Hiding under a soft ivory colored comforter she thought back to a cool autumn night, on a second floor balcony. The air smelled funny; a wicked blend of many exhaust fumes and paper factory bi-products. There was a drink in her hand, a grape fanta gone flat and it tasted funny too. Nothing seemed even remotely normal at the time. She had hoped things would change, that she would find her footing, maybe even start to love the change a little. But enough time passing hadn’t changed her initial take on things. Yes, she had grown and found the kind of stability born out of accepting the whirlwind that life is determined to be. She had tried to come to terms with the continued madness, unpredictability, and oh, the utter confusion! Tonight while the past weighed heavily in her heart, the future stood beaconing in her mind. And she lay there quietly, her tiny frame completely swallowed by her covers, watching the shadows of the graduation cap and gown she had picked up that day, dancing on her bedroom wall in the soft yellow candle light.
From the doorway where he stood watching her, the light hit his wings ever so slightly. He knew that if she turned that way and let her heart believe for a minute, she would see him, and she would know he had been there all along. But she did not turn, always sleeping on her side; he heard the soft sigh when she went to sleep. And he smiled. Proud of her, even though he knew angels shouldn’t be proud of these things.

To Allie,because I know that you know.