The story of her life

This might just be the longest short story I've ever written, and still it will only take you about 5 minutes to get through. That's if you don't cry. I was approached by a friend one day, who turned out to be one of my best friends today, actually. She approached me when I just started writing. She'd heard one or two of my stories and asked me if I would write hers. She'd always wanted to document it, but didn't know how. It struck me that someone would trust me with such a responsibility. It took me five times starting over and about twenty editing sessions. It was different, because I couldn't just write whatever I wanted to. Someone was depending on the truth of their to be told. Two weeks later, I finally finished it. It took a different turn than I expected, but I am curious to hear what you guys have to say about it.

So this one goes out to Liette du Plessis. I love you and miss you every day.

Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash

You changed my life in a heartbeat

Even though I am an angel, I still couldn’t comprehend why my Dad wanted me to watch over His children. He loves them so much that He even sent my best friend to earth to die instead of them. Some don’t even acknowledge it. I may be a young angel, but I have centuries’ worth of knowledge, but none of it could prepare me for the lesson I am about to teach you.

I was visiting my favorite hospital with my Dad. Something seemed peculiar, because I would usually go alone to deliver a droplet of hope and happiness into the bitterness they feed themselves every morning. We went by a few rooms in need and every frown turned upside down was a precious as the sound of a newborn baby’s first yell of life. Every smile made mine grew larger and everything was shining, until we went turned in at the Maternity unit...

I could feel the chills crawling up my spine one by one, tickling my smile to a frown. I grabbed His hand and He smiled down at me: “It is time for you to learn how short life really can be.” He took me to through the waiting room to where a woman and her husband were on their way to the operating room for an emergency C-section. “No, I’m not ready,” I pleaded, “I’m not ready to witness family destruction, please please,” I continued, “take me home.” “Today you will learn what love and appreciation for life truly is, my child, you shall thank me later,” He calmly responded.

With every inch the doctor cut deeper into the mother’s belly, I could feel the moisture leaving my throat leaving only a desert. When the baby finally came out screaming (a song I usually loved, a sound I used to envy) I didn’t want to witness what was yet to come. The mother wasn’t even allowed to hold her newborn directly after birth. “Get her to intense care immediately, we’ll have to start the operation soon,” the distressed doctor said.

“Why Daddy? For what is she to be operated?” “Her heart, my dear,” He said with a sigh, “because of the veins that are functioning inadequately. They developed on the wrong sides of her heart while she was in her mother’s womb” “But why? Why couldn’t you just let create them accurately like with the others — while they’re still inside?” I cried impatiently “I could... but there is more to what meets the eye,” He replied endearingly.

Five days passed. Every day and every night I would stay with her, I would not leave her side, even when she finally got to feel the embrace of her loving mother, but only for a heartbeat. I told her stories as she lay wrapped in blankets and held her tiny hand whenever it was possible. When the doctor returned once more, his distressed face confirmed to me that the operation would be that day, that moment and not a heartbeat later.

Through the entire operation I kept watch over her as close as I was allowed by Dad. Somehow I had the guts to keep my eyes glued to the cold operating table’s arms closing in on the minute creation made from the purest love possible. Before the operation was complete I was told to keep watch over the mother who needed an outreaching hand of hope. The ticking of the clock beat like I drum inside me. After what felt like an eternity the doctor returned: “She is ... stable. It looks like she is responding positively to the operation, but sadly not everything is impeccable. In normal cases a newborn child should absorb at least 80% of oxygen entering their body. Your child I’m afraid is only absorbing 20%” in that moment the mother sunk to the ground and although she wasn’t speaking I could hear her plead loud and clear. The doctor continued: “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do to increase the amount of oxygen her body is receiving. No medication can heal or improve your daughter. I’m sorry.”

In those passing three weeks, even when I was assigned far away, I could hear every plead, every cry and every prayer going out to the little creation. How could I “learn what love and appreciation for life is” when I already know that life can be taken away any second and that second chances are taken for granted, how would this be any different? That instant in thought made me decide that I would go talk to my Dad. I would not let her die, even if my life depended on it.

“Dad, I come to you respectfully. I know you have a plan and a purpose for her, but I feel their tears, I smell their desperation, I hear their cries. I beg of you, save the little creation,” I pleaded in the greatest admiration of Him. His lipped curled upwards while saying: “You KNOW that I am capable, you KNOW my love is strong enough. So why, do you think, haven’t I done it?” “I don’t know and I am not trying to question it. I am merely offering to surrender my heart, so hers may function accurately again.” Dad replied with a smile as wide as the Great Canyon: “That’s why... I needed a heart great enough to replace hers. Now I have found it. Get ready, for tomorrow she will be restored.”

So that night I visited all the souls who where in most need of hope, to complete my last tasks as angel (and reach ultimate peace in myself one last time). I went back to Dad after and proclaimed “I’m ready”. “Good” He replied. As I lay down on the hospital bed beside her and shut my eyes I remembered the mother’s crying and pleading and found peace in the fact that she would soon smile again...

I opened my eyes and to my surprise saw the hospital ceiling and peered around confused. I saw the mother with tears of joy in her eyes and her daughter in her embrace. Ran over to Dad standing right beside her with a grin and asked: “How? I thought my heart would replace hers, and yet I still have mine?” “It would’ve happened this way all along, my child,” He replied, “I needed you to value another’s life enough to surrender your own. Now you comprehend my love and have grown enough to share your great heart with others in need. Make them understand what you have learned and return my lost sheep to me, in My name!”

The doctor returned shrugging his shoulders and said: “I honestly don’t know what happened. She did not receive any medication from me nor from any nurse and yet her body is absorbing 83%. It’s nothing short of a miracle, you should be thankful.”

If I can remind you of one thing today, it wouldn’t be to appreciate life and the time you have or even to cherish every moment in it. It would be to embrace and appreciate and be thankful for your Creator’s mercy and grace. It’s greater than can be comprehended and you just take it for granted. It is true that many lives are lost daily, but even more are saved. Being a guardian angel never meant living eternally and even when I gave up my heart, He gave it back and CRAFTED a new one. He never craves destruction; He simply wants to remind you of the things you already know.

He gave you life and even when you are ready to return the favor, His mercy remains. You are His entire life. Learn to make him yours.