Chapter 10

A month later, a terrible scene was playing out. Jack, Janet, Chrissy, and I surrounded Monica outside of the apartment building. Chrissy was in tears as she wrapped her arms around Monica and held onto her with a certain desperation that only a best friend would have. I felt a few imminent tears in my head as Jack held onto my hand comfortingly. Janet's lip quivered slightly as she stared at Monica with eyes filled with misery.

"Monica, do you really have to go?" Chrissy whined desolately.

The solemn angel's Irish grin was a little less cheery today as she looked at Chrissy. Somehow, though she radiated with an angelic presence, I could feel that she was slightly human at that moment. She pushed some hair back from Chrissy's face and gave a small smile.

"Oh, Chrissy, it will be okay," Monica insisted softly. "God has you in His arms. You don't need me. You need Him."

"I know," Chrissy sighed, wiping away a few tears. "But you're my friend, Monica. I'll miss you so much."

"You'll definitely see me again, though," Monica whispered, giving me a wink. "Perhaps not here, but…there. You know."

"Yeah," Chrissy beamed, her whole face lighting up with joy. "I can't wait."

I attempted to disappear behind Jack as tears started to pour from my eyes. As I watched Monica give her compassionate, loving glances to everyone, I understood that I was going to miss her terribly. She had been a rock for me when I was fretting about finances, when I was having Jack drama, and even when Mr. Roper wouldn't come over to fix our plumbing. Certainly, she had become the best friend I had ever had.

Suddenly, her eyes met with mine, and I swiftly tried to wipe away all of the tears running down my cheeks. But, as she pulled me out from behind Jack, and I just fell into her arms and wept freely. I felt her hand gently pat the back of my head as if I were a poor child, and definitely felt like one.

"It's okay, Brooke," I heard her whisper in her comforting Irish accent. "Didn't you hear what I just told Chrissy?"

"Yes, Monica," I sniffled. "But you've been so wonderful to have here. I just don't know what I'll do without you."

"Oh, you'll do fine," she grinned mischievously. "You don't need me as a roommate. You'll be able to afford everything."

"What?" I questioned, looking at her curiously. "I wasn't thinking about money."

"You see, I think you'll be moving out of that apartment very soon," she continued on merrily. "But you'll have a new roommate. Perhaps more than a roommate."

She glanced towards Jack, and I quickly looked over at him. He gave a small blush before looking at the ground. I couldn't help hoping Monica was giving me a very truthful glimpse into the future.

"But all within marriage, alright?" she implored with an anxious smile.

"Of course," I replied quietly.

After Monica gave everyone a last, warm grin, a red Cadillac convertible drove up the street and parked on the road beside us. Tess, Monica's enthusiastic "mother" was driving, and she had the same loving eyes as Monica. But her gaze was incredibly motherly towards Monica, and I wouldn't have doubted that they were related if their looks weren't so different.

"Oh, we'll miss you, Monica," Janet assured, giving the angel one last hug.

"I can't wait to see you again!" Chrissy exclaimed, following Janet in a huge hug for Monica.

"You've been a real swell friend, Monica," Jack smiled, pulling Monica in for a quick hug.

Finally, my angelic roommate with the kind eyes and the Irish accent looked at me. Her gentle beam created a certain moment where I could feel the love in which she was sent to us. She was an angel, a messenger of God who had delivered not only a message, but a whole new lifestyle for all of us. It was now clear what life was really supposed to be.

"I'm going to miss you so much," I insisted, wrapping my arms around her.

"Me too," she admitted softly. "An angel can miss people too, you know?"

"I believe it," I smiled. "Will we ever see you again before…well, you know."

"I certainly hope so," she replied kindly. "Goodbye, Brooke."

"Goodbye, Monica."

She squeezed my hand quickly and then entered the beautiful, red Cadillac. Her Irish grin shone upon the four of us once more before her and Tess drove off into the Santa Monica sunset.

"I'm sorry, did she just say that she was an angel?" Jack suddenly asked, leaning towards my ear.

"Maybe," I smirked. "But I wouldn't doubt her if she did."