Memitim

The tree was dying. Of that the angel was sure. Its life essence was slowly fading in the stress of time as clear as a rapidly breaking strand. But still it was beautiful. Surrounded by an aura of morning light, it glowed more radiantly than any other tree nearby.1

It was perhaps bitter irony. To find beauty in the midst of death.2

Gently, she placed a hand on the rough bark and closed her eyes. It was time. Its cycle must come to an end. 3

“Nothing lasts forever…”4

Pressing her hand harder against the bark, wisp of air slowly tangled into form. Dissipating, dissolving, forming anew, two wings unfolded and stretched out. Each surface becoming more translucent, before turning into dark, flowing glass. Encasing the tree in its aura. 5

Slowly the tree’s essence faded in its soft glow and the angel’s hand finally let go of its bark. And as she held the green ball that was once its soul, the orb laced through her fingers before it disappeared into her body.6

Lowering her arm, the angel opened her eyes and whispered, “Good-bye and I’m sorry.”7

As if in response, the tree’s leaves broke from their stem, showering her in a rain of gold. Was it out of thanks? Out of pity? Perhaps because it was finally free from its mortal coil.8

In that moment, she briefly smiled. She was neither made of blood nor flesh. Yet only able to live by taking another life. All in all, she was no different from a mortal. 9

Was that something she should be ashamed of? She couldn’t say.10

To love something all through out its life. Only to feed on it as it dies. To her, such a life was not a joyous existence nor was it a horrible one. 11

Tilting her head, she asked the boy standing to the side. “It is early. Why are you awake? You know it’s not good for you to be up at this hour.”12

Unabashed the boy shook his head. “What you did was very beautiful. But…” His eyes grew soft, “Somehow I doubt you were trying to save it.”13

Turning aside, the angel scoffed, “How many times do I have to tell you. I don’t have the power to save life.” She ran a hand over the trunk. “Only to take it. Soon this tree will wither away and grow barren.” She smiled, wryly. “Doesn’t that frighten you? Does it not scare you that I could do such a thing?”14

“No.”15

“Then it should.” The angel regarded the boy curiously as her voice trailed. “To be able to take life and not feel pain…sometimes I scare even myself.”16

“Then that’s good isn’t it? At least you don’t feel pain. And besides you’re an angel.”17

“An angel…” She ran a hand across her shoulder and felt the cold surface of her wings. “Am I really what you call an angel?”18

“Of course you are!” The boy made a soft chuckle. “I can still remember. Everything was burning, the whole world was in chaos. My house…my family…everything was gone. I thought I was going to die but I didn’t. Because you saved me.” 19

Averting her eyes, she felt her fingers dug deeper into her palm. “But that was…” A mistake. Or at least that was what she tried to say. But she couldn’t. She just couldn’t. 20

Suddenly she felt a hand on her cheek. Without notice, the boy was now leaning, reaching up to hold her cheek.21

“W-what are you…?”22

“I will never forget that day. Not just because you saved me but because that was the first and only time I saw you cry. You cried so hard I thought I was going to drown. After that I promised myself never to make you cry again. So it’s okay if you don’t feel pain. It’s okay if you can only take life. And when the time comes…I would be happy if you were the one to…”23

“Don’t say it!” Immediately she held him in a tight embrace. 24

She knew, if the boy ever said those words.25

“It’s alright, I already know. Just like that tree soon I’ll…”26

Her heart would surely break.27

“Why? Why are you not afraid of me? Why can you keep living saying you’re happy? Why do you keep smiling, knowing you will face oblivion?”28

“Because I’m still alive. All because you’re here. And no matter who you are or what you say to me, you will always be my guardian angel.”29

Unable to respond, she could only feel her self at the gates of despair.30

“AH! You’re crying!”31

Ignoring the boy, she held him even tighter, a tear slipped down her eye and coursed down her cheek. Another followed and another until the boy could feel it splash down his hair. They held each other in silence until the sun finally broke from the horizon and bathed the earth in an eerie shadow.32