In preparation for meeting our new charge in a few days, Brid and I met with her senior, Zaman. He was still with a patient when I arrived to find Brid waiting for me. She smiled, pleased to see me.
Brid is still just an archangel, but she has told me that her seniors are considering whether they will present her with her third wing in the next few weeks. Healers measure their year’s end around the same time we do—she began her work in the Garden only a few days after I did. From what Brid has told me, they are stricter about schedules and order than the Cupids are, and so she does not expect to hear about the decision until after her second year is completed.
“I hope you are well, Asa’el,” Brid said. “You look it.”
“I am very well, thank you,” I answered. “And I hope you are happy, my friend.”
We laughed at the old joke. I settled down next to her to wait. Brid has a very peaceful aura, though she herself is brisk and competent; to see her is to feel confident that whatever problems one has will soon be dealt with. When I was not on Earth keeping my charges company, I have spent much of the past days with her, for I needed this belief.
She asked after my charges, and I asked after hers, as well. Naturally she has fewer than I do—aside from the man we will meet tomorrow, she cares for Gail, a woman recovering from knee surgery, Lawson, a young boy who has diabetes, and Renee, a college student just diagnosed with cancer. This last particularly hurt my heart.
I told Brid this, and she sighed. “How old is old enough to die?” she asked me. “How much time would be enough? This is different for each person.”
I resolved to remember this.
I was asking Brid about the nature of diabetes when Zaman joined us, his feathers rather ruffled. “Please forgive me,” he said. “I was just checking in on a patient.”
“No forgiveness necessary,” I said, not meeting Brid’s eye. She has often laughed at the way Zaman hurries from patient to patient. Strictly speaking, he should spend most of his time in heaven, organizing his juniors and ensuring that they have what they need. But he insists on taking his own patients, and he tends to care for them and his juniors’ patients as well, so he is always rushing. It might be inconvenient or even irritating, but one can see the deep love and concern in his aura at first glance. He only wants to help.
“So!” he said, looking at the both of us. “The two of you will begin to work together. Any concerns about this?”
Brid and I looked at one another. “None whatsoever,” I said, and Brid nodded.
“You are quite certain?” Zaman pressed. “A doctor who has any illness or weakness cannot give all their attention to the patient, and when two doctors work together, there must be harmony between them. If there is not, it is the patient who suffers.”
“Zaman,” Brid said gently, “Asa’el and I have been friends since we were putti. We have shared nearly everything in the past years, and we are both thrilled to have the chance to work together.”
Zaman examined us both, and I had the sense that his sharp eyes were missing nothing. “Yes. Well, good.” He shifted his wings, trying to smooth down his feathers. “I wonder why no one thought of pairing the two of you before this?” he asked, distracted.
“The only time I was ever displeased with Asa’el was when he decided to run off and work with Inca first,” Brid said, and I hunched my shoulders. She was quite displeased with me at that.
“Yes, well.” Zaman turned to me. “Asa’el. You understand that there are two different elements of healing—the physical, and the spiritual. Most of the physical healing will be left to Brid, but we do hope that you will be able to help with the healing of the spirit. This is more difficult, and much more important.” He looked gravely into my eyes. “If a person decides that they are going to die, then they will, sooner or later. Despair draws the attention of cruel things, and the patient themselves can be a danger to their own health.”
“I understand,” I said. “I do have some experience coping with despair.” I thought of Mary, and of Tammy when she lost her mother, and of Brooke and Morgan when they were separated. I thought too of Grace, who is still holding herself tightly together, and of Shannon, who is throwing her energy into Thomas’s happiness rather than her own.
“This will be different. It will be lonely, and must be healed from within. Let Brid lead you on this; she, too, has some experience.”
I bowed my head. “I will be happy to follow Brid in all things.”
“Then there is just one thing to say.” Zaman waited until I looked up again. “You have been known to take risks with your charges, and more often than not they have paid off. But sometimes risks fail and bring about greater pain, and that is antithetical to our cause as Healers. I would ask you to use greater care with this man. Above all, do no harm—you understand?”
“Zaman, that is not fair,” Brid said. “What happened with Asa’el’s charges—”
“No, Brid, he is right,” I said. I bowed my head deeper this time. “I will move with great care,” I assured him.
Zaman nodded, and suddenly his smile reappeared. “Good. I am looking forward to what the two of you will accomplish together. And I hope that you will enjoy working together.”
“I am certain we will,” Brid answered, and she met my gaze. In her eyes was excitement, and for the first time in days, I began to feel excited, too.
Brid is my very best friend. How could we not work well together?