Terra Firma

“Isn’t this breathtaking!” Angel opened the window and said, looking outside. Her deep breaths took in the fresh air from the outside. Once again, I thought how beautiful she was.

The dirt road led through a landscape of scraggily brush and cacti with a jagged mountain of red rock - their destination. How did she talk him into driving a car hundreds of miles to nowhere?
The tires bounced on the dirt road, sending the windows rattling, along with the glove box and the plastic pieces of the dash. I squinted against the harsh sun, and wished I'd remembered my sunglasses. They were back on my dresser where I'd left them, too anxious to think straight.
A roadrunner dashed across the road, and he swerved to avoid turning the poor creature into road-kill. “How did you know I’d help you?” I asked.

An uncommon lightness touched my shoulder, “You’re full of grace.”

I slammed on the brakes. The tires spat up bits of rock, a cacophony of discordant sound as they hit the underbelly of the car. The car engine hummed.“Why did you stop?” A veil dropped over her eyes.

Calm as a serene lake, nothing to break the smooth surface of her expression, I trembled in my seat. “Where’re we going?” I demanded, and kept my gaze on the horizon. I refused to become lost in her beauty, and clutched the steering wheel.

“To the mountain.” She blinked black lights. I slumped in my seat, resting my forehead on the steering wheel. “Tell me the truth.” I begged.

“I did.”

Did I feel sick?

Sliding beside her, I touched her hair and an overwhelming feeling of love surprised me. I could smell the lavender, once again. My hands started shivering to grasp onto her coat. Fingers caught in the folds of the fabric.

My face moved across to her neck. She pulled away, without even seeing my action. Not his time, not now - I thought. Although it was very hard to resist.I put my foot on the gas pedal and maneuvered onto the road. Angel's hair strands flew out the window like streamers. My hands gripped the wheel and my eyes stayed fixed on the road. The red mountain loomed closer, only a few more minutes. I stepped on the gas and the landscape blurred.

Angel sat there like a praying monk, with her eyes closed, hands in lap. She spoke gently, “You know something? I think you expect too much from people. You want them to fill up your emptiness". You can only do this by opening your heart, more.”

“I’ve no heart. Didn’t you listen?” I almost shouted and guided the car to a halt at the foot of a bell-shaped mountain.

I found myself driving several hundred miles to a place unknown, all on faith. A vast open space of nothing, and my stomach grumbled, my hands dancing on the steering wheel. I believed in God but not much in angelic beings. Abstractly, I conjured images of angels from books I read from childhood. Here I am, testing my faith and surprise, surprise,..! An angel is sitting next to me. Staring out the window, my face shuttered.

“Does your name have a meaning?” she queried.

“It’s impossible to translate my name into angelic tongue. We’re not named in the same way as you are. It’s more a musical sound. It roughly means Happiness"

I rested my head against the backrest and hummed a tune trying to hold her hand. I dont know if she liked the feel of my hand. The sky appeared to change colours, turning purple and pink at the same time. The sun became a ball of sliver before it disappeared below the wall of mountains. I could sense that Angel started shivering and I helped rolling up her side of the window. The lavender scent pierced through my nostrils and a vacuum of silence descended.

I squeezed her hand and let go.

I swept back, mildly touching her breasts and managed to touch her glossy lips, in a flash.

I say "you are a beautiful angel.”

My foot slipped off the pedal and the car careened across the dividing line. oncoming cars honked, fear slowed down time, the smell of burned rubber whiffed up my nose, a squeak rising from my throat. The leather wheel sweated in my hands. Cars missed us by inches, and our car twirled in circles before stopping on the side of the road. Not a ruffle of concern broke Angel's composure, I stared at Angel with my mouth opened. “You did this. Saved me from an accident. Or worse, from getting killed.”

“Of course,” she winked. “I can’t have you dying in my care."

“She didn’t want to be thanked.” I scratched my chin.

She pointed to a mountain that resembled a giant rusty bell. “There’s where I must go. Stop the car! I can walk the rest of the way.