At night while the world is sleeping an angel from heaven is staring it, desiring to step his feet on its cold earthy land. He had been dreaming of it since time was still young, but instead of going there he chose to follow God’s orders. He is that loyal and faithful to him. He is named as Raphael the valiant, for he is extremely brave enough for such battles.
One tranquil night as he is looking at the world, God saw him with great dream upon walking on Earth. Silently as Raphael is staring gleefully at it God freed words from Raphael’s back.
“What a great dream you’re having on your eyes my dear Raphael”
“I’m sorry God I never mean to—“
“It’s okay we all dream about something”
“But you don’t, do you?”
“I also dream about something. You want to go there don’t you?”
“Yes, but of course I have bigger duties than dreaming of it all day. Don’t worry my Lord I will always choose to bury my feet here”
“Oh, Raphael I wouldn’t stop you from dreaming of it and slowly making your dreams come true, in fact I’ll help you”
“Really?”
“Gladly, I’ll give you your next assignment and destine it there. You just have to help people that desperately need a help”
“Thank you God, I’ll never fail you, I won’t plant despair in your heart. I swear I’ll make you proud in return”
“But in one condition…”
“I will be glad if you’ll name it.”
“You can’t fall in love or else you going to lose your wings and live there as a human being.”
With great hesitation he forced himself to promise.
He flew amongst the clouds joyfully and landed on an open field keeping his wings under his magic. He walked and reached the meadows to the forest and on a small town.
There he saw a man weeping on a dark corner. He approached him trying to comfort his cold heart with warm thoughts that he could possibly say.
“May I help you?”
“I’m sorry I did not recognize that this ain’t my territory.”
“Neither even mine. And I’m not even from this town”
Then the man looked at his blue eyes, half covered by his dark brown hair is his left eye. Staring straight, he has an angelic face an ever handsome face you could’ve seen in this world.
“Then what are you doing here?”
“Does a question have to be answered by another question?”
He turned to be puzzled for awhile. Saying
“I’m sorry but this is something personal that I could not tell to anyone who is still a stranger in my eyes”
“Don’t worry I’m harmless, I’m a friend. You can tell me your problem I promise to help.”
“Really? How should I know?”
“ I’ll give you my favorite belt if I fail to help you.”
“Why?... What?..., Who are you to do that?”
“I told you I’m a friend trust, you should apply.”
“If I’ll tell you nothing will change, it’s still a problem”
“Trusting someone, even a stranger could lessen heavy burdens that you’ve been carrying for a long time.”
“I was in the doctor last week. They found out that I have an illness, a congenital illness that no one ever survived from it. I only got 4 days to live, within those days I have to tell my family. I never ask to live longer ‘cause only God can know until when I am going to be here, I just want to tell them, prepare them.”
“That’s tough”
“I told you, you can’t help me”
“Just name things that you want me to do”
“Really?”
“Why not.”
“I just want you to look after my daughter she just turned 17 years old last month. Too young to lose a father, isn’t it?”
“I promise to look after her”
“Thank you”
Days passed, the man actually died. He left his family crying in great grief. He was buried in a cemetery a kilometer away from the small town where Raphael is currently staying. He told the man’s wife about the agreement that they had with her late husband.
Doulaine, the late man’s daughter was believed to be changed after her father just recently died. She always hangs out with her extremely bad influence friends.
One midnight as she got home at 1:48 a.m. her mother is at the living room sleeping while waiting for her worriedly.
“You’re late, “ her mother said.
“What do you expect”
“How could you talk to me that way”
“Doulaine it’s not just you, who’ve been living in your fathers memory, I’m also suffering”
“Really?”
“Then why can’t I see tears from your eyes falling to the hardness of the ground”
“You don’t know.”
“Of course I know…” she snobbed.
“ time to go to bed I think it’s late”
Doulaine left her mom crying in dilemma.
One morning while Doulaine’s mom-- Breanne, is in the kitchen--cooking. She sneaks out to escape and runaway from her mom. Breanne saw Doulaine in front of the door bringing her bag full of clothes.
“Where are you going Doulaine?” her mom shouted
“We’ll I’m moving out of here. This place gives me hell.”
“What you can’t move out you’re just 17. Stay!”
“Why would I?”
“… and besides you don’t have somewhere to move in.”
“I’ll be living together with my boyfriend.”
“What the hell are you thinking? You’re being a whore “
“Well, I am promiscuous. That’s what you want to hear, isn’t it?”
“Bye”
Thinking that she can’t stop her now, she decided to wait for Doulaine ‘til she comes back, ‘cause knows Doulaine can’t stay in a place where she isn’t familiar.
Every day since Doulaine left. Breanne usually looks at the window straight to the road where Doulaine left her begging to stay.
2 months of waiting she missed Doulaine very much; she couldn’t wait to see her again, so she asked Raphael to tell Doulaine to come back home.
“Raphael can I ask a favor it’s kind of tough but—“she begged
“It’s okay. Tell me then”
“I want Doulaine to be back home please help me. I asked you because I know she wouldn’t listen to me”
“I promise to be back home with her”
“Thank you”
He searched for her everywhere, anywhere.

After days of searching he finally found Doulaine in a “favella” looking area. He ran towards Doulaine chasing after her.
“Doulaine!!” he shouted with a huge voice that marked the minds of everyone there.
“Raphael?”
“How did you get here? How did you find me?”
“Why don’t you stop asking? You’re mom misses you a lot, why don’t you come back?”
“I would want to—“
“really?”
“But—I can’t”
“Why not?”
“Just go away.”
An impolite looking man approached them.
“Who are you?” the man said.
“I’m her mom’s friend.., and you, who are you?”
“I’m her boyfriend.”
“Stay away from her.”
They walked in the midst of the crowd. Away from Raphael.
“I’ll get you soon” he muttered to himself.
The next day he stayed in the same place where he found her, waiting for her to come pacing. And there she goes walking along the pavement. Raphael grabbed her hand dragging her slowly to the empty side of the road.
“What are you doing here?” she said.
“What do you expect?”
“I came here for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes”, he put his hands on his pocket.
“I told you I can’t come back.”
“ then tell me, why not? You are most welcome by your mom”
“ ‘Cause I’m pregnant” she said every word softly leaning against the wall.
“Aren’t you suppose to be happy”
“What?!.. it’s a disgrace why would I”
“Didn’t you know that a baby is god’s opinion that the world shall go on”
“I don’t believe in god”
“why not?”
“He’s not real, well, if he is then why did he let me suffer?”
“You let yourself suffer. God is just helping you out in his own great ways.”
“Jesus!!!, you believe in God.”
“Of course.”
“You can’t just believe in things that aren’t seen. To see is to believe. Isn’t it?”
“I’m aware. I’ve seen him”
“Anyway does he know about this?”
“Who?”
“Your extremely bad-mannered boyfriend”
“No.”
“Well, He has to know.”
“What if he’ll refuse to take his responsibility?”
“So be it, I’m here.”
She looked at him with her eyes asking What do you mean? But he said defensively.
“I mean I promised to father didn’t I?”
She headed to the apartment where she and her boyfriend settled. Feeling terrified and anxious.
“Babe!!” she called her boyfriend.
“I’ve got something to tell you”
“What?”
“I’m pregnant”
“What?!, are you sure? I mean are you sure it’s mine?”
“Yes”
“No way!, stay away from me. Damn you!”
He ran outside to the street running away from his obligations. Raphael saw him leaving her. So he ran after him. And said
“What did you do to her?”
He did not answer Raphael’s question but instead he grabbed Raphael’s hand with force hurting him.
“STAY AWAY! It’s none of your business.”
“of course it is my business.”
Doulaine’s boyfriend then ran.
Raphael stopped following him but instead he ran towards the place where Doulaine had stayed. There, he saw her sobbing with great mourn.
“I know why you’re crying.”
“How could he just run away from it?” she said softly while crying.
“ssshhh… calm down I’ll never leave you.”
He hugged her. Wrapping her with his warm arms trying to soothe her mourn. While she is sobbing on his chest wetting it with her full pail tears.
“So I guess you have to go with me” he said with a voice that seems like boasting that he won the stake.
“If then, I have to pack” she replied.
She walked to her room, but even she still not half way there she turned back then taps her hand on his hand.
“Thank you for everything.”
The words made him astounded, though he can’t say a word his smile could tell how his spirit could celebrate because of what she just said.
After minutes of waiting; she finally then went out of the room.
“Let’s go.” She uttered persuasively.
They travelled. They ride on a bus. They’re way is not even a fourth of the small town’s distance from the city she moved in. While travelling they were caught by the setting of the sun. Doulaine felt exhausted so she slept without knowing her head fell on Raphael’s shoulder.
“OK. We’re here.” He said cheerfully to wake her up, upon reaching to the small town.
As they went down from the bus. Doulaine hesitated to continue walking to their house.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Do you think she’ll still accept me after all I’ve done?”
“ She asked me to pick you up from nowhere, and you’re her daughter so why not?”
From a far away distance, Breanne can see them coming, with excitement she ran towards them. They stopped in the midst of the road way to their house Breanne held her daughter’s hand knowing she couldn’t hug her, she can’t hide his happiness so she cried.
“You’re back, I missed you.”
“Mom…I’ve got something to tell you…”
“Let’s get in first, why don’t we”
Doulaine walked ahead of them maybe she felt weary. Breanne walked beside Raphael. And said…
“Thank you.”
“I told you I will take her home”
When they reached home. Breanne made the tea that Doulaine loved since before.
“So, what is it you’re going to tell me my dear.” Breanne asked
Before she mentioned a word she first looked at Raphael.
“Mom… I’m pregnant.”
She couldn’t believe what she had heard.
“ What?!... What did you say?”
“Mom, I’m sorry”
“How many months?”
“One and a half months”
Doulaine hugged her while crying. She too hugged her daughter tightly that she’s been longing for a long time.
“But darling you’re only 17…”
“Mom, I’m truly sorry.”
“it’s okay my dear, as long as you’re here… that baby is a new family to us it’s a gift since your father recently died. It’s a new gift.”
“Does the baby’s father know?”
“Yes, but he ran away from his obligations.”
“Oh no, how irresponsible of him to do that, where is he? I’ll look for him. He can’t just ran away from his obligations ”
“Mom its fine Raphael told me that he’ll help me raise this baby.”
Months passed more or less 6 months, Raphael has been bothered by what he felt for Doulaine, he doesn’t know why he starts to smile every time he thinks about her, without knowing it is love that he’s been feeling since she took Doulaine home.
“Hey, Raphael why don’t you go with me.”
“Go where?”
“To the doctor.”
“To the doctor?”
“Yes, Come on.”
And so they went there, as they walked, every girl in the hallway of the hospital started staring at them, that you can even see in their eyes what they’re trying to say: “How lucky of her carrying his baby.”
She chose to be examined alone in the room.
“Ms. Hufflemeyer I’m so sorry to tell you that you are carrying an incurable disease. But for now I still can’t tell if your baby is also carrying this kind of disease.” The doctor said
“What disease?”
“The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, the AIDS”
“So, I’m gonna die?”
“I’m afraid, but yes I can’t tell you of how many days are left for you to live. Anyway you’re having a baby girl. And please don’t forget to go back here by next week maybe with that we can tell you, if your baby is also affected by the syndrome.”
After hearing the words freed by the doctor she feel that time froze for awhile and she can’t even move her body freely then, because of that she cried with great anxiety of who’s gonna take care of her baby. She left the room quickly before she cried everything so loud inside the toilet. she went outside the toilet with tears wiped and displayed a happy face and she’s trying to stop thinking about what the doctor had told her.
“Hey, how is it?” Raphael said it with great excitement, without even knowing what Doulaine just discovered.
“It’s great I even got a printed output of it. Here and there she is.” She said it with hypocrisy of how she really feels.
“So she’s a girl?”
“Yeah…uummm, hey can you promise me something?”
“Yeah sure,”
“Can you be the foster father of my daughter? I mean please take good care of her ‘til she grows up and become a woman. Don’t ever let her live the life that I’ve been living now.”
“OK. Why? Where are you going? You’re not leaving her, are you?”
“Nothing, we all don’t know what’s gonna happen next as we live. I don’t even know if I’m going to die tomorrow.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing, Let’s go I’m sure mom is so excited to know what her grandchild is going to be.”
“Anyway the doctor asked me to go back there for the result next week, the doctor is going to tell me if the baby is healthy. Are you going with me?” she asked.
“Sure, I’ll pray for her, that the result is going to be pleasant.”
“Thanks”
And so they told Breanne that it’s a lassie. They celebrated it. But they didn’t know how they should really react of what Doulaine had heard.
After one week she went back to the doctor and found out that the baby had surprisingly survived from the syndrome.
“It’s a miracle Ms. Hufflemeyer. The baby is not contaminated with your syndrome” the doctor reported happily.
She looked up with great gratefulness to God.
“Thank you Lord.”
She went outside with a big smile on her face.
“I can guess that the baby is healthy for her mommy is smiling, a smile that could light the whole world.” Raphael said
She giggled saying “Yes, she is healthy.”
“sure?”
Slowly the bubbly face she showed faded and replaced it with a serious emotion shown and the giggling tone of her voice turned to a serious tone saying
“ Thanks for your prayer it indeed helped a lot. And thank you for being here all the time.”
“Anything for you.”
Slowly the cheerful atmosphere turned as an awkward moment.
After one and a half month Doulaine had been feeling pain since a week passed. Then came, one day she felt like her bag of water just burst that she could even feel pain, she could feel her coming.
“Mom!, She’s coming.” She shouted.
“What?!”
“I’m going to give birth… aaaaaahhhhhhh” she shouted as she’s feeling the pain.
Then they went to the hospital. From their house going to the hospital Raphael is just holding her hand.
“Don’t leave me Raphael.” She said holding his hands tightly trying to never let him go ‘til they went inside the delivery room.
She then hopefully gave birth to a very beautiful and charming baby with a bewitching eyes that you couldn’t just see anywhere. She’s been named us Delilah.
“She’s so beautiful.” Raphael complimented
“Just like you”
She looked at him with an ever puzzled eye.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing I’m sorry”
“No it’s okay…, uummm… Raphael, I love you”
“Oh no, what have I done. I’m sorry, now if you’ll excuse me.” He said
He ran outside of the hospital and went to an empty place
“I’m so sorry my Lord, I didn’t mean to—“
“It’s all right my child.” God responded.
“What’s gonna happen now?” he asked
“You’re going to lose your wings and live amongst the human. Forever.”
“That’s it? no punishment?”
“No, no one can defeat the power of love not even me. You’re free now. You can live with her.”

“Thank you my Lord I will never disregard your goodness.”
He then ran back to Doulaine.
Doulaine was crying talking to her mother.
“I didn’t know how he feels for me. I’m so dumb and numb I thought he feels that way for me too.”
“I thought he’s going to say—“
“I love you too?, is that what you want to hear?” Raphael interrupted their conversation.
“Excuse me.” Breanne said wanting to leave the room just for them.
“you’re here. I thought you ran away.”
“I love you Doulaine more than you could ever know. And I told you I will never ever leave you.”
“What if I’m going to be the one who’ll leave you instead?”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a syndrome Raphael, a syndrome that could never be cured. Soon things are going to be changed. I’m going to die.”
He then hugged her tightly then kissed her lips.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“I’ll never leave you ‘til you will.”
“Can I ask a favor?” she asked
“What is it?”
“Please make a crib for Delilah, I want to see it just before I die, I just want to make sure that she has something to sleep into. And please do remind her everyday that I loved her, I love her and I will always love her.”
He was crying as he nodded
After then they told Breanne about the syndrome that could cut her life soon.
“Darling are you sure?” Breanne cried after hearing though.
“Yes, mother and on the day I’m going to leave please put me on a boat and send me away to the river ‘til I’ll sink, please do put the letter that I wrote for father before he died I forgot to give it to him but now I think I’ll be the one to give it to him on the time that we will meet.”
“Don’t talk that way.”
“I could die anytime now.”
“But instead let’s just cherish the moments that had left before you’ll depart.”
They cherished the moments that had left before Doulaine could’ve gone. Raphael and Doulaine walked along the river witnessing as it flows continuously.
“See that river?” she started.
“Yes, why?”
“You’re life should be like that. As I’ll leave you soon you shouldn’t stop living your life to the fullest, even without me.”
“That’s impossible I was never happy ‘til I met you. But now, you’re leaving me.” He said it depressed.
“You can do it, you are a strong man. I’ll always believe in your strength”
“Not without you.”
“I love you, forever and always.”
They looked at each other’s eyes filled with sincerity, trust and love.
“You know, why don’t we go there?” she asked.
“Where?”
“Under the oak tree. On the hill.”
“Sure. Are you tired?”
“Kinda, ‘cause we’ve walked really far.”
They sat down under the tree.
“Raphael, before they’ll send me away to the river the day I’ll die. Please hold my hand tight and never let go ‘til you have to. I just want to feel your hand for a long time before I’ll proceed to my journey, so that I won’t forget the man that I love and the touch of his hand.”
Doulaine grabbed something in her pocket—a bracelet she made.
“Please give this to Delilah; this could remind her everyday that I won’t stop loving her.”
“Even without this bracelet, she will always remember you for I won’t get tired of telling her each time.”
She smiled.
She held his hand really tight and leaned on his side putting her head on his shoulder. Looking at the sun as it descends. Enthralled.
“I love you” the last words she uttered before she stopped breathing.
Moments passed he could feel her cold hand. He stared at her knowing she just left. He cried million rivers while looking at her, a cry that you couldn’t be seen on the eye of the soldier.
“Why now?, now that I’m free to love you, now that I’m happy with you.” He murmured to himself.
He whispered in her ears. “I love you. I wish it’s not too late”
He took her dead body home carrying her without feeling exhausted as he walked to their house.
“Breanne, she just passed.”
“Doulaine?”
“I hope you can still hear me darling. I love you.” Breanne talked to her weeping.
Before they sent her away to the river. Raphael did what Doulaine favored him to do, he held her hand, running and catching up with the swift flow of the river as it takes her away.
When he got home he took Delilah from her crib and spoke to her.
“I promise to take good care of you Delilah just like what I did to your mom. Even though you’re not my daughter I love you more than a father could do.”
He kissed her little forehead while she’s asleep. She fluttered her eyelids like she’s dreaming about something, she curved her mouth and smiled innocently while sleeping and wrapped her little palm around Raphael’s finger.

♥ The End ♥

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 02.11.2011

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