Terra Firma

It had been a long and tiring day and sleep started reflecting on my eyelids that felt like they were being propped open by matchsticks, as once more I started to try and scan the skies. I did not know what I was looking for; all I had was a memory, A beautiful memory, and the soft feel of a kiss that still tingled on my lips. Sleep was not far away and with it would come the memory, the happiness and once again the pain. Then the whole cycle would start again. The constant scanning of the skies and the searching for my Angel.

When had it started? Days, weeks maybe even months ago. I tried to remember - it did not happen in an instant, nor was it love at first sight. Letting out a little laugh, I realized it had been years!

Angel was struggling to get a hang of the concept of time in musical rhythms and equating them to note values - from crotchets to quavers and minims to semi-breves. The thin silver bracelet on her right-hand wrist dangled tiny elephants!

"Can I see that?", I ask.

She stretched her arm, for me to see. My failing vision was rather poor and I couldnt get a decent look without getting any closer. I hold her palm to bring the wrist closer within visible range. The soft, smooth and silky texture of her skin sent a shiver up my spine. The scent of lavender was rather faint but soothing, nevertheless. I almost ended up giving her a kiss but refrained, for I knew there would be a better place and a better time.

I had been walking through the hillocks, on a weekend getaway. Enjoying the countryside and just being with nature. The day was fine, the sun was merciful and I was at peace with the world.
Suddenly, as can only happen in my village, the weather changed. Before I could gather myself and start heading back to the safety my desolate ancestral home, where I was staying, the woods were covered in mist.

I made my way slowly along the path. As I went further on, I found myself lost, totally, utterly lost.

I came upon a small cave by the hillside, where I decided to rest until the weather cleared. I was not bothered, I needed no food nor water, if the weather didn't break for a while. I settled down, looking out into the mist, breaking off a piece of tapioca I had pulled out on my way.

As I gazed into the mist and munched on another bite of the root, the mist made the shapes of the rocks outside look like all kinds of monsters and demons. I laughed at the tricks the mist was playing on my imagination, for one of the shapes almost looked like a person walking towards me. I looked again, straining to make out the shape. It was not a trick of the mist, it was a person who was heading straight for the cave where I now sat huddled against cold and damp.

"Are you sleeping?" the voice was very familiar.

I get up and wave at the female figure.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked.

I was still in my dreams and she had to give me a hard push to wake me from my dreams. "I was thinking of something else", I said.

"Thinking of what?" she asked.

"I can't remember", I said.

"You must have been dreaming" she commented.

'That's what I always did and always do', I told to myself.

"What is all this - the medal and the letters"?

"I wanted to give this to you, long time back, but I'm sorry, I didnt get to you, earlier" I said, regretfully.

"Better late than never" she was sarcastic. "You always take more time than necessary."

I grinned, "Sure, when I do good things, I always take a lot of time ".

She smiled that smile again and took a seat by the couch in the room.

The dark sky outside showed no signs of clearing immediately. Realizing that we had a whole night ahead of us I began to wonder what would happen next!

We started chatting even before I knew it, I was telling her all about my life and how it was until before I came to see her. She seemed to understand every thing I said. She did not make any comments, just the odd words of agreement or knowing. I knew she understood everything.

I laughed "You're not just an angel. You are a guardian Angel," I said "the way you understand these things..." I looked up as she caught her breath and a look flashed across her face, temporarily removing the smile, but only for a second. Instead of saying anything, she moved a bit, adjusting her seating position.

Our converstion slowly faded and died. It was cold but we had each other and the night went on. I cant remember when my arms reached for her or hugs turned into kisses. It seemed so natural and so right, to me. Soft kisses and tender words faded and soon led to sleep.

I don't know when it was or what woke me. The sun was just starting to fight its way through the mist and I felt so warm and so comfortable, like being covered by a feathered quilt. I moved to find that my Angel and the softness moved with me. My half sleeping eyes realized that indeed feathers, feathers that belonged to a set of wings, covered me. I could see a golden halo
surrounding the face of my angel.

"Hush..." she said "You're all right. I told you this was my second home, but now I must return to my first. You are safe and the mist is starting to clear."

She stood up, an Angel shining bright, and I just stood there unable to move. She moved and gently, softly kissed me on the lips. "That," she said "Is for being you". She kissed me again, a kiss so soft, and so full of love, my heart seemed almost to grow wings like my angel's.

With that, the light around her grew brighter, and slowly with a last look of pure love, she turned and started to fly away, moving up towards the lifting clouds. The mist cleared and I was all alone, again. I could not move, didn't want to move. Something had just happened to me, which I could not understand. I was still sitting there, hours later, just staring up into the clouds, when
neighbours came out looking for me. They thought I was suffering from exposure or mountain sickness. How could tell them I was in love with an Angel!?

So here I was, whenever I could, as I had been every waking moment I could spare, walking the hills and just gazing at the sky, dreaming of a pair of black eyes and a smile that outshone the sun. I know she is there, no matter where I am.