Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel

I was extremely tired and exhausted, every muscle in my body ached but it was nothing when compared to the wonderful week that I had spent with my granddaughters. My son and daughter-in-law had to go for a medical conference in South America so they left their teenage twins Cia (Ciara) and Sam (Samantha) with me. Both the girls have very similar personalities. They both are very frank (diplomacy was not their cup of tea), talkative, and witty. The age 16 guaranteed high level of energy which included never-ending shopping, fights, list of boyfriends, heartbreaks, tears, drama and Oh yeah and endless pranks (courtesy being identical twins). It was pretty hard for the age 60 to keep up with all this at their pace. I was always part of their childhood even though they lived in a different city. But this was the week where I really got to know them. It had really been a fun week and the thought of them leaving tomorrow made me feel very sad.

“GRANDMA!”, they hollered.

“I am here in the backyard” I yelled back.

“Grandma we were in the attic searching for old stuff” cia said. Quickly sam added “old important stuff”.

“And did you both find any old important stuff “ I ask with a smile.

“Yes” they answered in unison.

“Grandma we found an old picture. We both are very sure that the girl in the picture is you but we can’t really identify the other person” sam said.

“ Well show me the picture”

Sam gave the photograph to me.

I looked at the photo and quietly whispered “Gabriel”

“What?? Grandma that cannot be dad” exclaimed Cia and Sam shaking their heads simultaneously.

“ Of course not sillies, the person in the photo was my Guardian angel” I tell them in a strained voice.

“Guardian Angel? grandma why do you call him that?” Sam questioned.

“ It’s a long story” I tell them.

“ Grandma will you please tell us? Please??” they both begged.

“I will tell you both the story but first lets go inside and have a glass of ice tea….” They didn’t let me finish the sentence

“Grandma we’ll make it, you go and sit comfortably on the couch” Cia shouts as she gets to the doorway

I look up towards the sky, smile and walk back in.





They had already gotten comfortable on the couch. Ice tea in their hands eagerly waiting for me. I sat down between them sipping the tea and letting my thoughts travel back to the year 1964.

“I was your age when my father decided to divorce us. The reason being very simple – He had another family. My mother was heartbroken. We not only moved out of our home but also the city. She applied for jobs in different cities and in the end was offered a secretary position in a small company far away from the city.

I hated it! I hated moving into the small town. Hated shifting my school. Hated leaving my best friends. Hated my dad the most. Every day I cried myself to sleep, questioning god if it was all my fault.

A week passed in the new place and I still had not made any friends. I became extremely lonely and depressed. Mom was very busy with her work and didn’t have any time to spare. She was mending her shattered heart by putting all her energy into her work. I had no one to share my frustration, anger, sadness and pain. I had to keep them locked away in my heart. Days became very difficult to deal. I tried many a times to tell mother how I really felt. But she too began to detach from me.

That was the last straw. I could not live this life anymore. There was not a soul who loved or cared for me. I decided to end my life”

Both the twins gasped “GRANDMA”

“ Will you both allow me to continue or not?”

“oh yes grandma please do tell us what happened”

“ Next day morning I went to school as usual. Later I went up to the RedRock Hill. I had decided to jump off the hill. I had written a letter to mother informing my decision. I sat there for an hour. Around 5 O’clock I made up my mind and gathered all the courage to jump. As I stood up I could feel a presence behind me, I turned. I saw the handsomest boy I had ever seen in my life staring at me. He came forward and gave me a dazzling smile. I didn’t react because I was staring with astonishment.

“Hello” he waved

Demurely I said “hi”

“I am Gabriel, I am new to this town. I was just wandering around and I got lost”

“Uh… a… am Anne.”

“Anne, it was really nice meeting you. Is this your regular place of hangout?”

“Um…. No I am new to this town too. I was jus…just “

“Oh cool, even you were checking around”

“Yes”, I said very softly .

“Hmmm... do you want to have coffee with me?” he asked

I decided to postpone the jump for the next day.

“Okay”.

In that small town there was only one small coffee shop. We settled in one corner of the shop.

“So which school do you go”, he asked

“Red rock high school” I replied. “How about you?”

“ I go to Riverview High School, it is in the outskirts of the town. So do you have any siblings?”

“No, I don’t. How about you?”

“ I don’t either.”

We sat and spoke for an hour. I didn’t realize how time flew and how easy it was for me to talk to him.



Days passed in the same fashion. We would meet every day at the same coffee shop at 5 o’clock. We connected instantly as we had loads of things in common (new in town, school and no friends). We became best of friends. He was there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, when I felt lonely, when I had school problems. I could tell him everything including the crushes I had in school, the so called soul mate I thought I had found. He would simply listen not once judging me. He would tell me that when the time was right I would find my prince charming. It was the day I turned 20 when Gabriel pointed at a handsome guy standing outside our coffee shop.

The guy was directly staring at me.

“Why is he staring at me?” I asked Gabriel.

“Maybe because he likes you” he replied with a smile.

“But… why?”

“Why don’t you go talk to him. I have seen him in my college. I have heard that he is okay”

“What??, You want me to talk to him!!”

“No harm in that, is there” he replied with a grin.

I paused. Looked at my grandchildren. Their eyes were filled with anticipation. And I liked that immensely.

“Grandma, did you go talk to that boy?” Cia asked.

“ Yes,” I said

“ Did you go around with him,grandma?” Sam questioned.

“Well, in those days it was called courting, and yes, he did court me,” I replied.

“ GRANDMA!, the boy you went arou---sorry---courted was Grandpa wasn’t it??”

I laughed “ Yes, that was your Grandpa.Now you both want me to tell the rest tomorrow?”

“NO!” they both screamed. “ We want to know the whole story now”

“ Daniel and I started dating, things in college were going pretty smoothly, and I met Gabriel everyday in the same usual place. The one hour was very sacred for me which I never shared with anyone but Gabriel. Frequently I would ask him if he likes any one. The answer was always a smile.





It was my wedding day. I was really excited. We had decided to have a church wedding. Mom had called all her friends, I had invited my friends and Daniel had his whole family. The only person missing was Gabriel. He was the one who was supposed to walk me up the aisle. I asked my mom hundreds of time where he was. But no one knew. It was getting pretty late and at last I walked the aisle with Daniel’s brother.

After three days I received a letter. It was from Gabriel.



Dear Anne,

I still I remember the day I met you, you were so tensed, nervous and scared. I knew what you were doing up on that hill. I was sent to you to save you. You terribly needed a friend at that time, so I was there. I will always cherish every minute that I have spent with you. I have seen you grow into the most beautiful, kindhearted, confident women in these last 7 years. The day you were the most happiest was the day I had to leave you. I wont lie but it pained me to do so.

Any time you think of me, all you need to do is look up into the sky and the brightest shining star will be me. I will always be there for you.

Love you

Your guardian angel

Gabriel



Both my granddaughters were crying.

“ Well now, stop crying both of you”

“Snif… Grandma Gabriel was your guardian angel.” Cia tells.

“Yes honey, he looked after me for so many years and is still watching over me”

“ That was a wonderful story Grandma.” Sam whispers.

I tuck them into their beds, kiss them goodnight.

I look out of the window, and smile at the brightest shining star.

The End