Psst! A note for you…

The above vector is brilliantly done by Chihhang. I am literally just borrowing it for this purpose. All credits go to him and his wonderful works. If you have time, check his iStockphoto page.

Counting Blessings [Part 2]

Pearly white satin waved at the morning breeze as sunlight shone through the windows, kissing her cheeks with warm tenderness. The strands of her hair brushed on each other, gentle fingers ran through them. Half awake, she took a surreptitious glance to see who was beside her. There was no one.

She sat up, her legs hidden under the folds of a fleece blanket. Looking around, she realized everything in the room was either white or cream. It was supposed to feel dull but strangely enough, the room drew upon her a soothing air. For a moment, Emma felt right at home before her sceptic self returned and the door flung open.

“Emma?”

Gabriel stood by the door, his hand on the knob. The dark-brown haired Guardian was in the same outfit as Raphael was wearing.

“They told me you were here,” said Gabriel as he approached her. Emma smiled weakly. Now, the Guardian who was such a worrywart for her felt disturbed. Drawing himself closer, he took her hand and sat by her side. “What’s wrong?” he asked her. The words OBVIOUSLY WORRIED were plastered on his face. Emma could not help but chuckled. “I had a dream…” she began.

“…of a tree, standing tall in the middle of vast, green plains. It was the only tree I had my focus on, for some reason. It was a beautiful tree in its greenery. The surrounding grasses were short and soft to tread on. I dreamt I walked towards the tree and felt it under my feet. It was a hot day so I took cover under the tree’s shade. I felt so much better, cooler.”

Gabriel smiled. “That’s lovely,” he said.

“Why, yes it is but…” Emma paused and looked at her Guardian. “…but then came a wind, a strong gush of wind and though the tree remains standing strong, one by one of its leaves was blown away. Some fell onto the ground while others flew off into the sky and was gone. Then I realized there were other trees around me, much further than the one I’m taking a shade under. And I saw some of the leaves blown in their directions…I felt empty and sad. The tree was sad too. I hear it whisper to me, whispering apologies because I am now exposed to the red sun now that its leaves are blown away. It hopes that new leaves will grow sooner so I too, will not run away from it and seek shelter under the other trees.”

Softly spoken words embraced with a tint of seriousness. Gabriel looked at her. Even here, he thought, Emma still speaks the way she always does. Their eyes met and for the first time, in all of his 16 years with her, Gabriel saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. Insecurities have never left her. She was disappointed.

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you, Gabe. You know you should not be here.” Raphael entered the room. He brought clothes for Emma. “I’m sorry, Ralph. I was just checking on her.” Gabriel patted Emma on her back and left after Raphael.

Emma put on the clothes Raphael brought in for her. Initially she was annoyed that she had to use the same thing the folks there were wearing. After a few seconds though, she couldn’t care less. The cassock was comfortable and it made her feel light. She made her bed and stepped out of the room. Both Raphael and Gabriel were waiting for her.

“Come,” said Raphael. “I promised to take you for a tour. You can come too if you like, Gabe.” Gabriel nodded. Raphael brought them to the same fountain where Emma has been last night. He sat down and took out the same book he was reading last night. Gabriel sat next to him. Emma remained standing, in all curiosity and feeling foolish, asked, “I thought you said you were going to bring me for a tour?”

Raphael looked at her. “I am.”

“Then why are you sitting down? We’ve been here before.”

“Here, my dear, is good enough. You can see it all from here. Sit down and see for yourself.”

Emma reluctantly obeyed. As she sat down, she realized how true Raphael was so she kept quiet, daring not to say another word. It was awkward silence for about 10 minutes before she began to feel uneasy and decided to talk.

“Raphael, why am I here?”

“You came here by yourself.”

“………that’s not what I meant.”

“I saw you at the Gates. They said you can come in.”

“……why?”

“I’ve no idea but your soul told them you were lost.”

“…my soul? Lost?”

Another 10 minutes of awkward silence. Gabriel smiled a furtive smile.

“Raphael, I had a dream last night…I don’t wish to talk about religions because it is always controversial but…I realized that the one I belong to is being stained by worldly remarks. Non-believers tell me things that could easily pull me away while believers, they debate in a way that make them look and sound so shallow in their beliefs. Seriously, the non-believers are on the winning team.”

“And what do you think?” Raphael finally closed his book and turned to Emma. “How do you think it should be?” he was stern.

“I…don’t know. But I’d sure wish we can put the whole religious debate aside. I mean, let us believe in what we believe and stop trying to prove others were wrong and we were right. Let us put that human ego away because…because it is worsening day by day.”

She felt uncomfortable with Raphael staring at her. Gabriel sitting quietly between them was not helping at all.

“Of course, not everyone is condemning each other but…there are those who are and it’s bad.” Emma continued. Raphael smiled.

“Emma,” he said. “It’s about time.”

Emma turned around and saw the Lord walking up towards them. Suddenly butterflies begin to flutter in her tummy.

“Oh no, not again…”

The Lord smiled at her and held out his hand.

“Come.”

She found herself willingly obeyed Him. Her feet brought her to Him. He held her hand in his. “Yes, my child, we will take another walk,” smiled the Lord. He was the man at the fountain last night. She should have known it.

She doesn’t like these ‘walks’ so much.

But her soul was smiling.

…to be continued.

[Author’s Note: Please bear with me here. Any questions, do ask by commenting on the final part, which is yet to come. If you have read up to this point, I thank you. Explanations will tag along with the final part.]