Fallen Angel

Laylah’s P.O.V. 

I have been here for six months and have had nothing except loneliness. I thought it was bad where I came from, but the overwhelming feeling of having no one has engulfed me so much I’ve thought about asking to return.

I was excited when I asked my archangel to allow me to go to Earth. Now I realize how naïve I really was. I’ve watched so many people fall in love from afar and wanted that for myself. When I first arrived, I was going from one large city to another because there were more people, but I realized that was part of the problem. Now, I’ve settled down in the small town of Cumberland, Maryland.

An angel’s life isn’t all happiness with white puffy clouds. If that’s what people think, they’re mistaken. I’m an angel and was lonely up there, but it’s been almost worse on Earth. I’m not like the other angels. I’m not happy just existing and knowing I’ll live forever in a safe haven. I want more. I want to feel and experience real life.

Age isn’t important to an angel, but I appear to be in my twenties to humans. I’m petite, with long auburn hair and amber eyes. I’ve had men try to pick me up, but as an angel, I can feel their intentions, and I know they aren’t what I’m looking for.

I walk down the snow-covered street and look in the shop windows. It’s not even Thanksgiving, yet every place is filled with Christmas items. My heart aches thinking of Christmas. I told myself I wouldn’t be alone for Christmas.

“Daddy, Daddy, look at the beautiful angel.” I spin around when I hear the little girl thinking she’s talking about me. However, when I see she’s pointing into the window of one of the shops, my smile falls, and I continue walking. I only take one step and collide with a wall. Well, sort of; the man I ran into is big enough to be a wall. I stumble and almost fall, but he catches me.

“I’m sorry,” I say and try to walk away, but he’s still holding my arm.

“Don’t apologize; it was my fault. I was looking at my daughter and didn’t see you.” Not surprising. No one sees me. I don’t know why I feel like crying, but what he said hit me hard.

“What’s your name?” I look down at the little girl, who’s looking up at me with her big brown eyes. She looks like she’s maybe four or five.

“Laylah,” I answer. I just want to go home. I don’t want to see this man and child with the woman who completes their little family. It’s just another reminder of how alone I am.

“That’s a pretty name. I’m Angel, and that’s my daddy; his name is Daddy.” I can’t help smiling at her. Children have the most innocent souls, and hers is one of the purest I’ve seen.

“That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Nice to meet you, Angel, and you too, uh, Daddy,” I look up at her dad, and he’s staring at me with wide eyes. Crap, did I do it again? I’m always saying things wrong.

“You too, Laylah. My other name is Braxton.” Why does his voice sound hoarse? Does he have a sore throat? I get a full look at him and realize how handsome he is. He’s tall, at least six foot five, with thick blonde hair and dark brown eyes like his daughter.

“Well, I better let you get back to your wife.” I try to step around them, but neither moves.

“He doesn’t have one. She left when I was a baby.” Angel says matter-of-factly. I feel stupid again; I need to stop talking to people.

“I’m sorry. Have a nice day,” I try to leave again before embarrassing myself anymore, but Angel puts her little hand in mine and smiles at me.

“I like you. Can you eat lunch with us?” I don’t know what to say. I look from her to Braxton. He smiles and nods.

“I think that’s a great idea. Have lunch with us,” He says. Okay, I guess one lunch won’t hurt. I follow them into the restaurant just down the street. Angel doesn’t let go of my hand, holding it tight like she’s afraid I’m going to leave. When we walk in, I notice people staring at us. Why are they taking pictures? Angel pulls my hand, and I lean down so she can whisper to me.

“This happens all the time. My daddy sings songs on the radio.” I look at Braxton in awe. That’s incredible. I’ve listened to a lot of music since being on Earth because it’s so different from what I’m used to, but I wouldn’t recognize any artists. As we’re led to a quiet table in the back, I notice several women glaring at me. What did I do?

When we sit down, Angel sits beside me, and Braxton sits across from us. A woman walks over; her shirt buttons are so open I’m sure her breasts are going to fall out in Braxton’s face as she leans over.

“Hi, Braxton. Can I get you anything? How about you leave the little girl and her nanny, and I’ll show you something special in the back?” I can’t believe the audacity of this woman. To say such a thing in front of Angel is wrong on so many levels. However, the little girl speaks up for herself.

“I don’t have a nanny because I have a daddy. Get away from us; we don’t like you. Can’t you see we’re on a date?” Angel looks up at me and smiles. She’s a little firecracker, and I love it. Braxton beams at his daughter while the woman looks at the three of us with her mouth open.

“How dare you speak to me that way, you little brat?” Okay, I’ve had enough. I don’t know these people, but no one speaks to a child like that.

“The only brat I see here is you. Next, you’ll be on the floor having a temper tantrum, which will only add to your ugliness. Why don’t you return to whatever nonsense you were focused on before we walked in? Also, you should fix your clothes unless you’re planning on standing on the corner later. I’ve heard they don’t allow that in this town, though, so you may not get much business.” I look the woman in the eye and let my eyes burn into her. She stumbles backward before taking off. That’s another thing about being an angel. We can put the fear of God in people with one look. When I turn to Angel and Braxton, I feel my face getting hot when I see them staring at me in shock. Did I just mess up again?

“I’m sorry, did I do something I shouldn’t have? My mouth gets me in trouble sometimes.” That’s true both on Earth and from where I came from. I can never keep my mouth shut.

“I think you’re amazing,” Braxton says with a smile, making my face hot. Angel takes my hand, and I look down at her.

“I like you. Will you be my friend?” She asks, looking at me hopefully. Who can deny those blonde curls and big brown eyes anything she wants? She looks like an angel.

“Of course, I’ll be your friend. I don’t have any friends, so you’ll be my best friend.” I tell her, touching her little nose with my finger. She giggles and leans over to hug me.

“Daddy, is Laylah going to be your friend, too? She said she doesn’t have any friends, so we should both be her friends.” We both look at Braxton, and he smiles.

“How could I not be friends with someone as special as she is?” he asks. I get lost in his dark brown eyes and feel warm all over. No man I have ever met has had such an effect on me.

“Can I take your order? Anita said she had to leave because she wasn’t feeling well.” An older woman smiles at us. I like her. She’s much better than the last waitress. We order our food, and she walks away. I don’t know what to say, and I’m so scared I’m going to say the wrong thing. Luckily, Angel doesn’t give me the chance to stress about it.

“Will you draw with me?” She asks, pulling out a pad of paper and crayons from her small backpack.

“Sure,” I tell her. She surprises me when she crawls onto my lap and sits like we’ve known each other for years. I’m not sure what to do. When I look at Braxton, he’s as shocked as I am, but then I see a tear run down his cheek. Angel hands me a crayon, and we begin drawing.

“What are we drawing?” I ask her. She looks up and smiles.

“An angel. I love angels.”