Angel

She wasn't too afraid at first; thinking she would get home, like any other time.   The storm erupted suddenly and had been awful.  The night was cruel, unusually dark and the rain seemed to jab at her sideways.  The car was going to0 fast, skidding off off the road before she could understand what was happening.  She bumped and clanged as it clattered down an embankment.  There was the sudden searing pain of impact, stench of burning rubber and the yelp of breaking glass followed by a warm gush and the smell of her own blood and then, the night closed in to have a closer look at her.  Time was lost.

It was the hurt that brought her around; in her legs, along her back and the side of her head.  Yep, all there but wow.  She was certain it was all broken.  Rain was still laughing at her along the roof of the car.  She slowly moved and managed to wiggle out through the broken window, accumlating only a few more gouges and scrapes. Panic burned gently in her pulsing head.  She needed to get away from here.  She stood up on wobbly legs and tried to breathe deeply.  Her lungs burned as she coughed, spitting out some blood mixed with the first twinges of fear.  Looking around, she saw nothing but the night and twinkling raindrops.  Slowly, she staggered, having no idea what else to do.  Mud caked and clung to her as she wandered along the road hoping someone would stop to help, but the few cars that passed were in too great a hurry so they splashed her instead.  A couple even honked as if she had intruded or startled them but it still wasn't enough for anyone to pull over.  The lights hurt her head so she did what she thought was logical and left the road to go into the woods hoping for a driveway or a house. She was lost.

She walked and ached for hours becoming disoriented from hunger (she hadn't eaten since the previous morning she sadly remembered.)  She wasn't sure of the time or even the day.  Had she been unconscious long? She just felt wet all the way to her soul.  She missed her family; time sitting together, laughing and playing.  The hunger pangs gnawed in time with the throbbing of her body.  She knew she needed help and she was trying to find it. So where was God's merciful aid? Isn't that what people said?  God helps those who help themselves? Well, she was doing her best soooo  "Throw me a bone Big Guy..." she thought bitterly through the stings and pains.  At last, she sat under a pine tree and pulling at the needles,  found a bit of rye grass.  Her stomach grabbed at the meager offerings and she closed her eyes... just for a few....

Hours?

When she came around again, the sky was still weeping but the clouds were turning violet.  She had to think.. and then her heart sank, she'd been out for the entire day; at least one.  She was in the middle of another night.  She sat up and tried to move but her muscles had stiffened so the pain screamed at her to stop.   Fear again pinched her, reminding her just how much she wanted to get out of here.  She wanted to be safe and warm and dry and fed and ... anywhere but here.  Alone.  She was too hurt and tired to even cry so she slumped back and whimpered a bit.  She looked around at her dismal surroundings; using her desire to get out to force herself up.  She groaned against the grinding in her bones, trying to shake off the wet.  It only seemed to make matters worse:  more rain, more storm, more pain.  But she limped and staggered on.  Her mind was foggy and confused.  She thought of family.  Had there been one? Long ago perhaps.  Or was it a dream?  In the distance, she heard gravel crunching; movement and fought her way back to the road.  Maybe they would know.  Someone. Anyone.  On her way back up she pulled absently at some berries wincing at the prickling pain and chuffed.  She was forgetting what it was NOT to hurt.  Hunger pulled again and she heaved. Her head swam as the trees, the road, the world seemed to tilt.

She stood at the street, looking both ways into the dark emptiness.  Despair pushed her down and hopelessness snuggle under her skin in an attempt to soothe her.  It talked her into lying down so she would hurt less.  The aches and pain she had been fighting began to melt into the wet, puddled ground.  Her pulse thrummed in her ears, steadily encouraging her to give up, give in, stay down, sleep long...She understood and accepted it.  She would die out here alone with only the pinging, incessant rain to weep for her. She felt her breathing slow as the forever sleep warmly wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. " It  won't be so bad" Death promised in the distance ~ a dream was it? She dreamt of lights and noises; of life and in this last dream she felt a hand on her head; a voice drenched in concern:

"Heyyyyy"

Her eyes fluttered open and startled, she flinched, pulling away from the mass above her. 

"Easy.  You're all right.  Safe" the voice continued.  An angel.  She shouldn't be afraid of an angel.

She felt herself being carried and wondered why her ascent into Heaven was so bumpy.  She at last felt warmth and she relaxed and rested.  The stirrings of hunger confused her.  Did she eat in Heaven?  She raised her head to see a man smiling down at her; her angel.  He softly brushed her face.

"Nice to see you.  You had me scared for a bit, but you'll be all right"

And he stroked her fur once more.  The dog wagged her tail and gave a happy half-pant.  Yes.  She would be all right here with her angel.


Sooooo how long before you figured it out?  I loved this one just because of the ending.  I know there were a couple of gaps but since this is flash fiction, I didn't feel they were serious infractions.  I know, Tex, you will correct me if I'm wrong. (... VEHEMENTLY! LOL  Luv you Old Man)  Well, I thought we could all use a little break from the nightmares.  I have a couple of others coming down the pipe. (insert spooky music and sinister giggling)  Well, I appreciate that you stopped by and stayed a bit.  You make such good company.  I would hate to sit here all alone and tell only myself these stories, so thank you.

Until next time...