Chapter Two: Good Heavens

Meanwhile in Heaven

My heaven here has many forms based on the perspective of how an angel or human passes on enlightenment. I opened my eyes after my angelic spirit was shown: I acted like not an angel but a coward for not following my heart but doing my duty as an angel. In my heaven, I am in St. James Park. I walk with people in heaven, enjoying the tranquility of their lives ending without pain, sadness, or regret.

Unfortunately for me, the newest Archangel, Azriaphale, has no such peace, as I tried to focus my attention back on the book I was reading, Oscar Wilde's The Nightingale and the Rose, as I read the following passage aloud,

"Rejoice, cried the nightingale, rejoice; you shall have your red rose. I will build it of music by moonlight, and stain it with my blood."

Then, with the last part of the following passage I read, the voice of the author himself, Oscar Wilde, stood before me and repeated,

"All I ask in return is that you be a true lover, for love is wiser."

Oscar Wilde sits next to me. He smiles and says,"An angel reading my books, how flattering."

"Well, books are one of those I'm tempted to read, and I can't seem to let go."

"Angel, or has one name here in heaven."

"Azriaphale, I met you once when you were still alive, a friend of mine and I helped you with the plot of The Picture of Dorian Gray."

"Hmm, and yet that's not the book you're reading. And it's strange, too, because I can't seem to place your face."

"Well, after we spoke, my friend tampered with your mind so that you don't see us or remember us, but you remember the plot of Dorian, and I am reading it because I gave the book to my friend, who I thought was going to burn it, but I had a miraculous place on the book I own to protect it."

"This friend, who is an angel himself."

"No, he is not an angel,"

"Oh, he has hurt you."

"No, I have hurt him, I have chosen him over heaven."

Oscar shakes his head in such disbelief that an angel would make such a choice, heaven or the loss of the best friend who is always there by my side. And Oscar reflects this thought back to me.

"What is heaven without your friends, Azriaphale?"

I sighed, knowing that Oscar was right, there is no heaven without friends, the people who love and care for them are there with you. And for me, it feels like hell to be without Crowley. And I asked him,

"I wish he were here, but he hates me with all hell's wrath."

"We all have heaven and hell in us," Oscar Wilde quoted.

Think of the right answer when Oscar is called,

"Oscar, good heavens, come now. There's so much of heaven to explore."

"Well, Angel Azriaphale, it is my time to go. I hope that you and your best friend will be able to find a way back into the good graces."

"Thank you, and who is that calling you?"

"Robbie, the best man who couldn't live or love in heaven without you. enjoy my book and maybe it can give you an answer."

I nod goodbye to Oscar as I watch him make his way to Robbie, who hugs and kisses him. I turn back to my book, as I saw them, I thought of Crowley, his longing lips on mine. And I decided to finish reading the last passage of The Nightingale and the Rose.

"What I a silly thing Love is," said the Student as he walked away. "It is not half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true"

After I read the last passage, my heart leapt to the sound of nightingales and I began to cry, thinking that I had made the biggest mistake of my life here in heaven and I had to make it right.

Closing my eyes, I do my best to use angelic powers of persuasion to unlock Bentley, get the car to send Crowley a message, find a way to apologize, show him he heard me.

After sending my message. I, Azriaphale; newly appointed Archangel of Heaven. The only feeling I have is regret. I regret being here. I regret casting aside my dearest friend, the demon Crowley. But it was my choice, I made it, I wouldn't have done it unless

"The Metatron"

I know now that I will have to face the hellish being that was responsible for the loss of the best person in my life.