MEETING AN ANGEL
Sophie was in high spirits. A difficult delivery had ended well. Today, she had helped bring a new life into the world. Sophie was an obstetrician working at the maternity center. After a challenging shift, she was eager to get home.
Her arms were weighed down by a handbag and a grocery bag. Her husband had tried to teach her to drive, so she wouldn’t have to rely on buses when he was away on business, which was often. He even gave her a few driving lessons, but she couldn’t overcome her fear. She was terrified.
The fear stemmed from Sophie narrowly avoiding being hit by a car as a child. She still remembered the horror as it loomed toward her. Truthfully, she even felt uneasy as a passenger, let alone had any desire to drive herself. Never!
Tomorrow was a day off, and incidentally, her 40th birthday. Sophie, firmly believing in superstitions, had decided not to celebrate it. Just a quiet family gathering at home.
She was almost at the bus stop. Sophie realized just how tired she really was. Suddenly, she slipped (it always happens suddenly), her foot gave way, and Sophie, along with her bags, landed in a snowdrift! Congratulating herself on the soft landing, she pondered how to gracefully get up.
“Miss, are you hurt?” A voice came from over her right shoulder. “Do you need help? Give me your hand!”
And who was offering her a hand? A rather pleasant gentleman, about Sophie’s age, with a kind, calm face and an inviting smile…
He effortlessly helped Sophie out of the snow and brushed the snow off her coat. “You’re always in such a rush,” he said, with a voice so kind it seemed familiar, though they had never met before. She thanked him, and it was time to go.
“You seem very tired, Sophie,” he said, no longer smiling. There was a care in his voice, as if he was someone very close to her. “You’ve worn yourself out; you can’t keep pushing like this,” he repeated softly.
“I’ll rest over the weekend. Besides, tomorrow is my birthday,” said Sophie. The stranger smiled again.
“Happy Birthday! I want to give you a gift. Before sleep tonight, say, ‘Let my life change for the better tomorrow!’ And it will. Don’t forget!” He said this with a warm smile.
“I won’t forget,” Sophie replied, smiling.
The stranger waved goodbye and disappeared around the corner of a building. And just in time, here came her bus.
Home greeted her as it always did, in a bit of disarray. The entryway was cluttered, and the kitchen sink was piled high with dishes. Her dog, Benny, whined by his empty bowl, looking reproachfully at her.
First things first, she fed Benny and took him out for a walk. Her daughter had found the shivering little dog on the street two years ago and convinced Sophie to keep him, solemnly promising to take care of him herself. She managed for about two weeks before the responsibility fell to Sophie.
How time flew by! She finally finished all her chores. It was good that no one was there to bother her about the lack of dinner. Her husband was away on business in a nearby town, and her daughter was at her mother’s. They planned to visit tomorrow. Her husband had already informed her that he couldn’t make it. She thought she should prepare a festive dish tomorrow, but for now, she could enjoy some solitude.
Solitude was such a luxury; no one pulling her every which way with their problems, no one affecting her mood negatively. She could enjoy the peace, listen to music, read a book… But all she really wanted was sleep.
As she was about to drift off, she remembered the stranger’s advice and, not fully understanding why, she whispered to herself, “Let my life change for the better tomorrow.”
Early the next morning, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Her husband stood on the doorstep, beaming like polished silver, not his usual grumbling self. “Hello, my sunshine,” he said tenderly.
Sophie was shocked. It had been such a long time since she’d heard such words from him. She used to be upset by his lack of affection but had gotten used to it. Just when she had truly adjusted to life without tenderness… And yet, here he was, seemingly sober, holding an oversized bag.
“Happy Birthday! I missed you so much, so I made arrangements and rushed home. They’ll manage without me,” he said in the same gentle voice.
Sophie stepped back, unable to believe it. James entered, set down the bag, embraced her, and kissed her, whispering sweet words.
Where was the usual grumbling and dissatisfied expression? Sophie’s surprise only grew. A long-forgotten sense of happiness washed over her in a warm wave. The phone rang.
“Happy Birthday, Mum! You are the kindest, most loved, most beautiful! I’ll be there by lunch, and Gran is coming too. We have a wonderful present for you!” her daughter chirped excitedly.
Her boss also called to wish her a happy birthday and informed her she could finally take the three extra days off she had forgotten about from last year. Then there were calls from a friend, an aunt, an old schoolmate, and grateful patients…
It was easy to get used to good things. Sophie wondered how it all seemed so normal. The abundance of good fortune didn’t feel out of place at all.
After seeing off the guests that evening, Sophie took Benny for a walk in the nearby park. The stranger from the day before appeared out of nowhere. “Was it a good day, Sophie? Happy birthday to you!”
“Hang on, how do you know my name? We’ve never met before, as far as I can recall,” Sophie asked directly.
“We’ve known each other for 40 years, Sophie. It’s hard to comprehend, but do try. I’ve been with you from the very first day of your life. I’m your guardian angel.
Remember when you were five and ran into the road after a ball? No one could understand how it was that a truck just passed by without hitting you. You had no chance of survival. No one saw how I carried you safely across the road, but that’s strictly between us.
And when you and your classmates from the construction brigade went to swim in an unfamiliar river, you twisted your ankle (my doing) and stayed back at the dorm. There was a dangerous whirlpool there, and you would have been caught in it. And yesterday, who do you think placed that snowdrift there? Had you fallen a moment earlier, you’d have broken your leg.
I help you constantly, subtly and unnoticed. I’ll always be by your side; it’s my duty. But…
It’s difficult with you. You love your husband, daughter, mother, friends, patients, but what about yourself? You don’t love yourself!
You take on burdens far too heavy. You don’t love yourself at all and naively expect love from others, but it doesn’t work that way! If you don’t love yourself, no one else will love you either; they will only take advantage of you. I broke protocol and materialized just to convey this: you must love yourself!”
“You know everything about me, but angels should have wings,” Sophie said, skeptical.
“What about you humans? Always looking for a catch. Didn’t you notice I have a wide coat?” As he opened it and turned sideways, Sophie saw folded wings.
“And now, goodbye! I must go,” he said, and vanished into the curtain of falling snow.
P.S.
“That’s a fairy tale,” you might say, dear readers.
“Indeed, a fairy tale,” I’d respond, “but like all fables, it holds a lesson.
Love yourself and be happy! I wish this for you with all my heart!”
