Angels

The man stood alone in the pouring rain, shouting as loudly as he could, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. No matter how loudly he yelled, no one paid him any attention. The city sidewalks were crowded on this Monday morning, each person wrapped up in their own little world. No one noticed the man desperately calling out for help.

There were strange gaps in the man’s memory. He had no idea where he was and his identity eluded him. And for some reason, he was standing in the city street naked. At first, this had shamed him and he was convinced this was why no one was taking any notice of him. He would ignore a naked man in the rain too! However, it struck him as more than a little odd when two police officers passed him by and took no notice of his state. That was very peculiar.

The man hadn’t noticed the crowd that had gathered behind him. Two green-uniformed paramedics covered up the body of a hit and run victim. There was no way anyone could have survived such an impact.

In the distance, two robed figures watched the man with sadness and compassion etched onto their angelic features.

‘He hasn’t realised it yet.’ said Ariel.

‘Poor man.’ said Uriel. ‘But he must work it out for himself. You know the rules.’

‘We have all been known to bend the rules occasionally. Either you tell him Uriel, or I will. Some of these poor souls are here for eternity trying to get people to notice them. Is that not why we exist? To ease suffering?’ Ariel shook his head with infinite sorrow and went forward to tell the man that he was no longer amongst the living.

294 words