Let's see now, what do I wear for tonight, a white night dress or pink pajamas? Hmm. I think the white night dress is better. I took it from the cabinet and headed for my bathroom. Unlike the bathroom in our dorm, my bathroom is kind of roomy. It has a nice big tub with vanilla scented candles around it. I love lighting it up while I take a bath. It feels like I'm in a spa. I placed my clean clothes on top of the toilet bowl, while I get undress. The faucet still keeps on gushing out hot water into the tub. I placed my left feet first then the other, until my whole body is in it. Ahh, another relaxing moment.
By the time I wake up tomorrow, I wouldn't worry about waking up so early in the morning, wearing that stupid uniform, going to class, and no nuns scolding me for no reason. Yes, I'm finally free from that tormenting nightmare and I'm back here in the arms of my beloved family. From where I'm sitting, I can see the nice view of the full moon from the bathroom window. It's so bright and beautiful. I stretched out my hand, pretending that the moon was within my grasp and closed my eyes. Here in our home, there are no distracting noises except for the howling of coyotes at night. Cars seldom pass by at night. After my wonderful bath, I dressed up into my beautiful white frilled night dress and went back to my room. The air conditioning was left open, leaving my room so cold. I lied down on my bed, hugging the cold soft sheet and looked at the digital clock on my desk. Whoa, I didn't realize it's already 9 pm.
Toc-toc-toc.
The door slowly opened and I saw dad in a white shirt and blue pajamas peek.
"Oh hey dad" I mumbled, still lying down.
He closed back the door and I moved aside as he sits on my bed while I lean my head on his lap. His warmth and the coldness of the bed makes such a good combination.
"You're already going to sleep? Your grandfather is eager to tell you so many stories" he told me while caressing my arm, making me feel drowsier.
I closed my eyes and smiled, "I'm sorry, but it's been awhile since I last lied down on my own bed. And I feel pretty sleepy after eating grandpa's wonderful steak"
"Then I better leave for you to get some sleep"
"No!"
He's about to stand up when I suddenly grasp his wrist. I tried my best to open an eye and gives him a pleading smile.
"Can you at least tell me a story first?" I asked.
Okay, I might be too old for stories, but I just can't sleep well without hearing my dad's stories. For some reason, his stories or even just his presence makes me feel so safe. To be honest, I'm closer to my dad than my mom. But I love them both equally. Dad stayed put on the bed and continued caressing my arm.
"Okay, what story would you want to hear?" he asked me.
"Anything about angels again" I muttered.
"How about the story about one of your guardian angels?"
"I have more than one?"
I thought every human have one guardian angel.
"Yes, you have two guardian angels" he started. "But we'll talk more about your first guardian angel, Michael"
"Michael? The highest ranking of all angels?" I muttered again, feeling sleepier.
"Yes, that Michael. He was a soldier, the one that led an army of angels to battle out Lucifer's army. One day, God looked down on earth and saw how evil human beings have become. God was disappointed and told Michael to terminate all the humans to create a new world"
"You mean, god wanted to kill us humans?"
"He wanted to clean the world and create a new one, a world with no evil"
"What happened next?" I asked as I yawned.
"Michael didn't like the idea of terminating the humans and eventually disobeyed God's order. He went down to earth and helped the humans to be good again. He thought that the humans, us, needed a second chance to be renewed without dying"
"What happened to Michael?"
"Well, he managed to save the humans and at the same time had the trust of God again. Basically, Michael is an angel who'd fight for what is right. It might be learned the hard way, but he still chooses to do it. Angel, do you think that what Michael did was right?"
"He might've disobeyed the one who created him, but for a good cause. If he didn't do that, well, a race of humans might've died. And maybe that's the reason why you have the same name as his, dad" I mumbled. "Because you always fight for what is right"
Dad smirked, "I guess you're right, angel"
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think, I'll ever meet a nice man like you?"
I felt dad snicker and kissed me on the forehead, "Of course. Good night, angel. I love you"
"I love you too dad"
He got up from the bed, turned off my night lamp, and closed the door.
Flap-flap-flap.
Swoosh.
Ugh. What's that sound?
Flap-flap-flap.
Lazily, I opened my eyes and looked at the digital clock on my desk. It's only three in the morning. I sat down on my bed and rubbed my sleepy eyes. Darn vultures, what the hell is wrong with them, flapping around at night? Don't they have anything better to do? Geez. I was about to go back to bed when all of a sudden…
AAAAAHHHHHH!
I hid under my blanket and my whole body is shaking up. The coyotes on the desert starts to howl at the full moon. And I swear, I just heard a man cry in pain. Is someone being murdered outside on the desert? I wanted to look outside of my window, but I am too terrified. What if I found a scary looking guy dragging a bloody dying guy? And then he'll see me and barge to our house to kill us! Oh, god! I quickly ran out of my room and to the dark hallway then headed towards the room across mine-my parents' room. I dived between my parents, not caring if I wake them up, and hid under the blanket. I can feel my mom's and my dad's hands patting me and forcing to pull the blanket covering me up.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" my mom asked, her voice sounding very worried and at the same time sleepy.
I didn't take the blanket off when I answered with a shivering voice, "I…I'm scared to sleep on my own"
Dad sighed, "Angel, there's nothing to be afraid of"
"B-but, I h-heard a man cry from outside my room"
Both my mom and dad fell silent for awhile and began patting me again.
"I'm sure it's just your imagination, dear" my mom said and pulled me into her arms for a tight hug.
I hugged her back and made sure that she won't leave me. Yes, I am so pathetic. I'm already sixteen and I'm still afraid of things my mind creates. But it's true that I heard a man cry. This is a lesson not to read thriller or mystery books at night.
"To be sure, I'll look around outside" dad said and got up from the bed.
Slowly, I pulled the blanket down and saw my mom's smiling face. She starts cradling me like a baby and kisses my head.
"Everything's all right, dear. Mom and dad are here for you. You can go back to sleep again" she whispered.
I closed my eyes to try and sleep when I suddenly heard the familiar lullaby again. The woman's voice wasn't my mom's, but it sounds so soothing and calming. The next thing I knew, I was drawn to darkness in a deep slumber.