A guardian angel.  That was what she'd been sentenced too. To some, a guardian angel might not sound like such a bad idea, but to her, it was pure torture.1

Heaven was a nice place and all, but it just wasn't home. And being an angel was pretty cool, but still, it was nothing compared to being human. Oh what Laura would trade to be human again.2

As a human, she'd been madly in love. She'd been happy, carefree, and joyous. Every day spent with him was another beautiful day. He was her earth, her sky, and, at that time, her heaven. The world was a lovely place when he was near.3

Laura could still taste the sweet summer air on those warm, lazy days spent under the old cherry tree in her backyard. They'd spent countless hours there just talking. It had been too hot to cuddle so they'd contented themselves just being near one another. That had been more perfect than any crystalline rooms and immaculate parks.4

Nicholas had been her heaven, earth, and everything in between. In Laura's mind, he still was. He was more perfect than any breathtaking angel she had ever seen. And she missed him. Oh how she missed him.5

Almost every day she watched him from the most beautiful park in heaven. It was the only park with grass so green that it almost matched his stunning eyes. And every day, in that park, she would reminisce about those amazing days where his arms had been a more sacred place than any of heaven's immaculate grounds.6

Every day tears brimmed to her ocean blue eyes as she watched him suffer. The tears spilled for him, for her early death, and the life they'd lost together. At the time of that fatal accident, she'd only been twenty-one. They hadn't even gotten married yet.7

On January the fifteenth of the previous year, one week after Nicholas had proposed, she had met her early end. It hadn't been her fault. She hadn't been doing anything wrong. It was merely one of those things where she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She'd been hit by a car. They'd lost control of the swerving vehicle due to icy roads. She'd been killed instantly.8

The tears spilled down her pale cheeks as the memories came flooding back. She remembered his broken expression that fateful day. She remembered sobbing from heaven, begging God for another chance at humanity. She'd promised to be a better person, but he had merely shaken his head. She hadn't done anything wrong, but it had been her time.9

But Nicholas didn't know that. Laura had been forced to watch as her sweet lover slowly lost his will to live. She knew he wanted, more than anything, to join her. And it crushed her more than anyone could imagine. Laura was torn. There was a part of her that wanted him to join her, but then, there was an even stronger part that wanted him to continue living. He was too young to die. He was only twenty-three. Laura wanted him to continue living, but, as long as she was stuck behind the gates of heaven, there was no way to tell him.10

Worry gripped her breaking heart as she paced the park's winding path. There was so much she wanted- no, needed- to tell him. There was so much that had been left unsaid. He had to know how much she still loved him. And he absolutely needed to know that she watched him from the gates of heaven. She was his guardian angel and she wanted him to be happy. She would be fine. As much as she'd rather be human, she could take any emotional pain thrown her way as long as he would smile again. She missed his breathtaking smile.11

Green leaves furiously whirled in front of her as a figure began to emerge from the whirlwind of leaves. From the whirlwind came another angel- a messenger.12

"I have a message from God," the smaller angel said, her delicate voice as soft as a gentle breeze. "He has a mission for you."13

"What kind of mission?" Laura asked dully.14

Most guardian angels looked forward to whatever mission was brought upon them, but Laura didn't like missions. They just brought back painful memories of her own humanity.15

"Well," the young angel said, a cheerful lilt in her tiny voice. "He wants you to go back to earth and help Nicholas. God is worried about him. He's become so unhappy. He thinks only you can help him."16

A wondrous light lit up Laura's eyes as she took in the news. She would get to see him again. Joy spread throughout her body as endless possibilities danced in her head.17

"But," the angel continued, attempting to bring Laura down from her high. "You only have an hour."18

Misery threatened to overtake her body at the disappointing news, but Laura pushed it back with surprisingly optimistic thoughts. She could say what needed to be said in an hour. It wasn't favorable, but it was possible.19

"When do I go?" she asked softly.20

In heaven, everything was soft, gentle, and serene. There were no loud sounds that pierced the air. Everything was sweet and serene, almost like the calm after a storm.21

"Now. The sooner the better," the wide-eyed angel replied.22

A weird feeling swept over her body as darkness clouded her vision. For the first time since her death, she was scared and unsure. In heaven, every day was peaceful and predictable. There were no surprises or mysteries. And there was certainly no fear in the eternally white place.23

But the fear was only momentary as she felt the darkness lifting. Opening her eyes, she gazed around an all too familiar place. It was their old house. The one they'd lived in before the accident.24

Carefully getting up off of the leather couch she'd landed on, Laura walked around the room. She stared, mesmerized, at the lovely emerald room. He'd repainted it. A smile played across her lips as she realized why. Green was her favorite color.25

"W-who are you?" a frightened voice demanded, a shaky finger pointed in her direction.26

Her smile widened as she turned around. It was Nicholas. Her Nicholas.27

"It's me," she whispered softly, brushing a strand of her chocolate hair out of her face.28

She always played with her hair when she was nervous. It was one of those distinguishable habits that Nicholas always loved to point out.29

"L-laura?" he stammered, caught off guard by her sudden appearance.30

"That's me," she smiled, taking a few steps closer.31

The tall man backed away, frightened by whatever was going on. He didn't know what was happening, but he wasn't sure he liked it. Laura was dead. He'd seen her lifeless body. There was no way she could be back. It was just...impossible.32

"I'm worried about you Nicholas," she said, stepping closer despite his obvious fear. "You haven't been yourself lately. I've been watching."33

"W-what do you mean?" he asked, still not convinced that what he was seeing was anything but an illusion.34

"You've been so sad lately. I miss your heaven-sent smiles."35

Amazement shone in his eyes as realization dawned on him. It was Laura. It had to be. She was the only one that ever referred to his smiles as heavenly. That was her thing and her thing alone.36

"I miss you," he whispered hoarsely, a couple tears falling from his eyes.37

"I miss you too," she told him softly, fighting back tears of her own.38

She walked- no, glided- towards him, pressing her body against his. Laura carefully laced her fingers with his and rested her head against his strong chest.39

Squeezing her small hand, a smile crossed his face.40

"I can take a bunch of sleeping pills," he said, eyes brightening. "It'll do the trick. I know it will. And then, then, we can be together."41

A few tears trickled down her cheek at his suggestion. Stepping away from her hopeful lover, she shook her head.42

"It's not your time, love," she told him sadly. "You still have a life ahead of you."43

"Why can't it by my time too?" he asked hoarsely.44

"Because He doesn't want it to be. He wants you to live. I was sent here to stop you from leaving too early," she explained. "I guess I really am the only one that can get through to you. You always were a little thick headed."45

A small smile crossed his lips as he pulled her back towards him. Wrapping his arms around her, he gently stroked her hair.46

"How long do you have?" he murmured, holding her.47

"Probably only a half hour, now," she said, tears, once again, dampening her eyes.48

Without another word, Nicholas lowered his lips to her. In all her years of humanity, never had a kiss been so sweet. Every bit of passion within them fueled the kiss as they tried to fill it with an eternity- the past, present, and future- of love.49

Their time together passed too quickly and soon it was up. Misery overcame her as a blinding light filled the room.50

"I'll always be watching," she whispered, gently caressing his face.51

With one last kiss on the cheek, the light overtook her. Back in heaven, she was really no happier than she was before, but she was more at ease. While it would still take her years to adjust, Laura knew that at least he was happier. 52

The decision had been hard, but it was not one regretted. She would just have to wait to see him again. And waiting was exactly what she would do. Even though, deep inside, she knew they wouldn't get the chance for years, there was still a part of her that held on to the small sliver of hope that his time would sooner.