a thing would sadden me greatly.”
“ And I as well; it would be unspeakable. The second choice would be to sever all ties with Shayla and get back to the business of healing. This is the decision I have made.”
Father was silent for a moment as if contemplating what Amir had just said. He stopped walking, causing Amir to stop as well. “Would you now like for me to reveal to you the third option?”
Amir’s heart quickened. Was there something he didn’t know, a way that he could be with Shayla? Forcing the hope down as quickly as it had risen up, he forced himself to face reality. In the world of angels, you were either a servant of Father or you were one of the Fallen who served the Evil One. There was no in between. Curiosity prompted him to ask what the third option was.
“ Follow me,” said Father. They walked down a familiar path of the courtyard until they had reached the outer wall. The wall clear as crystal, but when the sun hit it at just the right angle, its prisms filled with every color imaginable. Amir wondered what they were doing at the wall, when Father stepped behind him and told him to open his eyes. As he watched, a brilliant burst of blinding light filled his vision, and a gaping hole opened up within the wall. Beyond the hole was the dark and beautiful solitude of the universe.
“ What is this?” Amir asked, staring out over the magnificent cosmos.
“ It is a gateway.”
“ But I thought I knew all of the gateways in and out of heaven.”
Father chuckled again. “Only those I wish to tell know of this gateway. Walking through it is a great sacrifice, but if it is worth it to you, I will allow you to.”
“ Where does it lead?”
“ My son, if you step through this gateway, you will return to earth as a man. You will no longer be an angel or possess any sort of supernatural power. You will be a man like any other.”
Amir’s breath caught in his throat. Leave heaven behind? He would not be able to return until he died. He would get to be with the woman he loved, but he could no longer heal.
“ Why would you offer me this choice? I don’t understand.”
“ You would not be the first, Amir. You will not be the last. Many angels have chosen this path for many different reasons. It is not my will that you should become one of the Fallen. In this way I will not lose you to the Evil One.”
“ Must I decide now?”
“ No. Take as much time as you need. I have a few assignments for you to complete. While you are about your work, I want you to think long and hard about your decision. Whatever you decide will be irrevocable. You cannot change your mind.”
“ I understand. Thank you.”
“ You’re welcome, my son.”
Chapter 11: Reunited
Shayla removed her ballet slippers and tossed them into her bag with a sigh. Her daily exercises were helping her to regain her strength, and she was almost ready to start dancing again. It was a good thing too, because she needed the distraction. It had been one month since she’d seen Amir. She had not stopped thinking about him.
The smell of coffee reminded her of their mornings together. For the first week after he left, she had cried over breakfast. Now, she was just numb and lonely.
“ Good to have you back, Shayla,” remarked Robert, a fellow member of the company. He’d just arrived at the studio for a rehearsal. Shayla accepted his outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She slung her bag over her shoulder and managed a weak smile.
“ Thanks Robert. It’s good to be back.”
Waving goodbye to Robert and several other dancers who were pouring in, Shayla left through the double glass doors. She paused for a moment on the sidewalk to fish her cell phone out of her bag. No missed calls. No messages. Nothing. Her heart sank before she chastised herself for being silly. One month with no word from him was a pretty clear indication of where she stood with him.
Shoving the phone into her pocket she
“ And I as well; it would be unspeakable. The second choice would be to sever all ties with Shayla and get back to the business of healing. This is the decision I have made.”
Father was silent for a moment as if contemplating what Amir had just said. He stopped walking, causing Amir to stop as well. “Would you now like for me to reveal to you the third option?”
Amir’s heart quickened. Was there something he didn’t know, a way that he could be with Shayla? Forcing the hope down as quickly as it had risen up, he forced himself to face reality. In the world of angels, you were either a servant of Father or you were one of the Fallen who served the Evil One. There was no in between. Curiosity prompted him to ask what the third option was.
“ Follow me,” said Father. They walked down a familiar path of the courtyard until they had reached the outer wall. The wall clear as crystal, but when the sun hit it at just the right angle, its prisms filled with every color imaginable. Amir wondered what they were doing at the wall, when Father stepped behind him and told him to open his eyes. As he watched, a brilliant burst of blinding light filled his vision, and a gaping hole opened up within the wall. Beyond the hole was the dark and beautiful solitude of the universe.
“ What is this?” Amir asked, staring out over the magnificent cosmos.
“ It is a gateway.”
“ But I thought I knew all of the gateways in and out of heaven.”
Father chuckled again. “Only those I wish to tell know of this gateway. Walking through it is a great sacrifice, but if it is worth it to you, I will allow you to.”
“ Where does it lead?”
“ My son, if you step through this gateway, you will return to earth as a man. You will no longer be an angel or possess any sort of supernatural power. You will be a man like any other.”
Amir’s breath caught in his throat. Leave heaven behind? He would not be able to return until he died. He would get to be with the woman he loved, but he could no longer heal.
“ Why would you offer me this choice? I don’t understand.”
“ You would not be the first, Amir. You will not be the last. Many angels have chosen this path for many different reasons. It is not my will that you should become one of the Fallen. In this way I will not lose you to the Evil One.”
“ Must I decide now?”
“ No. Take as much time as you need. I have a few assignments for you to complete. While you are about your work, I want you to think long and hard about your decision. Whatever you decide will be irrevocable. You cannot change your mind.”
“ I understand. Thank you.”
“ You’re welcome, my son.”
Chapter 11: Reunited
Shayla removed her ballet slippers and tossed them into her bag with a sigh. Her daily exercises were helping her to regain her strength, and she was almost ready to start dancing again. It was a good thing too, because she needed the distraction. It had been one month since she’d seen Amir. She had not stopped thinking about him.
The smell of coffee reminded her of their mornings together. For the first week after he left, she had cried over breakfast. Now, she was just numb and lonely.
“ Good to have you back, Shayla,” remarked Robert, a fellow member of the company. He’d just arrived at the studio for a rehearsal. Shayla accepted his outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She slung her bag over her shoulder and managed a weak smile.
“ Thanks Robert. It’s good to be back.”
Waving goodbye to Robert and several other dancers who were pouring in, Shayla left through the double glass doors. She paused for a moment on the sidewalk to fish her cell phone out of her bag. No missed calls. No messages. Nothing. Her heart sank before she chastised herself for being silly. One month with no word from him was a pretty clear indication of where she stood with him.
Shoving the phone into her pocket she
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