Saved By An Angel

Chapter Two - To Fall For An Angel

The afternoon sun hit the moving waters engulfing it in an orange glow. Hiro stood at the edge, the waves barely touching his toes. His hands were outstretched and his eyes closed as he took deep, even breaths. A light breeze played with his dark locks as he basked in the warmth of the sun. Sighing, his eyes opened to reveal hazel-colored pupils. Scanning the horizon, his hands dropped to his sides when he saw a strange sight to the east. A girl, a schoolgirl by the looks of her clothes, was waist-deep in the waters. Suddenly, color drained from Hiro’s face as he realized what the girl was about to do. Without hesitating, he tore of his shirt and plunged into the water. A single thought coursed through his head giving him strength.

Not this time!

By then, the girl had lost her footing and was now being swept away by the tide. With a last push, Hiro reached the girl and began towing her back to shore. By the time he reached the beach, a small crowd had gathered. They helped him lay the girl further up the beach. For a moment, Hiro feared the worst when the girl remained motionless. But despite his fears, the girl soon began to stir. She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Hiro, a heavenly smile.

‘Are you an angel?’ She asked in a sweet voice. Before Hiro could reply, the girl had slipped back into unconsciousness.

* * * * *

Hiro sat in an empty chair facing the emergency room. When the ambulance had arrived, he had gone with them. And now he sat in the waiting room, thinking how much she looked like ‘her’.

‘Are you an angel?'

She even talks like her. A smiled formed on his face at the thought.

‘Umm, are you the one who saved Erika?’ A middle-aged woman asked him. She was being supported by a man who seemed to be her husband and behind her was a young girl.

‘Erika? Do you mean the schoolgirl?’ All three strangers nodded. ‘Yes.’ Hiro replied.

The woman gasped in relief and bowed before him. ‘Thank you! Thank you very much!’

‘Uh, no, please, it was nothing.’ Hiro blushed slightly.

‘No, it wasn’t nothing. We owe you a lot. Thank you very much!’ The man and the girl bowed alongside the woman.

‘No, please, it was noth–‘ ‘Excuse me, is the family of Erika Toda here?’ A nurse interrupted them. ‘Yes, we’re here.’ The woman answered. ‘Please come this way.’ The trio followed the nurse into the emergency room leaving Hiro alone in the hall.

I guess I better get going then.

* * * * *

It had been a week now since Hiro had saved the girl. During that time, he had come to visit her on a daily basis. An unlikely bond had formed between the two and now he had come to check up on her. He knocked and peered into the room, ‘Can I come in?’

‘Ah, Angel-san, its you! Konichiwa! Come in. Come in.’ Erika who had been reading, greeted him.

‘Konichiwa and how many times do I have to tell you, my name’s Hiro, Hiro Mizushima.’

Her forehead creased into a frown as she tried saying his name, ‘Mizushima-san? But that’s a mouthful. Can’t I just call you Angel-san?’

Hiro couldn’t help but smile when he saw her pleading with puppy-like eyes. He sighed in surrender, ‘Alright. Alright.’ He placed the fruits he brought on her bedside and took an apple to peel. Soon,

they settled into a comfortable silence that was their daily routine, Erika continuing her reading while Hiro peeled the fruit.

After several minutes, Hiro broke the silence. ‘Um, I’ve been meaning to ask you… that day, why did you do it?’