The Angel
By
Michelle Naylor
Part 3
Ezra took a deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth, slowly. Another one, in and out.
Ok, blood pressure level coming down. That's it, nice and easy.
He regarded the woman in front of him. The quite obviously crazy woman.
"My what?"
"Guardian angel." She repeated. "Or spirit guide if you prefer. More politically correct as they say. I myself still like to called by the proper term."
"That's it." Ezra moved from behind the bar and grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her along with him as he walked to the door. "Please leave. I do hope you've enjoyed your fun and games tonight."
"I can't leave, Ezra." She said.
"Yes you can." He opened the door and pushed her out. "Good-night now." He slammed the door shut, then stood there a moment. He leaned his forehead against the door and groaned.
Lord, why him? Was he being tested? Was that it?
"It's not a test, but if it where I would say you've just failed miserably."
"God damn!" Ezra jumped back from the door and whirled around. There she was, standing in the middle of his living room with her arms crossed over her chest.
She screwed her face up and shuddered. "There's another one. Let's make a deal, as long as I'm here you'll curb the tongue, okay?"
"How did….how could you….I kicked you out." With the thumb of one hand he pointed behind him to the door.
"Yeah, and it really wasn't a nice thing to do."
Ezra rubbed the back of his head where it had connected with the wall before. "I have a concussion, right? I knocked myself out and I'm dreaming."
She was next to him before he could blink. She reached out and pinched him arm hard.
"Ouch!"
"Alright, I guess that proved your not dreaming."
Ezra backed away from her. She was not a dream or a hallucination, she was definitely real, and she was scaring him to death.
Death. Chris. Oh no.
"No you don't. I do not intend to let you wallow in despair anymore. Your such a pitiful sight when you're feeling sorry for yourself, did you know that?"
"I don't know who you are, but you are not an angel, and I will not stand here and let myself be insulted."
"I told you, my name is Sirena. Sir-A-Na." She pronounced for him. "And in spite of what you say, I am an angel. I'm your angel, and I'm here to help you."
"Help me." He laughed, and dropped his tired body onto the couch. "Oh, that's rich. Tell me, angel, if you are here to help me, were exactly where you this evening?"
"There was a mistake." She said as she sat on the chair across from him.
"I'll say. The wrong person died tonight. I should be the one lying on a slab in the morgue. Is that it, angel, are you here to take me away?"
"Would you stop saying 'angel' as if it where a dirty word? And for your information; no, you were not supposed to die tonight, and neither was Chris."
"So why did he?" Ezra gave her a once over. Hey, she may or may not be an angel, but she was still an attractive woman, and he wasn't so despondent that he wouldn't notice that. Dark brown hair curled softly around her face. Her very angelic face. Clear translucent skin, like fine porcelain, blue eyes that seemed to reflect everything around him. If he looked deep enough he might even be able to see his own soul.
"There was a sort of….burp in the universe."
If she was an angel, she was the strangest one he's even met. Not that he'd met many to compare by, or course. "A burp? What happened, God have too much chili for supper?"
"Funny." She said, not even trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice. "You know, things are not always as cut and dry as you'd like them to be. Mistakes are made."
"Well, gosh-golly, gee-whiz, whatdaya know, even God makes mistakes." Ezra leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He had the worst headache of his life, pounding with a vengeance behind his eyes. Chris was dead and now he was going nuts. Seeing angels of all things.
"Yes, He does. And he is the first to admit that. So, that is why you're being given the chance to correct it."