“Thank you,” he said, speaking, rather than communicating telepathically, as was his usual way.
“Please take a seat,” I said. He accepted the offer.
He looked decidedly odd, or was it the sofa that looked odd accommodating such a large being?
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, but we need to talk.”
“Oh?” I asked, curious as to the nature of his visit.
“Angelo,” he said, capturing my attention. “Why do you still seek him out?”
“You know why.”
“He has important work to do, as you well know.”
“But surely…”
“No, Gabriella, we broke the rules for you once, and you should be happy we did that.”
“You allowed me to give birth to an angelic child–Angelo’s child,” I said, feeling angry for the first time since I’d arrived here. “What else were you going to do?”
He chuckled. It seems I’d amused him. “With one wave of His hand, Aria would cease to be.”
“The God I love would never harm a child.”
“The God you love expected Angelo to follow the rules put in place millions of years ago.”
“Angelo was given a heart with which to love.”
“That may be so, but more was expected of him.”
“So, you punish him for falling in love with me and fathering a child. Why was I not punished?”
“You did nothing to deserve punishment,” he said. “As for Aria, we love her very much, but she is the first of her kind. We don’t know what she will be capable of.”
“She’s a child, Michael.”
“A very special child,” he said. “You must see it from our side–your mortal life was coming to its natural end, your body dying, decaying from the inside out. Your soul had broken free, ready for its final journey and you were never supposed to conceive–it wasn’t your destiny.”
“But it happened.”
“Yes, it did, and we still don’t know why,” he mused. “Aria is the very first of her kind. It has never happened before.”
“So, He didn’t tell you why he allowed me to conceive her?”
“Our Lord does not answer to us,” he replied, curtly. “We answer to him,” he said, an air of finality. “If He deems it to be...”
“Talk to him, please.”
“And say what?”
“That my daughter did nothing wrong and deserves to grow up with her mother and father.”
I’d caught his full attention. “I’m not saying I disagree with you, but Angelo is an angel with one very strict purpose to his existence.”
“But Angelo is one of God’s children, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” Michael replied. “But I fail to see the comparison.”
“He knows his father, Aria doesn’t.”
Michael bowed his head. “Your argument has merit, Gabriella.”
“Then help me, but if you won’t help me, help Aria.” I would do anything for my daughter, even beg if I have to. “She asks more and more questions as the days go by.” I had to make Michael see sense. “In Earth years, she is five years old, but all she knows are the Heavens. I can tell her where I come from, and of my own family, but what of her father’s family–if he even has one? I don’t know.”
“Tell her of Earth,” Michael encouraged.
“I’d be telling her about things she could never understand because she’s never seen what I’m talking about.”
Thunder crashed outside.
He rose to his feet. “It is time to take my leave.”
“Will you help me?”
“Yes,” he said, and in a heartbeat, he was gone.
Chapter Twenty
No matter how hard I tried, sleep evaded me.
Tossing and turning, I decided enough was enough and climbed out of bed before creeping across the landing to check on Aria.
She was fast asleep, thumb in her mouth. It was a habit I’d tried to help her break, but nothing worked, and besides, she looked so cute. Other children had a comfort blanket, she had her thumb.
Closing the door quietly, I made my way downstairs, and opened the front door gently, wanting to sit in my rocking chair.
I sat down and rocked, my thoughts crowded once more.
Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to the forest a little way from my house.
Gabriella. I heard the call and stood up.
Suddenly forked lightning split the violet skies.
I made my way to the end of my garden and across the field, before walking through the dense foliage.
Lightning struck a tree a few metres from my current location.
I rushed toward the tree as a blinding light illuminated the forest. I stepped into a clearing, my mouth agape.
“Hello, Gabriella,” the voice said, from within the light. “I am pleased to finally talk with you.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I have many names, but you probably know me better as God.”
“Oh, my…”
“Exactly,” he said, a hint of humour in his voice.
The light burned brighter, but it didn’t hurt my eyes.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Is talking with me not what you’ve wished for?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Then, I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long.”
“Did Michael speak to you?”
“Everything my children see, I see,” he revealed.
“Can I see you–the real you, that is?”
“I have only ever allowed the highest ranking amongst my angels to witness my true form…” He paused. “But for you, I will make an exception.”
Although it was what I desired, I was still curious. “What’s so special about me?”
“You are the mother of Aria,” he said.
I stood still, excited and a little scared as a figure stepped out of the light.
How was I supposed to greet the creator of the Universe?
As if he’d read my mind, he offered me his hand, which I took without question. “It is nice to meet you, my child.”
I looked up at him in wonderment. Of all the things I’d been expecting, it wasn’t this.
Most of the angels I’d met stood a little over seven feet tall, but he was taller than the rest.
“You are so beautiful,” I said, bowing in deference.
It seemed disrespectful to look directly at him.
“Why, thank you, that is most kind of you.” He placed his hand under my chin. “You are the mother of Aria and should never bow to anybody.”
I gazed at him.
Humanity was made in his image, I could see that clearly, but he was so much more than we ever could be.
His eyes were like molten gold, and he too, looked like he’d been cast from marble. His hair was golden, longer than his angels’ and flowed behind him.
The creator looked like the perfect creation.
A white shroud covered his body, but from within, he seemed to emit a glow, his skin almost translucent.
He had the most magnificent set of wings–almost twice the width of Michael’s, but as glorious to behold as they were, something about them struck me as odd.
I squinted to take a better look, shocked to realise what was bothering me about them.
His wings seemed to phase in and out of existence, there one second, gone the next.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine you to look like you do.”
“Well now you know,” he said, bowing his head. “But if you please, keep what you have seen to yourself–I prefer the mystery.” He smiled benevolently.
I bowed my head.
“May I speak to you about Aria?”
“It is the reason I am here.”
“Oh?”
“You want me to explain how she came to be, but more important than that, you want Angelo to be a part of her life.”
“Yes,” I said, almost too eager. “To
both.”
“Then we shall deal with the matter of how Aria came to be first, but once again, I must ask you to keep a secret for me.”
“Of course,” I said, even if I didn’t have the faintest idea of what secret I would be keeping.
“You must never reveal what I say to you.” His eyes glowed brightly. “To do so would cause untold panic.”
“I won’t speak a word.”
“Michael is my closest confidante and is the only other being aware of what I am to say to you.” He took my hand. “Do I have your promise?”
“Of course.”
He closed his eyes, his wings fluttering in and out of existence once again. “I’m dying.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Dying,” I said, shocked. “You’re God. That’s impossible.”
“I wish that were the case, but I speak the truth.”
I was aghast, wondering what his death would mean for us all. “But how can you die when you created everything.”
“I always knew this would happen. Millions of years from the time of creation, I would close my eyes and take my first steps into the unknown.”
Tears filled my eyes. “I, I…”
“It is the circle of life, and I am no different because of who I am–I just have a touch longer than most other beings.”
He seemed to be at peace with his own impeding demise.
“Who will watch over us?” I felt selfish asking, but there were billions of people in the Heavens and on Earth. Without God, what would happen to us all?
“Ah, now that is the interesting part, but if you would hear me out first, I’d be grateful.”
“Go on.” I didn’t like where this was heading. I wasn’t qualified to run this place–I wasn’t even an angel.
“Aria will take my place.”
“What?” I exclaimed. My legs buckled. I never expected to hear those words. “My daughter isn’t a God.”
“In time, she will be.”
I was dumbstruck. “But, she’s just a little girl.”
“That is correct, but many years from now, she will develop her own unique gifts, and when that time comes, I will teach her all she needs to know.”
I could feel my anger rising. “You sanctioned her birth because you see the future, don’t you?”
“Do you see my wings?” he asked, ignoring my own question.
“Yes,” I replied. “They’re the most spectacular sight, but they phase in and out of existence.”
“When they disappear,” he said, sadly, “I will die, but before then, I had to take steps to find my replacement. I was in a quandary–after all, I’m the first of my kind, so there is no precedence for what will come to pass. When I discovered you were carrying Angelo’s child, I knew it was meant to be, so I allowed nature to take its somewhat unexpected course.”
“She’s just a little girl,” I repeated, worried at the burden soon to be placed on my daughter’s shoulders.
“Yes, I know, but many Earth years from now, her powers will come into play, and no being will be a match for her.”
“That’s why the other side wanted me, wasn’t it? Because they suspect you’re dying and seeking a replacement.”
“Who am I to speculate on such matters?”
I laughed. “You’re God, and if you don’t know, who else does?”
I knew I had overstepped the mark, but this was my daughter we were talking about. He was mapping out her entire existence and she had no say in the matter.
“Aria is the only person strong enough to take my place.”
“When you die, surely one of your angels is better suited to take over?”
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Better so than my child.”
“Aria is the most innocent being in the entire Cosmos,” he said. “She is the only suitable candidate, and without her, there will be pandemonium.” He paused for a moment. “Humans aren’t yet enlightened enough to live without interference, and as you can testify to, my angels aren’t infallible.”
“So, you expect my daughter to give up her life, and take over when you die?”
“Essentially, yes,” he said. “But give up her life, definitely not. Aria must experience humanity first–live as one so she can empathise with them. That is why I’m sending you both back.”
“Back where?”
“To Earth.”
“But I died. Don’t you think people will wonder why I’ve risen from the grave?”
He winked at me. “We tried that one before and look how that turned out.”
God had a sense of humour. Who knew?
“Oh, yes, I forgot about him.”
He arched his eyebrow. “Tut, tut. Gabriella.”
“Sorry.” Thinking of Jesus gave me an idea. “Why can’t he take over?”
“Because Aria is the chosen one.”
“But how will I go back to my old life? As far as my family and friends are concerned, I’m dead.” I swiped my finger across my neck.
“I’m God, remember?”
Immediately, I was humbled.
“I’m sorry if I appear disrespectful, but this is a lot to take in.”
“Yes, and there is no need to apologise. Your concern is born of love for your child and I would expect nothing less. Aria will need you, and her father, when the time comes.”
“How long do we have?”
“You will all live a long and healthy life, but when the time comes, you and Angelo will return together, in preparation for Aria’s arrival.”
“When will I tell her what she is, and what is expected of her?”
“Aria already knows what she is, and what she will be.”
“How?”
He smiled. “Your daughter and I have been friends for a while now.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going to ask.”
“That’s probably wise, but let me say, that little girl of yours drives a hard bargain.”
“What do you mean?”
“As young as she is, Aria wants to take my place, but her only concern was for you and the father she had never met.”
“Oh, no, I’m sorry if she…”
He held up his hand to silence me. “Before she agreed, there were certain terms I had to agree to.”
I was mortified. “I’m so sorry she held you to ransom–Aria can be a madam when she wants to be.”
He nodded but appeared good natured about it. “I love Aria like she is my own daughter, and when the time comes, I can move on knowing everything I’ve protected will be safe, and besides, she won’t be swayed. Her stubbornness will only serve her well over the course of time.”
“How long do we have left here?”
“Enough time to say goodbye, for now, at least, to your friends and family here.”
“What will I tell them?”
“That you and Aria are carrying out a secret mission for me. It’s not unheard of, and that way, they won’t dig too deeply into your departures.”
“You have it all worked out?”
“That’s my job,” he said. “And what a job it is. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, but I’m still not happy about the forced retirement.”
“You have earned so much more than that. I have no idea what lies beyond the heavens, but I know you will be happy.”
“Thank you, my child.”
He bent down and kissed my cheek.
“You have until this time tomorrow to set your affairs in order.”
Twenty-four hours didn’t seem long enough. “What about Angelo?”
“All in good time,” he replied. “Now, I must take my leave.”
He held my face in his hands. I looked up and he kissed me again, this time on the tip of my nose. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mother of Aria.”
I felt a wave of emotion. “I love you.” My response took me by surprise. But, it was true.
“That’s as it should be.”
Chapter Twenty
-Two
God stepped away from me.
Again, I noticed his wings phase in and out.
“Thank you,” I said.
“It is I who should thank you. When the time comes, I can go in peace.” He looked at peace. “Now, my dear, Gabriella, it is time for you to return to your daughter.”
“Oh, no, Aria.” I’d forgotten she was alone and had no idea of how much time had lapsed. “Is she okay?”
“She sleeps soundly and dreams, but somebody else awaits your return.”
“Oh?”
“I suggest you hurry–five years is a long time, and Angelo isn’t the most patient of my angels.”
“Angelo!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, and now our time is at an end.”
“Are you certain she is the one?”
“With all that I am, I know Aria is the one to succeed me.”
“Then I have to believe in your word.”
“I only ever wanted what was best for my children. I’ve made my own share of mistakes, but trust me when I say, this is the only way.”
He bent forward and kissed me on each cheek.
Moments later, he was engulfed within the light once again.
I closed my eyes, feeling his divinity course through my veins.
Then, he was gone.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The forest was now in total darkness, but it mattered little.
I could see in the dark and knew my way back.
Turning around, I bolted in the direction of my little house.
My heartbeat quickened. I came to an abrupt stop as I noticed Angelo watching me from across the field in front of my house. It was everything I had prayed for, but my feet wouldn’t move.
“Angelo,” I whispered. Was I dreaming?
I hear you, my darling.
Seconds later, he took flight, his wings carrying him toward me.
“I’ve missed you so much.” I cried, as he swooped down and lifted me off my feet.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. My beautiful angel was with me, where he belonged.
Our lips met, and for the first time in five years, I felt whole again.
Angel Of Mine Page 7