Marley Cox
The two sat across from one another in Harris’s room. The blinds were half closed and cast an illumination of orange stripes onto Tony’s face. This would be the last evening they spent with one another. The silence was uncomfortable, and Harris began playing with Tony’s wings. He’d always kept them so clean and neat. Harris caressed the feathers in his hands, clearing his throat in an attempt to get rid of the knot that swelled up and wouldn’t go away.
“I’m sorry that it has to end like this, Harris,” the angel said, making eye contact with the taller human. Harris looked away for a second, trying to figure out what to make of this situation.
“Is there any way you can stay? With me, I mean. Even for a little bit?” he answered. Only silence was given in response, which made the human feel silly for asking.
The angel gave a warm smile. “I’m not sure.” But he was sure. There was a way. However, Tony missed home. He wanted to see his loved ones again. The last two years he had spent with Harris were wonderful. But alas, the job had been done. The human was healed. He had found passion in his life and Tony’s purpose in the mortal plane had been served.
“Well, will I ever see you again? Please, I don’t think I could ever bear not being with–,” Tony let out a sigh in response, not letting his friend finish. He took the other’s hand from his wings and into his bronze hands, resting their limbs on the bed between one another and fiddling with Harris’s fingers. “I love you,” the taller one mumbled.
“I love you too,” the shorter replied.
“No, Tony. I love you so much.” The angel forced a monotonous smile before Harris continued. “I love you more than any human lover. I love you more than every day we’ve spent together. My heart feels heavy, like it’ll fall and crash into my other organs. Please, stay with me?” Harris poured his heart out, watching the smaller emotionlessly play with his fingers.
Silence.
A sniffle. Tony’s sniffle made Harris jolt his head up in concern. He looked at the angel’s face, the light from the blinds shifting to illuminate his eyes. Tony was crying. “I love you, too.” Harris grabbed the other’s hand now, holding onto it tight.
“So, you’ll stay with me?” he bargained, noticing tears well up in his own eyes. He smiled through it all. Holding onto the little hope that his savior would stay just another year.
“I can’t.” Harris’ grip tightened, his smile becoming wide, visibly forced this time. “I have until midnight,” the angel whispered, moving a bit closer to Harris. “I want to stay here until then. In this room. With you, Harris.” Before being able to react, the angel was engulfed in a tight hug. His arms went limp, but his wings surrounded the two in a comfortable embrace. The temperature was just right. The sun was setting. The apartment was silent.
Tony was to be sent back to the heavens at midnight tonight, but until then he was free. Until then he was as close to being human and mortal as he ever would be. Never again would his heart be consumed with such real and earnest emotions. “Let’s clean up your room. We’ll get comfortable and just be with one another for a little bit,” Tony said, wiping tears from his eyes.
“For as long as possible,” Harris mumbled between sobs. He let go of the angel, about to say something before the other began.
“I hope you’ll still think of me from time to time.” The human nodded profusely. “I hope the people you meet while I’m gone treat you well, Harris.” The tears just kept running.
“Hey, let’s pretend this is just…a normal night for the both of us, okay? We’ll clean up my room like you said. We’ll hold each other and I’ll be with you until midnight,” the taller smiled, wiping his angel’s tears before wiping his own.
“Right. Alright.” Tony got up and began picking up clothes from the floor.
The two spent the night in a warm embrace. Five minutes before midnight, they shared a kiss. A small peck on the lips was initiated by Harris, which was turned into a deep kiss from Tony. The angel’s wings began to glow, and the human knew it was time.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t stay longer. I’m glad that I was chosen to be your angel,” Tony said, holding Harris tighter than he ever had. Harris buried his face into the crook of the angel’s neck, allowing himself to be enveloped in a hug that felt almost a little too tight. He didn’t say anything in response. “I’m sorry we won’t be able to go back to any of this, I’m sorry that you may not remember every single moment we shared with one another. The love is still there, Harris. You’ll meet another human who is more capable of loving you than I could ever be. I’m sorry I can’t be here for you. I want you to carry a piece of me wherever you go.”
Harris held his breath. Any second now his best friend would be gone forever.
“Please, don’t forget about me, Harris.” The warmth of the angel’s embrace disappeared and was replaced with cold air and nothingness. Harris was alone again, but this time, there was hope.
–
Marley Cox is a 16 year old writer, artist and student from Mpumalanga, South Africa. Instagram: @f.anmail
Diamond Gazette 