Angel Switch

Chapter 1 – Ashriel

“Please... please... please... help my mommy!”

I didn’t have the exact time, since it is inconsequential in The Garden. I was doing my usual walk when I heard Maya’s cry again. This is the seventh night that I hear the same prayer from her. I closed my eyes and sent myself to her bedroom.

I come in light. Sometimes, when I stay a bit longer, and when few people see me, they thought of me like a ghost, but believers think otherwise. They think of me like an apparition, a sign from heaven.

I am more than a ghost or an unexpected phenomenon.

My name is Ashriel, and I belong to the second triad, and my main domain is keeping the balance in the universe. I have been here on earth for as long as I remember, always busy moving around, carrying out my duties as God wishes, and sharing my gifts to every humankind. I have been everywhere, and at times, I would sit with humans in the church, in their homes, in their workplace, listening to their heartfelt prayers. It’s not my main duty but I love interacting with humans even if they don’t see me. I love playing with children, sharing joy with humans who are feeling down, but most importantly, delivering their messages to heaven.

Today, I appeared in Maya’s bedroom for the seventh time. I never question why I could hear her cries and pleas. She may be just six years old, yet her prayers are pure. It was always before her bedtime when she utters her prayers. When I came, she was kneeling down, arms propping in her bed, and hands folding together as she whispers her prayers.

“Dear angel, please... please... please tell God to heal my mommy. I want my mommy to come home. Please... please... please...I promise I’ll be a good girl, just please heal my mommy.” Her prayers are like a loop as she asks the same thing. I knew it was a desperate cry as tears roll in her cheeks while saying her prayers.

I sighed. I may have the gift of healing, but I can never use that power unless it is needed and permitted. Although I have delivered her messages above, just like her I have been waiting for His answer for Maya and her mommy.

'Ashriel,’

 I raise my head. It has been a long time since I heard someone calling my name.

‘Ashriel,’

I smiled. Haamiah doesn’t have to call me twice. He knew I heard him the first moment he called my name.

I waited until Maya climbs to her bed, then I pluck one soft, white feather from my wings as a gift. I watch as it floats in the air, then sparks like a tiny firework, shimmering as it fell invisibly in her forehead. Her message has been sent to heaven. Before I left, I kissed her forehead. As she was drifting into a deep sleep, Maya received my gift, a good dream with her mommy.

I closed my eyes and sent myself back to The Garden. When I open my eyes, I was standing in the middle of the most beautiful garden no human has ever seen. It wasn’t like a garden on earth, but somewhere in between. The Garden is a resting place for souls as they wait for their judgment. Most souls, oblivious of what happened to them on earth, wait for usually nine days to forty days to know whether they could finally ascend to heaven, be reincarnated, or descend to hell for eternity.

 ‘Ashriel,’

I turned around to see the angel calling my name.  

‘Haamiah,’ I acknowledged, then turned my eyes on the tree. The rustling of its leaves sounded like music.

‘How’s Maya?’ he asked.

‘Heartbroken,’ I answered, now turning my gaze on my wings growing a feather. ‘I believe I have a mission?’ I asked Haamiah, a call from him means a special mission.

‘Yes, you have three special missions on earth,”

‘Three?’ I asked.

A scroll magically appeared in his hand. I have three missions, yet only one scroll appeared. It means I have to go or see my first mission before the second scroll comes into sight.

‘Your first mission, you are to go back to earth, and bring Corynne Johnson’s soul here so she can be judged,’

 ‘This is His answer to Maya’s prayer,’ I suddenly pang as I remember the little girl’s prayer. ‘I wonder why this mission is given to me,’ He knew I am not a soul-bringer.

‘He chose you for a reason, Ashriel,’ his parting words before he disappeared.

Choosing me for a simple task means a difficult mission, I thought. I closed my eyes to go to my destination, the first of my three missions.

I was not surprised when I appeared in the lobby of the hospital. This has been commonplace for soul-bringers. I assumed that I will be bringing a rich, dying person because the institution is not only big but a private hospital that looks more like a world-class resort than a typical hospital. The waiting areas don’t just have chairs but they were divided into themes, perhaps according to the preference of a client or patient. There were also self-service check-in kiosks, but the traditional front desk was still there, but beautiful and handsome personnel in their white uniform entertain the questions.

I can actually make myself appear in Corynne’s room, but most of the time, I love taking my time observing humans and my surrounding. I walk like the others in the hallway and even squeeze myself into the elevator with them even though they cannot see me.

When I reached her floor, I did not enter the room yet. I leaned on the wall and waited for someone to open the door. The night is still young, so I knew she will still have visitors.

It was only a few minutes of waiting when a man wearing an elegant business suit came by but halted in front of the closed door. He heaved a sigh many times before holding the doorknob, just holding but not turning it.

I looked at him intently. I have watched countless humans in my existence but I have never been interested in their physical looks before. For me, all humans are beautiful, but I couldn't stop my fascination with him. He is a rare jewel, and I think he has the most alluring face compared with others.

I moved closer to him and tilted my head to have a better angle of his face. He has the most beautiful, but sad... very sad eyes. I raised my hand, hoping to trace his pointed nose and sensual lips with my fingers, but I was startled when his cellphone rang. For me, it was like waking up from a nightmare because, for the first time, I felt the desire.

He sighed as he took the call, and turned his back on the door. Suddenly, I had the urge to follow him as he walk away, but the nurse came and went inside the room. I gave one last look to the most beautiful human being I have ever encountered before following the nurse.

Upon entering the room, I realized how rich Corynne is. Otherwise, her family wouldn’t be able to afford this private room in this hospital. The VIP room looked like a suite in a five-star hotel, and the only difference is on the side of her bed is the medical equipment.

I walked towards her bed. Her eyes were closed, but she was not asleep. She seemed to be waiting for someone. This is one of the rules when we take special missions, we cannot know anything in advance about our subject.

I sat on the chair and propped my arms on the bed. I stared at her. Corynne has a striking beauty even in her condition now. My wings spread, having the urge to give her a gift, to soothe her distress even a little, but I knew it will be useless. Her time has come already, and soon she will be free from all her pain, and she will be at peace.

I stand up and walk around the room as I wait for her. 

In the living room, I found her parents-in-law. I could feel their grieving hearts, but someone was somehow making them smile. I peek behind their back, and like them, I was delighted.

A gift! 

I gazed at God’s greatest gift to humans, lying in a hospital crib. He is only a few weeks old, still tiny and adorably pink. I traced my finger on his right ear. The baby curved a charming smile on his lips.

“Look, he smiled!” The old woman beamed.

I tickled his other ear, making the baby move and smile again.

The grandfather chuckled. “Ah, his guardian angel must be playing with him,” he said as he took a picture of his grandchild still smiling.

I lightly touched his nose. He sneezed, which awed the two. I still wanted to play with the baby, but suddenly I felt strong energy around the room.

I squinted my eyes as I searched the area. The machine wouldn’t lie. The flat line sound meant Corynne was gone. The next thing happened fast, the doctors and nurses dashed to the room to revive her, but her physical body has already expired.

I still couldn’t relax as the energy was getting stronger, and the temperature rose. My eyes searched and I got myself ready. Then it happened. The lights in the room went off for a few seconds, enough for the evil spirit to devour the place with darkness.

Angry, I spread my wings to protect the room but the malevolent spirit already escaped, taking Corynne’s soul.