Christmas for Angels Continued...

I am sorry if all of the little parts of this story are so out of order when I post them. I am sure you are all confused. I just like to leave some of it to mystery, or perhaps one day it'll be a book on a shelf to read. Please be patient and just enjoy. :) Thank you.


David stood next to the cement ice skating rink barrier. Two very talented couples skated with grace and speed across the fresh manicured rink. Each performing skillful maneuvers and tricks that would appease any crowd in attendance. The sun reflected off the ice like a perfect sheet of glass. The sound of the skaters blades clicked and swished as David continued to watch. It was just last night Rachael had brought him out for his first skating lesson. He blocked the couples out of his mind, imagining Rachael and himself gliding along in the swirling snowflakes, her cheeks red from the cold and her hair flowing behind her as she skated from one end of the rink or the other. He could hear her laugh float over the air making him smile. Rachael did a little twirl before carefully gliding in his direction smiling with joy. David was ready to catch her in his arms when he was jolted from his day dream by an angry yelp from one of the couples who were now bickering off to the side. There was a gap that hung between the two of them. David had to let Rachael go. Though he did not want to, it was time to tell Rachael. He needed a little more time to think before he could drop the bomb in her lap. He wanted to relish the memories and reflect on the days they had together before his departure. He finally knew what it felt like to be in love and it was slipping out of his grasp. He tried to hold on to the feeling, but no matter how hard he tried to hang on the faster it slipped away. He felt sick, though he knew angels couldn't feel this way his body and his heart said differently. There was a distinct pain lingering where a heart, if alive, beat. He knew if he faced Rachael at this very moment, leaving would take a great amount of effort.
     "She believes in Christmas because she has you." David could hear Sarah's voice echo in his head. She was right. Rachael loved Christmas because he stepped into her life, invaded her privacy, and stole her heart. He replaced Kevin. But while David stole Rachael's heart, Rachael had worked her own way into David's non existent  though somehow real heart. It was the mystery behind Rachael's eyes. David realized Rachael loved him before either one knew. He saw it flickering behind the pain, surfacing only moments then sinking back behind the pain. It happened so fast that David took it as false hope at times. It was the light, the need to be loved that brought her spirit of Christmas back. The trust and loyalty to the heart as he had showed her. David knew the exact moment her appearance and her countenance changed toward him, that she truly loved him, the moment at the homeless shelter when she watched him interact with the people around him. She returned his smile. It wasn't her ordinary smile, it was warm, kind, inviting...no...yearning, calling to his own heart for the affection she never knew, but wanted. It was then she loved him. He turned his back on the bickering skaters and gazed out into the park and past the festivities. The sky darkened as the warmth of the sun settled behind the thick gray clouds that filtered in from the west. Another storm festered in the heart of the clouds darkening yet another day, at least to David. The park was still, quiet not even the snow made a sound as it started to fall all around. David shifted his weight feeling a cold tension creep through his soul. It was time, time to dread the walk, the confession, and the failure to accomplish his assignment. David didn't know what Gabriel would say to his involuntary behavior, but he knew one thing and that was, forgiveness. He only did what he thought was right. David took one last lingering look around the park. The color faded and all became dead, what was left was the frosty curtain of ice and snow that hung thick in the air. He moved through the curtain only leaving his footprints embedded in the snow, imprinting the world of his existence for however much longer he stayed.