Miracle

I found my name on the results board with the word “rejected” next to it.

Smiling, I turned around and muttered, “Sixth time's the charm.” The roads, they sounded quieter than normal as I walked to the library. While not the busiest place, we had our fair share of traffic and people, so I wondered a bit on it.

Most of the town had a very grandiose feel to it, with Gothic buildings that truly came to life at night. Often, I found myself walking the streets, admiring the way shadows stretched across the walls and holding back a tinge of fear from the grotesques, darkness making them look even more like monsters.

The library stood out from them, having a modern look to it. I liked it though, the smooth and humble design making it welcoming, a break from the sinister.

I breathed in deeply upon entering, losing myself in the smell of books. Though seemingly empty, I saw the manager poke his head out of the staff room for a moment. They often sat there before opening, talking and laughing and complaining.

Busying myself, I set about organising my little section. I liked the children's books, always so colourful and vibrant. They used to insist on lining them all up like the adult's ones, only the spines showing, but didn't care enough to put them all back after I spread them out.

“Like butterflies flapping their wings,” I said, holding open A Little Mouse's Wish and making its pages flutter while I propped it up on a table.

Somehow, I spent the next hour or so along those lines. Mornings didn't see many people dropping by and the children usually only started turning up around midday during holidays. So when I had company, I found it quite strange.

The lady hadn't spoken, taking to the books instead. I watched her pick one up, read a few pages, and then put it down, just as it had been. Rather than guess, I waited, as I had a feeling she would ask me something eventually; the way she hadn't even glanced at me made me sure she knew exactly where I sat.

Her perusing went on and, when lunchtime neared, we found ourselves company in a small group of kids, not much older than ten if I had to guess.

One approached me, turning back to share smirks with his friends. “Hey miss, did you know they took the word gullible out of the dictionary?”

I frowned. “How strange.”

He broke into laughter, though managed to whisper, rather loudly, “She really fell for it!” to his friends, who joined his laughing.

“Is... is that not true?” I asked.

For a moment, he looked like he would keep on laughing, but something made him stop. Rather than answer, he and his friends ran off, one of the other librarians yelling after them about rules.

Shaking my head, I let out a long breath. “I guess not.”

Half an hour passed in silence for my area, though a bit more liveliness began to spread into the rest of the library. My lunch break had began a few minutes before, but I didn't want to leave without knowing the lady's question. Unfortunately, I caught the manager's eye and he tapped his watch.

With a sigh, I stood up, straightening my skirt and stretching out my legs, not as spry as they used to be.

“Are you leaving?” she asked and I nearly jumped, not expecting her voice to be so strong.

“Yes, I'm going to a little sandwich shop down the road for my lunch break,” I said, smiling.

She nodded and had her own smile, something that seemed out of place with her voice and the harsh eyes, a cold shade of blue that sent an imaginary shiver down my spine. “Would you mind if I come with you?”

Though strange, I answered, “Not at all – Susan deserves more customers.”

We got a few looks from the staff on our way out, but no one said anything, not even us as we walked down the road. That silence only broke for our orders, resuming while we sat opposite each other on a bistro table in a small courtyard for the shop.

Only once we had both finished eating did she speak.

“I know this is all quite odd, but I heard about you and wanted to meet you for myself.”

Confused, I asked, “You heard about me?”

Her eyes looked beside me and she leaned back in her seat, steepling her fingers under her chin. “They spoke badly of you and I didn't like that. I'm not one for rumours nor do I like it when humans judge each other - it's not their place.”

Unsure of what to say to that, I stayed quiet, watching her. The pastel grey suit gave her an air of elegance, matched by her hairstyle and make-up.

“I'm Gabby,” she said, sitting forwards again and meeting my gaze.

“Gabriel, I like him, though I confess he's my second favourite angel.”

She smiled that foreign smile and said, “Yes.”

Before I forgot, I added, “I'm Valerie.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

“And you.”

I found myself looking over her again. She had a soft frame and, though short myself, I'd had a few inches on her, putting her not much over five foot. Her hair that I'd thought black seemed lighter in the sunshine, taking on a silvery hue in places. Gabrielle seemed an apt name for her, all considered.

“I wonder if that's why you don't like rumours,” I muttered, catching myself afterwards and finding relief in how she hadn't heard.

A church bell tolled in the distance and she flinched, twisting her wrist and peering at her watch for a moment. “Ah, I'm afraid I've somewhere to be soon. Perhaps you would indulge me in a question, to settle my curiosity?”

“Sure,” I said.

Her eyes softened, making it seem like she lost herself in a memory, and she asked, “If you had one wish, one miracle that could be granted, what would it be?”

“To be able to help people.”

The glaze left immediately and her sharp eyes settled back on me, looking through me seemingly to my soul. “Usually people don't answer so quickly.”

I chuckled, curling some hair around my fingers. “It's something I've been working towards for a while.”

“That's good, most don't even try, let alone persevere,” she said, much like when condemning the rumourmongers – cold.

When she didn't say any more, I asked, “Do I pass your test?”

“Yes, but if I may indulge once more, what would you do if I could grant you that wish?”

About to reply, I'd opened my mouth when any words I'd been about to speak disappeared, replaced by an alien voice inside my head.

“Because I can.”

Fear gripped me tightly, no breath forthcoming as I stared at her, unable to look away, unable to do anything but listen to the blood pounding in my ears.

“Breathe.”

Gasping, I broke our gaze and half-collapsed on the table. Already light-headed, I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, and then adrenaline woke up me right back up. “What are you?” I asked between slowing breaths.

“Gabrielle.”

Easing my head up, I couldn't barely think, yet managed to say, “An... angel?”

She smiled and, for once, it looked warm. “Would you like me to reward your perseverance?”

“Why me? How?”

Her hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing warmth into me. “Strength, of mind and body.”

I gulped and resisted the urge to nuzzle against her, the touch so gentle and reassuring. “That sounds too good to be true,” I muttered, closing my eyes as sunshine leaked onto my face. “Why are you asking me? Surely you could have just done it if you wanted to.”

“Ah, there are rules, are there not?” she said, tapping my nose as though chiding a child. Then again, compared to an angel, I would be a kid. “I cannot lie, bring harm to innocents, nor force my wisdom on an unwilling ear, amongst others.”

Slowly, I pulled back, breaking from her touch almost painful. “That seems like a list to reassure me.”

Opening my eyes, her lips held a soft smirk. “My, my, so quick – it makes me wonder why I hear such rumours.”

“Ah, well, I'm a little slow at picking up what people truly mean, so I seem a bit of an airhead,” I replied, playing with my hair again rather than looking her in the eye.

“Such a shame, you could do so much if chance hadn't conspired against you.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled and said, “You still could, if you accept my reward.”

“I hope you don't take my caution as an insult,” I said back. “I've not had many people offer me genuine help before and no one has promised me a miracle.”

For a moment, I thought she would leave, but after a deep breath she settled back in her chair. “If you have any doubts I may settle, please share.”

I relaxed, taking the pause to think, to try and deduce how best to confirm what she said. Yet, before I even managed one question, I ran out of time.

“Help.”

For a second, I blanked, and then looked around for where the whisper came from. Back in the shop, the owner lay on the floor, blood pooling beside her.

“Please.”

Already on my feet, I stumbled over to the doors and slammed them open, dropping down next to her. “Stay calm Susan, it'll be okay, I promise,” I said, hoping I kept the fear from my voice.

“I trust you,” she said and I spared a moment to smile before looking for just what happened. Beyond a tear in her shirt, a small knife lay embedded in her abdomen, though it looked to have been jerked, much too much blood leaking out.

“Stop the bleeding, stop the bleeding,” I muttered, glancing around. “Gabrielle, can you see a first-aid kit anywhere?”

“You can't save her.”

Looking behind, I glared at her and shouted, “First-aid kit!”

“You could save her, if you accept.”

Susan let out a hiss of pain and I barely held her still, though the tear in her flesh worsened anyway. “Swear it, on His name, on your life!”

I felt her kneel beside me and she lay her hand on mine, as warm as earlier. “I swear you will save her if you accept my offer, on my Lord and life.” A shock ran through me as she said that, like a shiver through my blood and bones.

“I accept.”