Angela had an angel.

   To be honest, it was not an angel you as you would imagine, an angel according to the definition of angels, with big feathered wings and golden hair, for real angels are never like that.

    Her angel was unlike any other angel she had seen on a picture in the church. It had big hazel eyes and brown hair. Judging by its look you would never tell it is an angel, but Angela knew the truth.

    Since she was a small child she knew she had an angel. She could feel his presence beside her cradle when her mother was feeding her. He was with her when she made her first step. He stood by her side when she suffered her first illness.

   One day, she just wished he had appeared, and there he was, in all his angel-like glory. He visited her on one of those terrible sleepless nights when eternal demons of unknown sizes and shapes were whispering her name. He just came in the middle of that wild dance and muttered:

       “Angela! Angela, wake up!”

 And, she did wake up even though she had not been sleeping.

      “Are you my angel?” She asked.

     “Yes” the angel replied.

   And, that was it. Their first meeting.

   Since then, the angel was visiting her frequently in the night. He was a faithful companion. Angela thought his presence must be a blessing. After all, the reverend confirmed that fact.

    “Angels? Flattering child, you must be dreaming! I have been in this world for a long time. I have     read many books, and seen many things, but never...never ever a real angel. It is a blessing which very few people received. You have a great imagination.”

    Neither Mum, nor Dad believed her. They said:

    “Angels do not speak!”

    “Don´t they?” asked Angela astonished.

   “No! And besides...they have big feathered wings...like a pigeon.”

   “But..” cried Angela “He was there. Right in our house!”

   “Well. It must have been a burglar then! I just wonder why the alarm did not work?”

After that, they made all the necessary steps to secure their household. They locked all doors three times, changed the alarm....they even bought a guardian dog, which was barking all the time. But the angel was still there.

   “Oh, goodness! Other people are just walking along the street in hasty, misty mornings as if recently brainwashed.” Angela complained to the angel that night. “They are like lifeless puppets controlled by threads. Their minds are too fast and too full of too unimportant things. They do not notice anything.”

     Sometimes she had a strong desire to ask God whether he had sent her in the right universe. However, she was just a caterpillar, and it takes some time to become a butterfly.

    Some butterflies have wounded wings. They cannot fly. There are even caterpillars that never get any wings, for they end up in the stomach of a bird.    

  Nowadays, people do not speak. Either they are speechless, or they have nothing to say to each other. Therefore, they forget to speak. And, after they have forgotten it, they speak only nonsense. There was a time when even nonsense made sense, but it is long over. Nobody believes. Nobody sees. Nobody listens.

     However, Angela does. She can see them...hear them, for they are hiding in the shadows...these creatures of darkness. She can talk to them...It is obvious. If she talks to angels, she may talk to demons as well. Both of them search for her.

    Nobody else seems to notice them, though. They hide in cupboards, dusty cabinets, and dark corners. They are everywhere.  

      “Mum! Don’t go to the cellar!” She said once. Her voice was high-pitched.

      “Why, my dear?”

      “Because Wednesday might not like it!”

      “Wednesday? Who is Wednesday?”

“A friend of mine.” said Angela apologetically.

      Her mother seemed to be disturbed. She asked:

“Do you often talk to Wednesday?”

“No” Angela replied “Wednesday is a freak as well as Number 281. They are both plotting against me. Luckily Angel gave them what they deserved!”

“Angel?  But we told you..”-her mother was pale.

“Yes. I know. But, you were wrong. He is right behind you. Come and meet him!”

     Her mother glanced behind her back, but no matter how she tried she couldn’t see the Angel.

“She pretends” the Angel whispered into Angela’s ear “She wants to poison you!”

“Does she?”Angela gasped. Maybe the caterpillar won’t become a butterfly in the end. Maybe they don’t want the caterpillar to become a butterfly. Maybe they want to hurt the caterpillar...to rip the wings out of the caterpillar’s body. Poor...poor caterpillar.

“Who do you talk to, Angela?” Her mother asked angrily. She was scared. Her daughter refused to answer.

“Angela! For Heaven’s sake, stop playing this game!” She was shaking with Angela’s body as if it was a rag-doll. “You are a good healthy girl! Now, look into my eyes and say: I am a good healthy girl!”

Angela was silent.

“Say it!” cried her mother furiously.

Again no answer.

“Say it!!!”

“I am a g..good...healthy...girl” Angela’s shoulders were shaking heavily under her sobs.

“Yes, you are, indeed.” her mother sighed with relief. “And now tell me how much you love your Mama.”

“I love you very..very much, Mama.”

“I love you too, darling. Now go into your room.”

     Angela obeyed her mother’s wish. She climbed the steps and shut the door behind her. The Angel was already in her room sitting on her bed.

“Now she is preparing it.” He announced “We must be careful. Promise me, Angela. If she calls you down for dinner tell her you feel unwell. You may neither eat, nor drink. Everything is poisoned.”

“I will do as you wish, my Angel.” She replied.

   And thus Angela stopped eating. Her mother tried to force her, but with no avail. Angel was still with her daughter whispering threats and warnings. Angela believed every word he said. No doubt of that, for she alone witnessed the truth. She sneaked out of her room one evening to spy for her parents.

“Ronald, we must do something. We underestimated it.” said Angela’s mother.

“I still cannot believe it. Our daughter?” replied her father

“She was always different, but we didn’t notice it. We must act!”

“Will they lock her up?” asked Angela’s father with a husky voice.

“Yes, I think so. We have no other choice. We must call them!”

“Whom are they going to call?” asked Angela the angel.

“Demons, certainly.”

“Demons? Oh Angel! I am so afraid!”

“Don’t be, Angela. I have a plan. Just trust me.”

And she did. She followed the Angel out of the living room where her parents were discussing her departure. She climbed the stairs. The angel was behind her. She entered her room and came to her window, which she opened as the Angel told her.

“Angel. Do we really have to jump? Is there no other way to escape?”

“Jump.” replied the angel calmly.

   It was no more the friendly angel that visited her night and day. His features were changing..his eyes darkened..his voice was rough and frightening.

“Jump!” his cry was all that she heard when she was falling into darkness.