Fiction | Short Story | Angels
Overhead, the clouds parted, and a child’s face peered down, watching the humans below. The hustle and bustle of the streets of New York City meant not even the tourists were looking up to notice the tiny face peering down, a giggle on his lips.
Streaks of sunlight poured into the streets, blocked only by the tallest of the buildings. The child with the body of a lion hidden in the cloud sat back on his haunches, aiming with his bow and arrow.
He waited until the target was clear and released the arrow. The arrow traveled along the path of the sunlight until it struck its target. Leaving a glimmer of a shade in its path. The cherub sat back on his haunches, a smile on his face, watching his mark trip on the step and stumble into the arms of her neighbor, two singles that were destined to be together.
With his work done, he rose, letting his wings carry him up into the hallowed glow in the sky, the place where all cherubs wait for their orders.
Matthew was on his third order since becoming an angel of destiny. In his human years, Matthew had been madly in love with love, although he remained single throughout his time on Earth. Now in heaven, he was granted the opportunity to bring love to others.
Matthew continued rising, his tail trailing behind him, Babyfaced, with the build of a lion, and mane instead of hair flowing around him. Matthew joined the others in the central hall, far above New York City.
The hustle and bustle of the hall took on a quiet reverence as Joseph divided up the next orders for the cherubs.
“Matthew,” he heard Joseph call out, looking for him in the sea of baby faces, until his eyes met with Matthew.
Matthew stepped forward, surprised that he already had a new order. Sometimes it took months to wait for a new order. Micheal nudged him as he passed by, eyes wide, and shifting his feet from side to side. Matthew could have sworn he whispered, “Good luck.”
Matthew wondered what that was about. Why did he need luck? Matthew moved through the others, parting their way, until he stood in front of Joseph.
“This is highly unusual,” Matthew paused, “to get a new order so quickly.”
Joseph smiled down at Matthew. Cherubs got larger as time passed, and Joseph was the oldest Cherub that Matthew knew of, and his body towered over Matthew’s small frame.
“We have a special case for you, Matthew.” Joseph started. “We pass it on to all the new cherubs. I want to be upfront with you about it before we give you the order. No one has been successful at this match.”
Matthew swallowed, waiting for more. It was clear Joseph was not done talking.
“Her name is Melissa, and she stands alone more often than not. Your role is to find her perfect match and bring them together.” Joseph held up a paw to stop Matthew from speaking. He wasn’t finished yet. Matthew waited. “Melissa is optimistic about love, but also quite proficient at keeping it at arm’s length. In her 47 years, she has avoided the diamond more times than I can count. She is evasive. She is pessimistic about men, even while being optimistic about love.” Joseph paused, “It is your job to match her heart with another’s once and for all.”
Matthew nodded, taking the arrow from Joseph’s paw into his own, his claws gripping it tightly.
“This is Melissa’s arrow.” Joseph said, “Take care of it. It’s the last one we have.” Joseph’s blue eyes met Matthew’s brown ones, sparking fire in their depths, “Don’t miss.”
Matthew understood. He was Melissa’s last hope. Her heart was literally in his paw. He flicked his tail nervously and walked away.
His first stop would be to the archive room; he had to know Melissa’s history first. Leaving the central hall, he took a hallway off to the right until he stood on a thick, white, fluffy cloud.
As soon as Matthew got all four paws on the cloud, the cloud began to rise and move through the air. The archives were hidden in the sky above Egypt. Humans didn’t even realize the pyramids pointed to the archives in the sky. Only the cherubs were allowed in the archives.
Matthew zipped through the sky quickly, the sun rising and falling as he moved. Many days were passing below, while Matthew stood on the cloud. It was good that Cherubs didn’t need to eat or sleep, for Matthew spent the journey thinking about Melissa and wondering why no one had succeeded in capturing her heart.
The cloud stopped suddenly, before two great doors signaling the entrance of the Archives. Matthew stepped up to the doors, placing his paw, claws engaged, into the stone next to the door. A brief hum sounded, and Matthew watched as the doors slid open, giving him access.
Matthew stepped up to the front desk. “I am here to review Melissa’s file.”
The attendant, a young Cherub who was somehow even smaller in build than Matthew, nodded and motioned for him to follow.
They walked past several occupied rooms, identified by closed curtains, until they found one that was empty. The young cherub motioned him into the small room and closed the curtain behind him.
Matthew didn’t have to wait long for the video to begin playing on the wall directly in front of him. This, Matthew thought, was Melissa’s life.
Matthew watched as arrow after arrow missed Melissa, year after year, leaving Melissa with heartbreak, pain, and nothing to show for her love. It was the saddest thing he had ever seen, that is, until he noticed something else.
As Melissa was missed with each arrow, and missed chances floated by without providing her with her heart’s desire, Melissa – Matthew noted – grew stronger.
Not only was she stronger, but she seemed to thrive in her aloneness. She wasn’t purposely avoiding love, but she wasn’t openly seeking it either. Melissa was content with the life she had built, whether or not there was someone in it.
As Matthew watched and rewatched the video that was Melissa’s life, he shed tears, laughed, and even cheered for her triumphs.
When the video ended, it showed Matthew where he could find Melissa in the world. He turned and left the archives. He nodded to the young Cherub attendant and left the archives. Climbing onto the thick, fluffy, white cloud again and this time, returning to the central hall.
As Matthew traveled back, he thought about what he had just witnessed. He knew just what he had to do. Only he wasn’t sure how the others would react.
Matthew walked right up to Joseph, who, these many days later, still stood in the front of the Cherubs awaiting orders.
“Is it done?” Joseph asked him. “Is Melissa coupled?”
Matthew didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached behind him, pulling the arrow flickering with magic forward, and amid all the gasps around him, he threw Melissa’s last arrow to the ground, crushing it under his claws.
Joseph’s eyes blazed red, but he waited for Matthew to speak.
“Sometimes, being alone is enough,” Matthew said, his eyes meeting Joseph’s eyes in challenge.
The quiet of the room erupted into cheers as Joseph leaned forward, eyes now a cool blue, paw clapping Matthew on his haunches.
“All the new cherubs need to learn this lesson,” Joseph said. “Not all arrows are meant to be fired. Now go, wait for your next order.”
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