Introduction

Castiel stares across the empty park, watching leaves fall from the tree and get gusted away. He had nothing else to do, ever since Dean Winchester had died his life had been dull, empty. He would wander from place to place, not speaking to anyone, not really paying attention to anyone. Nothing interested him anymore, he didn't care what was going on in the world or what anyone was doing. Nothing mattered to him anymore.

Heaven, upon finding out Dean had died, decided to make Castiel live on his own in the world was punishment enough. Sam had passed as well, but he never let his mind drift to that. Thinking of the life he had spent with the brothers would only make him feel even more miserable. The demons had found out as well and had an unspoken agreement with the angels to let Castiel suffer in the world. Death would only bring him peace and neither side wanted that.

He didn't know how many years had passed, all he knew is that every second felt like an hour, every minute felt like a day, every day felt like a month, and every month felt like several years. There was no one he could talk to that would understand either. Even if there was, talking to someone about it wouldn't make him feel any better. He had betrayed Heaven for Dean, fought Hell for Dean, and Dean had shown him how to live freely. But that didn't matter anymore did it? Because after Dean died it took away his reason to keep fighting, and now there was nothing to live for.

Whenever he saw a couple, or a family together it made him ache, so he tried avoiding people. Which is why he was sitting on a park bench without a single person in sight. He had tried focusing on other things, but it always gave him a reminder. Whenever he tried watching TV some commercial with a hamburger would come on, or it would remind him of some other thing about Dean. He tried reading too but there were reminders through every book he had attempted to read. So now he would focus on not focusing on anything. It was the easiest way to stay out of pain.

What Castiel didn't know is that there was a miracle on the way, one that would brighten his world immensely, and it all started with a silent prayer. 'I wish you were here Dean. Father, if you're listening, please bring him back to me.'