered all darkness from the family's hearts. Kas was smiling to his beloved ones unaware of the invisible sacrifice of his fairy sized guardian. Laughter, kisses and hugs replaced the fading harpian melodies.
The black robe swept swiftly the air as the Dark Angel disappeared into the night holding with respect a lifeless angel with green shat eyes and long dark hair, on his open palm. A different angel. A fighter. An angel that dared make a request in return for his life. Heaven saluted Andy's unconditional sacrifice. Heavenly Father, a high spectator from the beginning, smiled appreciatively as he discovered a blessed angel among his many. And his smile spared life.

Up on a twig, at the glorious angel palace garden, sat a little angel named Andy. Lost in his thoughts, he was dreaming about a life he never thought he 'd live. His dark green eyes stared quietly into the future as he gazed down the stars. His size no longer mattered, nor his dark hair. Only his next mission. A smile bigger than the sun, shadowed the blue and fuchsia galaxy colors and fell softly upon the green leaves.
Andy the smallest guardian angel was smiling for the first time in his life. "HE granted my request! WOW!!