Prologue: The Sound of Heartbreaking
"Listen. Do you hear that?"
It's the sound of my demon Crowley breaking his heart. And I am Angel Azriaphale, the one breaking it.
"You idiot, we could have been an us."
I am an idiot, not an angel, Azriaphale, watching myself make the biggest mistake in the universe. I can't let Crowley walk away. I yell at myself,
"Look at him, you fool, you've been loving him for 6000 years, he's given you everything you've ever wanted in the entire universe, and you're about to throw it all out for a celestial promotion you never wanted yourself."
Unfortunately, my inner voice is not getting through to me at all. Horrified, I see myself, the heartbroken Crowley making one last attempt to wake me, pressing his lips to mine. All time has stopped for twelve seconds. I am witnessing the moment when a true love kiss was felt on the lips. The love that Crowley has for me.
I saw: I didn't hold on to him to let Crowley know that I hated myself for not knowing that I didn't want to let him go. I needed him to know that I cared as much as he did, so I took my angel spirit to hold my hand and put it on Crowley's back. But I think I scared myself into thinking that I deserved to be loved like that by a demon, so I see myself pushing away from Crowley as I cry and tell him, "I love you."
"I forgive you."
I forgive you, you stupid angel, you want me to tell you I love you, I choose you over heaven and you're right, I was wrong, we're all that matters. Tell him!
Why was I standing there doing nothing, no wonder Crowley walked away from me and told me not to worry. Using the little bit of wonder I had left in the intermission to face my ghost before Crowley walked out of the bookstore and out of my life, I wanted to look at him one last time.
"And I never know that Angel doesn't know what he says or does because he's manipulated by Heaven into thinking he can be an Angel without you, but I can't be a better Angel without you by my side."
I tried to touch the hand, but the spirit passed through it, and did not feel it. Touching my lips, remembering the kiss we share, looking at Crowley knowing I can't stop him as I take the pain and let him walk through me.
I say the words I should have said instead of "I forgive you" before I let him.
"I won't pardon you, Crowley, but I love you."
I close my eyes. I let my mind fade from this memory of the day I Azriaphale made the worst decision in the universe.
