"It was a dark and stormy day.  The boys were all in the hotel doing what ever.  Except Howie.  He just stared at the blank T.v set.  Thinking.  He hadn't moved for about a half an hour.  They others were getting pretty worried.

"D., What's up with you today?  Something wrong with your girlfriend?"  asked Nick.  Howie's thoughts went to his girlfriend Angie,

"No.  That's not it."  he answered still staring at the T.v..  Nick let out a sigh.

"Your thinking about your sister, aren't you?"  Nick asked again.  Howie just nodded.

"I really miss her you know?  I know it's been a long time but I still miss her."  he was on the verge of tears.

"Cheer up buddy.  Caroline wouldn't have wanted to see you like this.  She would want to see you happy."  said Nick.

"She would have also wanted to see my wedding day but that's not going to happen now is it?"  snapped Howie.  He returned to looking at the T.v..  Nick decided he'd better go.

"Remember, we have a sound check at 3;30.  You think you can make it?"  asked Nick.  Howie just nodded.  Nick left the room leaving Howie still staring at the T.v..  He ran his fingers through his hair.  He all of the sudden felt very tired.

"That's it.  I'll take a nap.  That'll bring me around."  he told himself.  He called down to the front desk to call up at 3:00.  He flopped down onto the hotel bed and before knew it, he was asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Howie"  a voice cried.  Howie shot up from his sleep.  Yet he didn't find himself in his room.  He was in the middle of a cemetery.  Before him was a grave stone.  I was covered in dirt.  With curiosity, he went up and wiped it off.  On it was his sisters name, date of birth and death.

"Oh Caroline, why did you have to die?"  he sobbed.  He had begun crying and didn't even know it.  Then the voice came back again.

"Howie,"  He looked up.  No one was there.  Yet the voice continued to say his name.

"Who...Who's there?  Show yourself!"  he yelled.  No answer.  The voice continued.  "Why are you doing this to me?  Just leave me alone!"  He began to get up to run but something held him down.

"Howie."  The voice was now behind him.  Although me was frightened, something made him turn around and look.  He gasped at what he saw.

"Hello baby brother."  said Caroline, a bright light around her.

"Caroline?  Is that really you?"  he asked.  She nodded.  He wiped his face and turned around.  "Caroline!  I've missed you so much!"

"I know.  I've been watching you."  she answered with a smile.

"You have?"  he said with hope.

"Yes Howie.  I am your guardian angel.  I have to watch over you.  It is my duty."  she said.  "You need to stop crying over me."

"But I miss you so much."  he said,

"I know Howie, but you have to move on.  Your girlfriend and your friends need you.  You don't have to worry about me anymore."  she said.

"I will always miss you.  But as you say, I will concentrate on what is with me now."  he asked.

"Exactly.  Promise me that you will stop worrying."  she said.

"I do.  I promise from this day on."  he answered.

"Howie?  Are you in here?"  they heard someone say.  Caroline turned back to Howie.

"I must go now.  You must return to the ones who care about you."  she told him.

"I will never forget this."  he said to her.

"Good-bye Howie."

"Good-bye, Caroline,"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He awoke to feel somebody shaking him.  He looked up to find Angie staring down into his eyes.

"Well finally!  I thought you had died or something!"  she laughed.  He smiled at her and sat up.

"You wouldn't believe the most wonderful dream I had!  I dreamt I was in a graveyard with Caroline's grave in front of me.  Then all of the sudden, there she was!  She told me not to worry about her anymore."  he told Angie in a flash.

"Whoa, looks like somebody's got an angel on their side."  laughed Angie.

"What, besides you?"  he smiled at her.  They kissed deeply.  'Come on.  Lets go for a walk.  I'm feeling a whole lot better."  He took her by the hand and they headed for the door.  His life was now more complete.  For he knew that a guardian angel was real and smiling down on him.

THE END
"This story was in memory of Caroline Dorough"