OnewingedAngel: Stories and tales

I wrote this while in the mountains. It's rather long, so try not to get too bored.

Love Found

As they lay in bed, he wrapped his arms around her and felt her breathing slow as she drifted off to sleep. He pulled her a little closer as he reflected on how they met.

****1 year ago****

I met Thomas in the street one day. You might even say I ran into him...literally.

I was in a hurry, lost in my thoughts, only haphazardly paying attention to what was going on around me. That's when I knocked down the man who would turn my little world upside down.

"Oof!" *Thud*

"Oh, damn! I'm so sorry," I apologized, "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going at all. Are you ok?" I asked as I held out my hand to help him up.

"I'm fine," the stranger responded, graciously accepting the assistance up.

He stood up and brushed himself off. "So where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"I was...um...off...too..." I trailed off and sighed. "I wasn't going anywhere really; I was just going for a walk to clear my head."

The stranger grinned, "Well, how about you clear your head with a drink? You can buy the first round as an apology for running me over."

I smiled, “On one condition. What’s your name?”

“Thomas”

“Well Thomas, my name is Matthew; now let’s go get that drink.” And so we did

Over the course of the next five months Thomas and I got to know each other better. We talked about what we did our hobbies, and all those other things friends who were still getting to know each other talk about.

One day he called me up, asking a favor.

“Hey, would you mind if I brought a friend tonight?”

I was mildly perplexed that he called to ask, but I didn’t see the harm in it, so I gave him the go-ahead.

I walked into the same bar Thomas and I had been having drinks at regularly for five months now and I saw something that would change my life forever… or should I say ‘someone’. Standing next to Thomas was a stunning figure of a woman. Raven-black hair, shining blue when the light struck it right, hung down to just above her shoulders. Blue-grey eyes sparkled with laughter as she smiled at something Thomas said. And oh, that smile. She could rob kings and queens of all their worldly possessions with that smile.

I walked over to them and Thomas introduced me to Michelle. I took her proffered hand and kissed it lightly, marveling at how soft her skin was, while she averted her eyes and blushed.

We had an entertaining evening, and at the end we walked her home. I shook her hand and said to her, “II had a wonderful evening. I hope you would be able to join us again.”

She smiled at me, “I think that would be nice.” Her voice reminded me of a starry night, beautiful, yet mysterious.

Then she turned to Thomas and gave him a lingering hug, and when they stepped back I saw a look in her eyes that left me disappointed and my hopes dashed.

She was in love with Thomas.

Michelle said goodnight and went into her house, leaving us standing alone in front of it.

I looked at Thomas, “She loves you.”
“I know,” he said, “but it’s a one-way street. I can’t love her. Ever.”

I was confused beyond all reason. “What the hell are you talking about? How can you not love her?!” I was practically shouting now.

Thomas just gazed back at me, completely unruffled. “What would you have me say Matthew? That I am simply here to protect and guide her? Or maybe that I already knew you were going to fall for her? Perhaps you want to hear that I was waiting for you to arrive?”

I stared at him, dumbstruck. Guide and protect her? How does he know how I feel? What does he mean ‘waiting for me’?

“Let me try to answer your questions as best I can. I guess you could start off by calling me her guardian.”

“As in Guardian Angel?”

“Not quite,” Thomas explained, “I’m as human as you are, but I have been given a…mission if you will, a test of sorts. One to see if I am worthy of the one that I do love.”

He sighed. “When you ran into me in the street, I knew you were the one to save her.”

I was so lost at this point that I didn’t even ask the obvious question of “Save her from what?”

Thomas put his hand on my shoulder. “Matthew, if you’ve ever trusted me with anything, trust me with this.” He said, then he handed me a folded piece of paper.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“A number,” Thomas told me, “a phone number to be more specific. Call it tomorrow.”

Suddenly Thomas yawned and stretched. “It’s been a long day my friend, and there is still much to do.”

He shook my hand and said to me as he walked away. “Call that number, and trust what will happen.”

I stood and watched Thomas walk away. Some ten minutes later, I finally head for my own home.

The next day after I woke up I called the number.

“Hello?” a female voice answered. I felt numb, it was Michelle.

“H-h-hey Michelle its Matthew. Thomas gave me your phone number last night.”

There was an awkward silence, then “Hi. Thomas told me you might call today…so, what’s up?”

That was, apparently, all we needed to start our conversation.

A few days later I realized I had neither heard from nor seen Thomas, so I thought I would drop by his house and see what was going on.

His door was open so I entered and heard Thomas talking to someone. I walked into the living room and saw Michelle sitting down, crying, with Thomas explaining to her why he had to go.

“Matthew, I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon, but apparently I have no choice.”

He sighed, “It seems I am not yet done with my mission. I have discovered another who needs me more now. I must go to them.”

He stood Michelle up and wiped her tears away. “Look to Matthew, he is the one to help you now.”

He walked out the front door and outside as we followed him to the door.

Thomas looked back at us, “Know that I love you both and that I hope to see you again under different circumstances. Fare thee well my friends, until we meet again.” And he turned and walked away.

Michelle and I looked at each other, then back at Thomas, but he had vanished.

Over the next seven months we dated, but never more than a kiss, a whispered “I love you” and “Goodnight” was all that ever happened. Then, one night she invited me inside.

****end flashback****

That was one month ago. Matthew smiled at the memory of that first night when a knock at the front door startled him wide awake.

Putting on shorts and a shirt, he walked to the front door and got another major shock in his life. Standing at the door was Thomas and what Matthew could only assume was the love he had talked about all those months ago.

I didn’t even notice Michelle until she took my hand in hers.

“Apparently your quest is at an end my friend.” He said to Thomas with a smile.

“Not yet, but I have been granted certain…privileges.” He smiled and shook his head ruefully.

Michelle looked at Thomas and said. “Thank you.” She then turned to the woman, “Take care of him please.” The woman simply nodded.

“Well my friends, we must be going as our time runs short.” Thomas and Matthew shook hands then Michelle gave him a brief hug. She pulled away and Matthew again saw that same look in her eyes from that first night he said goodnight to her, but this time it was directed at him.

Michelle and Matthew were so intent on each other that they never noticed when Thomas and his love vanished without a trace into the night.

Michelle looked at Matthew. “I though I loved Thomas, because he sheltered and protected me, but I was wrong. I didn’t realize that until tonight. I have been falling more in love with you because you really were my savior. You save me form my own darkness and shared your light with me.” A single tear rolled down her as she smiled and held Matthews hand.

He squeezed her hands softly. “I fell for you from the moment I met you. I have loved you with every beat of my heart. I was so lost within myself, and then you came along and put me on the path that would lead straight to you. I worship the ground you walk on and wish to spend every waking moment of my life with you. You too are my here, my savior, and my Goddess.”

She just looked at Matthew for a moment, and then said, “And you are my God.”

They held each other for a long time, never noticing the single feather lying on their doorstep.