Chapter 1
THE ANGEL
FLASHBACK
“Mommy look… an angel.”
Ten-year-old Billy Foster pointed excitedly across the small park playground.
A little girl with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes stood near the swing set. She looked almost unreal in the sunlight.
Billy tugged his mother’s sleeve.
“Mommy… am I dead?”
His mother laughed softly.
“Why would you ask that, Billy?”
“Because you said we only see angels when we die.”
She followed his finger and saw the little girl.
The girl noticed Billy staring and walked toward him shyly.
“I’m Katherine,” she said.
Billy blinked.
“You’re an angel.”
She giggled.
“No I’m not.”
“Yes you are,” Billy insisted. “Angels have blonde hair and blue eyes.”
She sat beside him on the swing.
“Well if I’m an angel,” she said, “then you must be my friend.”
Billy nodded immediately.
“Best friend.”
The two children spent the whole afternoon together, laughing and racing around the park.
When it was time to leave, Katherine held out her pinky finger.
“Promise me something.”
Billy crossed his pinky with hers.
“What?”
“No matter what happens,” she said softly, “we’ll meet again when we’re grown up.”
Billy smiled confidently.
“That’s easy.”
They sealed the promise.
But life doesn’t always respect promises.
