An Encounter With An Angel
Emily was in high spirits. A challenging delivery had ended well. Today, she’d welcomed a new life into the world. Emily worked as an obstetrician at a birthing center. After a tough shift, she was eager to get home.
Her hands were weighed down by a handbag and a shopping bag. Her husband had tried to teach her how to drive so she wouldn’t depend on buses when he was away on work trips, which was often. He’d given her a few lessons, but she couldn’t do it. She was terrified… utterly terrified.
The thing is, when Emily was a child, she narrowly avoided being hit by a car. She still remembers the sheer terror of that approaching vehicle! Honestly, even as a passenger, she felt uneasy, let alone behind the wheel. Never!
Tomorrow was her day off, and it was also her 40th birthday. Emily, who believed strongly in superstitions, decided not to celebrate. She preferred just a simple family gathering when everyone would come home.
She was almost at the bus stop when she realized how tired she was. Suddenly, she slipped (these things always happen unexpectedly), her foot slid to the side, and she fell into a snowbank! She congratulated herself on the soft landing and wondered how she might gracefully get up.
“Miss, are you alright?” a voice called from over her right shoulder. “Can’t get up? Here, take my hand!”
Who was offering her a hand? A pleasant man, about her age, with a friendly, calm face and a reassuring smile…
He easily pulled Emily out of the snowbank and helped brush the snow off her clothes.
“You’re always in a hurry,” his voice was kind, as if she had heard it before… but no, they hadn’t met. She thanked him and prepared to leave.
“You’re very tired, Emily,” he said, without a smile now. It was said with such care, like only someone close could say.
“You’re so worn out. That’s not good,” he quietly repeated.
“I’ll rest on the weekend. Besides, tomorrow’s my birthday,” Emily said.
The stranger smiled again.
“Congratulations! I want to give you a gift. Tonight before bed, say, ‘May my life change for the better tomorrow.’ And your life will certainly change for the better. Don’t forget!”
“I won’t,” Emily smiled.
The stranger said goodbye and turned around the corner. Just then, her long-awaited bus arrived. Home awaited, as disheveled as ever. The entryway was messy, and the kitchen sink was piled high with dishes. Her little dog, Max, whimpered next to his empty bowl and looked at her reproachfully.
First things first, she had to feed Max and take him for a walk. They found the little shivering dog on the street two years ago. Her daughter had brought him home, promising to care for him. She did… for about two weeks, before Emily took over.
How much time had passed? She finally finished all her chores. Thankfully, no one was around to stress over the unmade dinner. Her husband was on a business trip to another city. Her daughter was with her mother. They’d be back ithe next day. Her husband had already informed her he couldn’t make it back. She should prepare a special dish for tomorrow, but for now, she could enjoy some solitude.
Solitude is such a luxury—no one pulling you with their problems, no moodiness to weigh you down. You can enjoy the quiet, listen to music, read a book… But all she wanted now was sleep.
She was almost asleep when she remembered the advice from the stranger and, not really knowing why, whispered, “May my life change for the better tomorrow.”
Early the next morning, the doorbell rang, catching her completely off guard. There stood her husband, beaming brighter than she’d ever seen before, not grumpy or irritable as he often was.
“Hello, my sunshine,” he said tenderly.
Emily was in shock. She hadn’t heard him speak to her like that in ages. She used to feel hurt by his lack of affection but had gotten used to it.
And now, when she’d resigned herself to life without any tender words… Well, who knew! He seemed sober enough, carrying a large package.
“Happy birthday! I missed you so much, made arrangements, and came home. They’ll finish up without me,” he said, in that same gentle voice.
Emily stepped back, struggling to believe it. John entered, set down the package, hugged and kissed her, whispering sweet nothings.
Where was the usual grumbling and discontent? Emily was more and more bewildered. A long-forgotten sense of happiness washed over her warmly.
The phone rang.
“Happy Birthday, Mum! To the kindest, most beautiful, and beloved mum! I’ll be home by lunch, and Grandma’s coming too. We have such an amazing gift for you,” her daughter chirped.
Then her chief congratulated her and delighted her with the news that she could take the three days off she’d forgotten from the previous year. Then a friend, an aunt, a classmate, grateful patients…
It’s easy to grow accustomed to good things. Emily felt like it had always been that way. The abundance of good didn’t seem strange at all.
In the evening, after bidding farewell to her guests, Emily went to the nearby park to walk with Max.
The stranger appeared out of nowhere, “Was it a good day, Emily? Happy birthday to you!”
“Wait, how do you know my name? We’ve never met, as far as I can remember,” Emily asked directly.
“We’ve known each other for 40 years, Emily. It’s hard for you to understand, but try. I’ve been with you since day one. I’m your guardian angel.
Do you remember when you were five and ran into the road after a ball? No one understood how that truck missed you. You had no chance of survival. No one saw me carry you across the road, but that’s just between us.
And when you were with your college group at the summer job site and stayed behind because you twisted your ankle (my doing), the river you planned to swim had a dangerous whirlpool you were bound to get caught in. And who placed you safely into the snowbank yesterday? Had you fallen a minute earlier, you would’ve broken a leg.
I constantly help you, subtly and quietly. I’ll always be here, it’s my duty. But…
You make it hard, Emily.
You love your husband, your daughter, your mum, your friends, your patients, but what about yourself?
You don’t love yourself!
You take on too much, carrying an impossible load. You don’t love yourself and naively expect love from others, but that’s not how it works! If you don’t love yourself, no one will love you, they’ll just take advantage of you!
I broke protocol and materialized to impart this lesson, you must love yourself!”
“You do seem to know everything about me, but shouldn’t angels have wings?” Emily doubted.
“And what are you people like? Always looking for a catch. Didn’t you notice my broad coat?” He opened it, turned sideways, and Emily saw the folded wings.
“And now goodbye! I must go,” he said to her and vanished in the falling snow.
P.S.
“A fairy tale,” you might say, dear readers.
“A fairy tale,” I’d reply, but as the old saying goes, there’s truth in it.
Love yourself and be happy! I wish you that from the bottom of my heart!
