Tess sat on the couch in the living room, praying for both her angel babies. She could hear Andrew's strong voice rising through the thin walls of the apartment as he did his best to get Monica to open up to him, and Monica's much weaker voice answering back at him. Even though Monica's voice sounded angry and annoyed, it was good to hear ANY emotion coming from the young angel. Ever since they had taken their friend home, Monica had seemed devoid of all emotion, and that frightened Tess. She was starting to think that Andrew wasn't getting through to Monica, but then she heard the younger angel's sobs, and she knew that he had finally torn down the walls she had built up around herself. An almost tangible weight lifted from Tess's heart as she realized that Andrew had helped Monica find the will to fight.
A few minutes later, Tess heard the door to Monica's bedroom open, and her two charges came into the living room. Tess's eyes flew to Monica's, and the older angel saw that the vacuous look that had been there so long was finally gone. "C'mere baby," Tess said, holding her arms out to her younger charge. Monica smiled and sat down on the couch, snuggling into her friend's warm embrace. Tess stroked the Irish angel's thin hair, and said, "It's so good to have you back with us, Angel Girl."
Monica smiled, her eyes still misty. "I'm just so lucky to have friends like you who love me so much."
"That we do, Angel baby," Tess told her, squeezing her friend gently, "That we do."
Monica slowly sat up, wincing as her body protested against the movement. The young angel had noticed that aches in her body were becoming a regular thing as she lost more and more weight. "I have every intention of fighting this…. I just wish I felt…" she paused, "I wish I felt and looked like myself," Monica's soft voice trailed off, and she lowered her dark eyes to her lap.
Andrew knelt down in front of his friend, placing his hands over both of hers. "You do look like yourself to us, Monica. Your human form has changed… that is true… but what we see when we look at you is your spirit, and that is still as beautiful as ever."
"Andrew's right, baby," Tess said. "Like I told you before, what makes you such a beautiful angel is who you are, not what you look like. You human form is still beautiful too, Angel Girl, because it has your spirit inside it." The older angel reached over and placed her hand on Monica's shoulder. "We love you baby, and that love has nothing to do with how long your hair is, or whether or not you even have any. We love Monica, the angel with a heart of gold, and a gentle, loving soul that lives to serve God."
"And we wouldn't have you any other way," Andrew finished.
Monica smiled weakly, a few tears slipping down her cheeks, "Thank you both. I love you, too." She lowered her eyes again, and then sighed. "I'm going to go to bed," she said, rising. "I'm really tired, and I think I might actually get some sleep tonight."
"Are you alright?" Andrew asked, hoping that this wasn't the beginning of a new wall.
"Yes," she said, "I know what you're thinking, Andrew, and I'm not pulling away from you again. I've just got a lot to think about, and I'm tired."
"Ok," He said, "If you need us, we'll be here."
"Thanks," Monica said as she started back to her room.
Andrew waited until Monica had gone into her room and closed the door before turning to Tess. "I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help."
"I'm game, Angel Boy," Tess replied, "What are you thinking?" Andrew sat down next to Tess and began to tell her his plan.
*******
Monica sat on her bed and opened the night table, pulling out her journal. She sat back against the pillows, opened the book to a clean page and began to write…
Well, it's been about a week since the doctors sent me home to die. I had decided to just give in, and let the cancer take me… whatever that might mean for me. But, Andrew had other plans. What started out as a fight turned into one of the best nights I've had in quite a while. I knew in my heart the things that Andrew and Tess told me tonight, but I guess I just needed to hear them. I'm so blessed to have them in my existence, and I'm so relieved that I finally was able to come clean with Andrew. I've missed him so much since this whole thing started, and I didn't even realize how much peace and safety his arms always brought me… until I wouldn't allow myself to be in them.
I'm still scared about what's ultimately going to happen to me though. I know what humans facing death feel now. Even though I'm an angel and I know what happens to people when they die, I have no idea what happens to angels who have died. I don't even know if an angel has EVER experienced death…or if the ones that have aren't Home to tell about it. Is that what God has in store for me? Am I supposed to experience human death? But… my head keeps telling me that angels can't die. I've been in human form too many times to count, but I can only remember one other time that I've felt quite this human… and that's what scares me. Oh Father, even though I haven't come to talk to you, please give me the strength I need to walk the path ahead… no matter where it leads…
Monica closed her journal and put it back on the table, before pulling the quilt over her small body. She turned the light off, and lay in the darkness of the room, her mind whirling. All the things she had just written in her journal ran through her head over and over, along with questions she was too afraid to put down on paper, lest they become real and tangible. She let her mind wander over everything that had been happening to her, and everything that was to come, until her eyes slowly slid shut and sleep came.
*****
In the living room, Tess eyed Andrew, her eyes twinkling. "So you wanna write a song for her? Angel Boy, I love the way you think!"
Andrew smiled and replied, "I'm glad you like it. Let's get to work."
The two angels went to the kitchen and sat down at the table. There, in the center of the table, were two legal pads and some pens, which had been provided by the father. Leaning against the wall was a guitar case, and as Andrew picked it up, he was filled with a rush of knowledge and he knew that God was going to have a hand in lifting Monica's spirits. He opened the guitar case and tuned it, before softly strumming a few chords.
"Very nice, Mr. Halo," Tess remarked.
"I just hope this doesn't wake Monica," he said. "I don't want her to have any idea about this until we show it to her." He stood up and placed the guitar on the table. "I'll be right back."
Andrew walked through the house and quietly opened the door to Monica's bedroom. She lay on her side facing him, her eyes closed and her breathing deep and even. Andrew crossed the room and laid a gentle kiss on her cheek before returning to the kitchen. "Looks like she's out for the duration," he told Tess, sitting down and placing the guitar in his lap once again.
The two angels worked late into the night, wording and rewording the lyrics they had written, and then trying to put them to the music Andrew had come up with. They both desperately wanted to tell Monica that they would always be there for her, and since Monica had always loved to hear Tess sing, it seemed like the perfect thing to do for their gentle friend. They didn't finish the song until nearly dawn, and luckily there was still no sign of Monica. Tess checked on her, and the young angel was still sleeping deeply. The older angel thought it was for the best though, since Monica had not been sleeping much for the past few weeks.
Later that day, the three angels were eating lunch in the kitchen. Andrew had stowed the guitar and all evidence of the songwriting in his own closet, even though the blonde angel could hardly wait to share the song with Monica. "How are you feeling today?" Andrew asked, watching as Monica picked at a turkey sandwich.
"Tired mostly," she replied. "And not very hungry," she pushed the plate back. "I'm sorry, Tess."
"Don't be sorry, Baby," Tess told her, taking the plate. "Just do your best. Every little bit you eat will help you gain back some weight."
Andrew stood and took his plate to the sink. "Well, I just hope you aren't too out of energy, Monica. We have a surprise for you later."
"What kind of surprise?" Monica asked, her face full of curiosity. "Tell me?"
"Now there's our Angel Girl," Tess said, "She never could stand a surprise. Just remember, curiosity killed the cat."
Monica rolled her eyes at Tess, "Curiosity did not kill the cat. Ignorance did. Curiosity was framed.
"Cute… very cute," Andrew remarked.
*****
That evening, Monica was sitting in the living room writing in her journal, when Andrew and Tess came in and sat down on the couch across from her. Monica looked up and saw the pages in Tess's hands, and the guitar in Andrew's. "What's going on?" She asked, "And when did you learn to play the guitar, Andrew?"
Andrew grinned, "Last night, thanks to the Father." He put the guitar up on his lap, and got ready to play. "This is your surprise, Monica. Tess and I have been looking for a way to show you how much we care about you. We want you to know that no matter what has happened, or what is going to happen, we will always love you and we will always care about you."
Tess nodded her agreement, "We know how much you love music, baby, so we decided to use it to give this message to you. We want you to just listen to the words, and know that they came straight from our hearts, and the Father."
Monica nodded as she felt the beginnings of tears prick the backs of her eyes. She listened as Andrew began to play, and the quiet sounds of the guitar floated through the room. Tess smiled at her young friend and then began to sing, her rich voice mixing beautifully with the guitar's mellow sounds.
So many memories and so many miles
The road that stretches behind us
We've had some laughter and our share of tears
But all these moments unite us
We'll be your friends for a lifetime
Against the wind and the rain of every season
Won't walk away in the hard times
We will be your friends
We're saying We will be your friends
Sure as the river runs to the sea
High as the mountain that reaches
You were there by our side till the end
And helped us on our feet again
We'll be your friends for a lifetime
Against the wind and the rain of every season
Won't walk away in the hard times
We will be your friends
We're saying We will be your friends
So in the valley walk on
Don't have to face it alone
Cause in the hard times
We keep growing strong
As we learn, as we live
That we live when we give
We'll be your friends for a lifetime
Against the wind and the rain of every season
Won't walk away in the hard times
We will be your friends
We're saying We will be your friends
Tears began to spill onto Monica's cheeks as she listened to the words her friends had written for her. Tess and Andrew's voices harmonized perfectly together on the last refrain, and as the last chords from the guitar died away, Monica choked back a sob as she whispered, "Thank you… I love you two so much, and you have no idea what this means to me."
"And you have no idea what you mean to us, Angel Girl. This song doesn't even begin to describe the love we have for you. But, the words of that song are our promise to you… we will always be your friends, no matter what."
Monica swallowed against the lump that had formed in her throat, even as tears rained down her pale face. She stood and crossed the room to the couch. Andrew moved over and motioned for her to sit in between them, wrapping his arm around her thin shoulders. Monica smiled as Tess and Andrew each took one of her hands. The Irish laid her head against Andrew's shoulder and sighed, feeling happy for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, wrapped in the love of her two dearest friends.