Angel's Road


A gentle breeze laden with the scent of wildflowers momentarily caressed the delicate wisps that had escaped the confinement of the silky ribbon the Guardian Angel of Dawn had placed in my hair at daybreak. I small smile lifted my lips as I reached to touch the soft fabric, remembering her majestic dignity, and how the soft glow of her flaxen hair was reflected in the slowly rising sun.

Vibrant petals, moist with dewdrops, lay scattered across the sun-dappled road before me, patiently waiting to kiss the souls of my feet, if I should happen to tread upon them. Although there have been times that the pace of my journey was hurried, today, I moved down the road leisurely, taking time to watch the antics of squirrels and chipmunks as they scampered through the grass collecting the morning's feast.

Sometime later, I looked up and saw the sun perched high in the sky. I realized I had been so captivated by the sight of the flowers dancing to the sweet melody of birdsong, that I had failed to notice that the morning was gone. Increasing my pace, it was not long before I came to a verdant meadow, awash in radiant color. Masses of lush blossoms stretched before me, lining the road, filling my all of my senses with their vivid and graceful splendor. I could taste their sweet scent upon the air, and without hesitation, I moved into their midst. I sat down for a moment, to rest, allowing myself the time to refresh my soul.

Soon I forced myself to get up and continue down the trail, looking back only once, to catch a last glimpse of the majestic beauty of the valley. As I came around a curve , I stopped and turned, sensing I was not alone. Directly behind me, standing in the middle of the road, was The Guardian Angel of Daylight. She smiled at softly me, and the sun seemed to shimmer and then brighten in the sky casting brilliant hues off the burnished copper of her hair.

When she silently handed me a basket filled with ripe purple plums, fuzzy peaches and a brightly-colored assortment of wild berries, I bowed my head in prayerful thanks, before sitting down in a shaded area beside the road. Hearing my stomach murmur with impatience, she laughed lightly and said, "It seems you are hungry, my child."

I looked up with a smile of my own and replied, "Yes, I guess I was, I just hadn't noticed, there were so much to see today."

I began eating the luscious fruit, almost moaning aloud in my pleasure; laughing once in surprise as a particularly succulent berry dribbled it's juice down my hand. As I ate, I could feel her watching me, and after a moment or two I looked up, curious.

"Today's road is not straight." she said softly, "There are many twists and turns, and you will need to venture far down a crossroad in order to find the new path you must take."

I furrowed my eyebrows in puzzlement, "But why?" I asked "Is that not the way I became lost before, by leaving the road? Now that I've come this far, I do not want to lose my way again."

She gently placed her hand on mine. "Sometimes, child, in order to find your destination, you must follow other, less obvious, pathways. I can only tell you that this new road is shorter than the other. As always, my dear, it is your decision."

I looked down at the fruit for just a moment, feeling fear curl itself into my heart. Then, taking a deep breath, and despite my trepidation, I asked, "How shall I know which crossroad to take?" When I did not hear her answer, I looked up. She was gone.

My appetite had vanished, but I finished my meal anyway, needing the time to think. I began, again, to walk, this time alert for a sign to guide me. As I traveled the road, it became shadowed, with the trees forming a canopy of protection high above my head. Striding deeper into the darkening forest, I heard furtive movements and faint rustling all around me. I was afraid.

Suddenly, I heard another sound, almost a whisper. It was out of place in the forest and came from somewhere deep within the trees to my left. I stopped and focused on the sound, listening closer, concentrating. Still afraid, and unsure of what to do I looked around. I could see no crossroad, no other path, only dense foliage that seemed to be closing in upon me, becoming my entire world, blocking out the sun and it's guiding light. Swallowing my fear I bent down and peered into the undergrowth, and hearing again the whispered sound, I reached my hand forward and pushed aside the heavy branches. The brush was damp and the smell of decay clung to my face like a wet shroud. As I tried to push my upper body through the riotous vegetation, I disturbed a few small, brightly colored birds that chirped in annoyance at my intrusion.

Moving further into the forest, pulling myself inside, I felt the sharp stab of thorns upon my flesh. I winced as they pierced my shoulder deeply, drawing blood that ran in rivulets down my arm eventually falling from my fingertips like ruby tears.

Still, I followed the sound, ignoring the fear in my mind and stinging pain of the multiple wounds I now carried. Soon, I was again standing upright and moving through the thick stand of trees. Eventually, a small clearing appeared, and my heart quickened it's beat, for here the sound was no longer muffled. Looking around, I finally came upon the source. There, cradled in the gnarled hollow of an ancient oak was a young woman weeping uncontrollably, her head buried in the crook of her arm.

I went to her and pulled her close, surprised that instead of resisting, she leaned into me and continued to cry. As I rocked her, she whispered a plea for help between her sobs.

After her tears finally subsided, we spoke, learning of each other, unaware of the sun's journey to the other side of the earth. Darkness had fallen in the forest when we finally rose and made our way back to the road.

It did not take long to journey past the trees and find a stream where I used cool, fresh water to cleanse her face of dried tears and dirt. In the soft light, I saw then, her beauty, and the utter desolate sadness in her expressive eyes.

"Sweet child," I said, "I understand, now, that you are lost, and I will help you all that I can. Please know that it was not long ago that I, too, was looking in all directions, unknowing of the path I must travel to find what I had been eternally searching for. Only by following my heart was I finally able to find the peace that my soul craved, and, although you may be still afraid, I must leave you soon and continue walking my own road, as you must travel down yours."

She turned her bright eyes to me and I could see the naked fear shining within them. "Why", she asked "Why can I not go with you?"

Moving behind her, I tenderly began brushing her silky blonde hair, preparing to tie it back with a velvet rose-colored ribbon. "My time draws near and I must rest," I said smiling kindly, "I can only help you until darkness falls. Then, another soul will hold your hand and guide you through the shadows until dawn comes and you can see what lies before you."

I paused, turning her face towards me and I could see the picture of the sun reflected in her blue eyes as it began to set, a golden orb, shimmering and pulsing in the scarlet sky and slowly dropping behind the edge of the mountainous horizon.

"Child, as long you try, and have faith in yourself, even when you fail, the path you must follow will be before you. The kindness of strangers will guide your heart, only tears of joy will grace your cheeks, peace and love will hold you in their warm embrace and guardian angels will light your roads with gilt gold sunlight and silver moonbeams." I stood and looked at her a moment, filled with sadness, for it was hard to leave her, "I will see you again."

She scrambled to her feet, and reached out a hand "Please, tell me, who you are and how I will find you."

I turned and smiled, "I am the Guardian Angel of Twilight. I was sent to guide you back to the path before darkness fell. You will not need to find me, for I will come to you when you need my help."

"Wait, please tell me, how did you become an angel?" she asked.

I turned one last time, "By helping you," I said. Then, the sun set on the horizon, the sky turned a deep crimson, the rays glinted once off my wings and I was gone.

The young woman watched the sky for a moment, and then began to move down the gold and silver path before her. While she walked, the moon lent silver beams that shone brightly lighting her way, guiding her tired feet and weary heart toward the outstretched hand of the next angel.



Copywrite 2001 Maria G. Abernathey