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I look around, seeing the world still frozen in place. “He left.”
The man laughs. “That’s what he wants you to think. Trust me, he’s around. He’s not going to leave his little play thing all alone.”
“I’m no one’s play thing,” I retort.
He pulls off his thin t-shirt, and a pair of snow-white wings rise at his sides. “Tell him we’re waiting.”
I stare at the wings in front of me. They are the exact opposite of Zaph’s in every way. “What are you?”
The large wings flap at his sides without answering. “Tell him your life depends on it.” He lifts into the sky in complete silence, disappearing into the white sky within seconds. As soon as he’s gone, everything begins moving again like nothing ever happened. The line continues, completely oblivious to the angel that was just in front of them, stopping time and threatening to kill me.
I stare into the emptiness of the sky as the next customer steps into place. “Hello?” an older woman says, staring at me.
“Did you see anything strange in the sky?” She looks up, following my line of sight. “Are you alright?”
Her words bring me back to reality and the fact that I’m the only one out here. “Yes, I’m sorry.” I spend the next few seconds repeating the instructions I’ve said hundreds of times today before the woman loads the chair. You’re exhausted, Lucy. That’s all it is. There is no way you would have been the only one to see that guy. Your mind is playing tricks on you.
A day ago, I believed angels were nothing more than characters in my pointless thesis. In all of my studies, angels were creatures with hundreds of eyes, terrifying to people who have witnessed them. They weren’t tall, gorgeous men with a six-pack. Maybe I’m having a breakdown. I’ve read how that can happen to people my age. Especially, college students. Hell, I’ve been a college student for six years.
My mind flashes to thoughts of Zaph as I continue filling the lift chairs. There’s no denying the wings that are attached to his back. He cleared my drive here, making it possible to travel on an impossible road. That wasn’t my imagination. My discernment tells me he’s real and whoever the white-winged version of him was, is real. They’re angels. Oh, my God. I’ve got to get out of here and warn Zaph.
On cue, Michael exits the office. “It’s past time for your lunch break. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to relieve you. It’s been non-stop inside.”
“Thanks, Michael. Your timing is perfect.” I grab Bob’s collar and run toward my Jeep without another word. I have no idea where I’m going to find him, but I know it’s not here. My tires spin as I leave the snow-covered parking lot and head to my cottage, the only place I can think to find Zaph. Bob and I are halfway up the mountain when the realization of how stupid this idea is hits me.
Bob hasn’t stopped whining and has somehow managed to slide himself between the seat belt and the seat. Apparently, he strapped himself in. “Hold on, bud. We’re going to be okay.” My words don’t sound convincing, even to me.
My phone has buzzed several times. I don’t have to look to know it’s Michael trying to figure out when I’m coming back from break. I’m going to have to make up the world’s best lie, or my job will be over.
I’ve driven this road enough that even in the snow, I recognize where I am. A large boulder on the right side of the road tells me I’m nearly halfway home. The higher we climb, the thicker the freezing rain becomes, making it more difficult to see. Shifting into four-wheel drive, I slow down even more, putting us just above parking speed. The higher we climb, the stronger the wind gets, hitting the Jeep hard enough that I can’t see more than a foot in front of me.
For the first time in a while, I’m scared. If I stop now, I run the risk of another vehicle hitting me in the blinding snow. If I keep going, I run the risk of driving off the side of a mountain. Shit. Why didn’t you stay put, Lucy? You’re smarter than this.
My phone rings, scaring the shit out of me. I don’t dare take my eyes off the road long enough to answer. Sensing my nerves, Bob wiggles out from behind the seatbelt, moving toward my lap. “No, bud. You have to stay put. I can’t drive with you in my lap.”
Bob doesn’t listen. He moves across the center console, knocking my cell phone to the floor along the way. When it hits, the call answers and I hear Michael’s voice on the other end.
“Hello? Lucy? Are you there?”
“Michael?” I yell toward my phone.
“Lucy? Is everything okay? You sound strange.”
“I screwed up,” I yell.
“What?”
In a moment of complete stupidity, I take my hand off the wheel and reach for my phone. Almost as if it were waiting for permission, the front end of the Jeep slides, moving toward the edge of the road. Even in perfect weather, this drive can be nerve-wracking. Tonight, it’s terrifying. I know without looking that there is only ten feet between the road and the mountain drop-off. I jerk the wheel in the opposite direction of the drop-off, causing the back end to slip toward the mountainside.
I feel it the moment it happens. Both axles of my Jeep are no longer under my control. This is it. This is how I’m going to die. Releasing the steering wheel, I wrap both arms around Bob, pulling him tightly to my chest. “I’m so sorry, Bob. I love you.”
I’ve heard that when you die, everything moves in slow motion. They’re right. Bob licks me, snuggling his nose under my chin as the side of the Jeep slips off the path and begins rolling down the mountain. The two of us are instantly thrown into the air as the Jeep flips over on its top and back again, countless times.
As quickly as the flipping starts, it stops. Bob is still in my arms, silent. The smell of copper fills the cab of the Jeep, and something warm rolls down my cheek. What were you thinking, Lucy? You know better than this. You’re not dumb enough to try and drive these roads in this kind of weather. Your tire tracks will be covered in minutes with the snow. I hug Bob tighter as the world fades away.
“Lucy!” a deep voice echoes through my mind.
Am I dead? The ringing in my ears overpowers the noise that surrounds me. “Lucy!” I hear again.
