I apologize for my absence the past weeks—I have been kept very busy. While I finally believe that Morgan and Brooke are past the worst of their struggle for acceptance, I have had to remain on call to deal with any crises that might arise at any given time. There was a difficult moment last week when they had their first real argument, but thankfully it has been smoothed over. At the same time, Ramona and Jesse went on their first trip together—just a weekend trip to a park for bird-watching, but it was the longest period of time that they have spent in each other’s sole company, and Ramona was very anxious about sharing a hotel room with Jesse. I had an exhausting few hours of flashing back and forth between New York City and the wilds of New Hampshire, dealing with four troubled hearts. All is well, though—I was able to help Jesse reassure Ramona, while Morgan came back to the apartment after only an hour of wandering the streets while Brooke worried.
My work has been recognized, however, and I am very pleased to announce that I have been presented with my second wing! Now I am an Archangel, no longer required to report to my mentor with every case, although I am certain I will continue to seek advice and assistance from Danit when I need it. She is very pleased with me, and she has said that no young angel has done as well as I in a very long time. I am honored by the recognition, and excited to be taking more complex cases in the future.
With the advancement comes a rare privilege: a Sabbath. I am blessed to spend an extended period of time in the Garden. Nehisi and another peer of mine, Ahury, have agreed to look after my assignments in my absence, so while I may choose to spend time with them, I am not obligated to answer their every call. My time is my own.
The humans call this a ‘vacation’. It is a period of time away from work to rest and find new inspiration for the heart and soul. At first I was at a loss as to what I would do with my week of freedom; then I was overwhelmed with all the possibilities. There are so many places to see, so many people to meet—how could I choose? But then I remembered one person whom I have regretted not having time to see, and so I made her home my first stop.
I found the fire woman in something of a frenzy, pawing through her closet, choosing and rejecting objects of clothing in quick succession. Her hair was quite beautifully piled, gleaming in the light and somehow immobilized on her head. Somehow it did not seem to please her—sight or thought of it agitated her, and she had to stop herself from touching it.
“Asa’el, welcome.”
I turned to greet Lubos as he arrived, and asked him what was the cause of Freya’s anxiety. Had something happened to her?
“Not yet,” he answered me with a smile. “She is preparing for a date this evening.”
I was surprised, of course—I had requested Lubos to inform me of any developments in Freya’s relationships. Thinking back, however, I know that I have been rather unavailable to my brethren in past days.
“Her first?” I asked him.
“Yes. The man is a good choice, I think—he is patient, and very understanding,” Lubos told me, as we watched Freya search for a particular pair of shoes and curse under her breath. “But it is the first date, and he made the invitation, which is unnerving to her. She is accustomed to being the more confident of any pair.”
It does not surprise me. I looked on as Freya rejected the shoes she had found and dug out a more comfortable pair. “You will be going with her, then?”
“Of course,” Lubos answered. “At this stage, and most likely at many more after this, she requires near-constant supervision.”
It took me a moment to work up the courage to ask, “Would it be possible for me to join you?”
Of course I have no desire to interfere with Lubos’s good work, but I cannot pretend that I am not interested in Freya’s welfare. I still feel a certain responsibility for her.
Lubos hesitated a moment, and I could not read his thoughts. “Do you not have assignments, brother?” he asked gently.
“I am on Sabbath. My time is my own.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Sabbath is for rest, and I believe I do not need to tell you that this woman is not restful,” he reminded me.
“Shit a fucking brick,” Freya spat and threw the comfortable shoes back into her closet.
It made me smile. “I know. But I would be glad to have rest from my concern for her. You can understand that, can you not, brother?”
Lubos extended a wing to me, smiling himself. “I can. You are welcome, then. Give me some time to calm her if I can; you may join us in an hour at the restaurant.”
“Thank you, brother.”
So I have come to post this much-delayed update while I wait for the time to meet with Lubos. I am excited, not only for my first chance to see Lubos at work, but also to spend time with Freya. Who knows? Perhaps this night is the first of a long, fulfilling relationship.
I hope so; she deserves no less.