"Erik! Wake up!"

His eyes snapped open; was he dead? Was this the beginnings of hell?

"Erik!"

His head turned and he saw something he was sure he would never see. His intelligence failed him and he stared at the creature that had manifested itself in front of him.

"Erik? Are you listening to me?"

What he saw was an angel. He blinked to make sure he wasn't wrong. But there she was; tall and all in white. A glowing presence surrounded her and lit the oppressive darkness of the small house by the lake.

Her hair was as black as jet and from her back spread two large, magnificent wings of pure white. And her face…Erik had never seen anything as beautiful as her face. She looked as though she had been kissed my Apollo; pale pink cheeks and fresh pure skin. Her eyes…Erik must have stared into them for a full three minutes. Blue and green and so bright!

"Erik, are you paying attention to me?"

The creature speaks! Erik had never heard a voice more exquisite. Erik had also never been spoken to by such an unearthly beauty. He hardly new what to say, he could only stare into her bright eyes. And she looked right back at him; Erik knew he was not wearing a mask. And yet the creature looked right at him, at his misshapen lips and twisted skin, without the slightest show of revulsion.

"Erik, for the last time, are you listening to me?"

Her beautiful arms were folded across her chest and she showed signs of being perturbed. Erik had not known angels could be perturbed; but he understood. No doubt this elegant creature resented being sent to deal with such an unworthy monster as him.

"Am I dead?" Erik asked at last.

"Ah so you do have a voice!" The angel said, her beautiful bright eyes narrowed, "No you are not dead, not yet,"

"Then…what are you doing here?" Erik asked her, still staring at her in amazement.

"I am here because of this," The angel came forward and took up Erik's suicide note, "Better off killed at birth! What a mad thing to say!"

For the first time Erik's eyes hardened against the lovely creature in front of him.

"It is only the truth," Erik responded solemnly.

"You think so?" The angel smiled at him. Erik was still staring at her face as though he had never seen one before, and he noted her expression. It was as though she knew absolutely everything in the world; yet she would only be willing to tell so much.

"I know so," Erik said, "What good has my life ever been?"

The angel smiled. It was such a beautiful sight it almost made Erik want to cry. The slight perturbed attitude completely disappearing she moved toward the broken man. She laid her white hand on his shoulder. He stared at it as though no one had ever touched him before.

"Let me show you," She said kindly.