I looked down upon the world from my cloud perch with a heavy sigh. ‘You never realize how wonderful life is until it’s gone,’ I thought to myself sadly. Now don’t get me wrong, life in Heaven was great, maybe even perfect... too perfect. There was no hatred, crime, anger, or anguish. So why did I feel so empty?
I let out another long sigh and stood up slowly. It was time for me to find Maria, my teacher. To become a full-fledged Guardian Angel and receive your wings, one had to complete five different tasks, each getting progressively harder as you go along. Because I had only completed four tasks, I was still an A.I.T., or Angel In Training. That day I was to be assigned my fifth task.
“Miranda! Miranda, I have wonderful news!” I turned around to see Maria coming towards me with a large object to her hands.
“What?” I asked flatly, not caring at the moment what Maria’s news was.
“You’ve just been assigned your fifth task,” Maria informed me. She showed me the object she was carrying, a large clear crystal ball. “Here, gaze into the ball.”
’This is really stupid,’ I thought, rolling my eyes.’ I thought we were Angels, not Gypsies.’
“You aren’t a Gypsy, Miranda,” Maria answered my thoughts curtly. Maria was a full-fledged Angel, they can read minds. “Why must you be so difficult all the time? Any normal mortal would be elated to become an Angel, why can’t you at least show a little enthusiasm?”
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
“Now watch the ball,” she commanded. I gazed at the ball as Maria began to speak again. “Your fifth task involves matching up two mortals who are destined to be soul mates.”
“I thought we weren’t supposed to mess with fate,” I quipped.
“In this case, we must.” A girl in her early twenties appeared in the ball. She seemed kind of on the dorky side. “This is Eve. It is your job to match her up with this man.” The image switched to a young man, also in his early twenties. He was incredibly handsome; he had curly brown hair and the most amazing pair of blue eyes I had ever seen. But somehow, I knew him. Then the painful memories began flooding back to me...
“Brian, what are you doing?” I whined impatiently as we stood in the snack food section of a local Convenience store. “We were supposed to be at Nick’s an hour ago for his party.”
“I’m trying to find some good junk food,” Brian answered with annoyance hinting in his voice. “You know Nick never has anything good... ooh Cheetos! I love cheese!”
“Yeah, I know,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “So are you done?”
Brian took once last glance at the three rows stocked high with junk food. He grabbed another bag of Cheetos and turned towards me. “I’m ready. You aren’t made at me, are you Miranda?” he asked with an over-exaggerated pout.
“Of course not Bri, how could I ever be mad at you?”
He leaned in to kiss me, but the uptight clerk at the cash register ruined the mood. “Excuse me, are you ready yet?” the man asked with a thick Hindu accent.
Brian sighed. “Yeah, we’re ready.” He grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before we headed over to the register.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“That will be-”
Suddenly the man who was looking at the rack of magazines whipped around, brandishing a gun. “Nobody move!” he commanded. I felt Brian’s grip on my hand tighten as we slowly tried to back away from the man with the gun. “I thought I said don’t move?!” He pulled me away from Brian and with his free hand forced the gun into my temple. I held my breath to keep from screaming as I felt my heart pound like a jackhammer in my chest.
Brian’s once bright blue eyes glazed over with fear. “Please, don’t hurt her.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt her... as long as you hand over the money.” The man pulled me with him closer to the register. His grip on me was too tight to even attempt to get away from him.
The man behind the register quickly threw the money across the counter towards us.
“You have what you want, now please, let her go.” Brian pleaded.
The man put the gun down to his side loosened his grip on me. Brian took a step closer. As he did the man redirected the gun and a shot rang out. I felt the bullet go through my body and I crumpled to the floor in a heap.
Brian ran over and knelt down next to me . “Miranda, baby, sweetie... talk to me.”
I felt a sharp stabbing pain shoot through my body and my mind started getting hazy. “Brian... I’m sorry... I’m not gonna make it... I-I... love you.” My eyelids felt heavy, and they started to close.
“Miranda... MIRANDA! No, no wake up! Wake up!” Brian clutched me close to his body as he let out an anguished cry. “I love you, you can’t leave me!”
“I.. love... you.” I last thing I saw was Brian’s anguished and tear-stained face before the blackness closed in permanently...
“Miranda? Miranda, are you okay?” Maria asked worriedly as she waved her hand in front of my face. “What I saw in your mind... is that how you died? That man in my crystal ball was your boyfriend?”
I nodded slowly as tears filled my eyes to the brim. “I can’t do it Maria, I just can’t. Brian is my boyfriend, not that wench’s!” The hot tears overflowed and spilled onto my cheeks. “Do you hear me? He’s mine!” I turned and ran. I didn’t care where I was going, just as long as I was far away from my task.
