Passion's Storm

"’Raphaem, I must strongly urge you against this course. You know that that is the first step towards being a fallen, and it would be a shame to lose you to the ranks of the Fire Lake.’

"’Yes, of course, Peter. You are wise.’ That was when the doubt began to grow in the mind of Raphaem. That was when his faith slowly began to unravel. He was able to keep up his job for another good fifty years or so, until the day that he had caught a cold.

"He had just collected the soul of Ms. Abraham, who had died of pneumonia, and as he was severing her ties to the corporeal realm, she looked straight at him, and coughed. Raphaem was startled, no shocked to notice that he had been noticed before he was able to severe the corporeal ties, and he just stared at her.

"’Do you see me?’ He asked her, in an awed voice.

"’Yes, and I am wondering what in the hell you are doing in my room!’

"’I have come here to collect you. Your time on earth has passed, the time has come for you to face judgment...and join in the chorus of Heaven, if that is how you are judged.’ She coughed on him again, which Raphaem found discouraging, and he severed her corporeal ties, and they went on into the gates. She was allowed entry, and Raphaem asked Peter if he could check up on Mr. Asbel.

"’I am sorry, but I cannot permit you to enter the gates of heaven, Raphaem.’ Peter said, looking dour.

"’Why?’ He asked, looking baffled and confused. He had never been denied entrance to the Kingdom before...

"’You are a carrier of disease. I am afraid that until you get it out of your system, you shall never be allowed to enter the holy Kingdom again.’ Peter gave Raphaem a hug, and sent him on his way.

"Raphaem had found that he had lost a sense of purpose after finding this out, and another angel was created to do his job. Raphaem then did what Asbel had prompted him to do during their discussion: He wandered amongst the people that he had professed love for. He never could shake the cold, and to this day, he had been hoping for relief from this blasted problem. The angel didn’t really fall, though, and has kept strong ties to the faith that has kept him going through eternity, but he awaits the day that he could walk once again through heaven’s doors.

"And that, as you would say, is the end of my story."

I sat there for a moment, stunned by not only the story itself, but by the implications of this story. Just then another man entered the bar, and sat down next to me.

"You are Raphaem, I presume?"

"It was just a story. Thank you for the beers."

"Michael Birch?" The man next to me said. I turned to look at him, and for some reason he looked strangely familiar.

"Yes?"

"It is time for you to give up your ties to the corporeal realm. Your judgment awaits you. Please do not be frightened, and let your faith get you through this trial."

"What?" but it was done. As I stood there waiting for this new angel of death to lead me to my destiny, I listened to the two angels as they conversed in the bar.

"Raphaem," The new angel said to my drinking companion. "Peter has been asking about you. He would love to invite you back into the gates of heaven. You no longer have the cold, and you can go back anytime."

"I know Sithius, but I am still enjoying my vacation. Tell Peter not to worry about me, for I understand now more than ever the will and the glory of God. I will be back in his light soon enough." Raphaem then turned to me as I stood there, stupefied.

"And Michael Birch, I would thank you once again for the beers/wines, and I would wish that you make it to the glory of heaven."

And then we were gone.