Chapter 17

As the night went on, Angel was in her room getting ready for her speech at Irving Hall. She put on very little make-up, for she knew it would all smear off from crying. She also put on a very plain dress. She wanted the Newsies to see her as herself, not hidden behind a face full of make-up and a revealing dress. Suddenly, somebody knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Yoah Hubby!" Spot joked.

Angel carefully walked over and opened up the door.

"Oh, so now you got jokes?" she teased.

"Yep!" he said while he kissed her forehead.

"Oh Spot, I don't know how I'm going to be able to break it to them." "They all depend on me and love me so much."

"Yea, it'll be hard, but I will be standing right beside you." "Don't worry Angel, it'll be ok."

'Why are you at my side…. How can I be any use to you now? Give me a chance and I'll let you see how…. Nothing has changed! Deep in my heart, I'm concealing, things that I'm longing to say…. Scared to confess what I'm feeling…. Frightened you'll slip away…. You must love me."

Spot smiled but then frowned as his eyes filled up with tears, while he was trying to hold them in.

"How am I evah gonna let you go Angel?" Spot said as he sat down on his bed. "I can't even go a day without ya!" "How could I spend the rest of me life without ya there?"

"Spot…." Angel said, then pausing.

By the time Spot raised up his head, he had tears streaming down his face.

"Even if you won't see me by your side, I'm there…. And always will be." "Though I know I will miss you very much…."

She paused and started crying too. She then whispered, "Even in heaven."

Spot got up and ran over to her. He grabbed her violently and threw his arms around her, as she did the same.

"Then I'll never forget that you are still by my side…."

He lifted up her head from his shoulder with his hand. He then finished his sentence and said, "My guardian Angel."

She then rested her head on his shoulder again, but this time, brought it down slowly. "I love you," she said with her face buried in his shirt.

When Spot and Angel arrived at Irving Hall, Newsies from all over New York City was there, just like at the last rally. When they walked in, Kid Blink and mush met them by the door.

"Kid!" Angel yelled as she ran over and gave him a big hug.

"Angel!" "It's been so long since we'se seen you!" Blink exclaimed.

"And Mush!" she said turning around and giving Mush a big hug also.

"Oh, I missed you all so much!" "I'm so sorry I didn't come to visit often."

"It's ok Angel…. Come on in…. everybody is waitin' for you'se two!"

Spot looked over and saw that Angel had a big smile on her face. He was glad to see that she was as happy as she was. Spot then took her hand and they both walked backstage.

'You ready?" spot asked.

"It's kind-of just like old times, isn't it?"

"Yea!" he said remembering the rally, "I guess yer right!"

"Well, I'm ready."

"Ok"

Spot then walked onstage and the crowd exploded like usual. He saw Racetrack in the crowd, who was just standing up and clapping, not going wild like the others. He knew that this was going to be very hard for Angel and the rest of the newsies.

"New York Newsies!" "I Give You My Wife, Angel Conlon!" Spot yelled.

The crowd, once again, exploded. They were a little shocked that Angel looked this different and had to be escorted onto the stage. They then realized that something was wrong, and soon the whole room was silent. Angel took a big breath and then began to speak.

"I want to tell the Newsies, of New York City…. I've decided I should decline all the honors and titles you've pressed me to take. For I'm contented…. Let me simply go on as the woman who brings her people…. To the heart of Colon. A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer…. And told that I am no longer going to be alive soon. "But, the truth is, I shall not leave you. Though it may get harder for you to see me…. I'm always here…. And always will be."

She gasped as she fell back a little bit, Spot having to catch her from behind. She took in a deep breath and began to speek again.

"Have I said too much, there's nothing more I can think of to say to you."

She half-smiled but the crowd was still dead silent.

"But all you have to do…. Is look at me to know…. That every word is true."

By the time she was done and looked out at the crowd, she had tears down her face, and so did they.