Falling Under

~ Gabriel ~

I awoke slowly. My eyelids were heavier than they'd ever been before and I could scarcely breathe. A sharp aching held me in it's grip. I could not name what I felt. It was something only humans experienced.

Pain, I realized quickly, I was feeling pain.

Oh, how terrible it was. I had been warned that I would feel this way, but it had mattered little to me. Adventure was something I'd searched far and wide for, but flying only got you so far.

I opened my eyes.

Burned by the sun, I closed them again and raised my arm against the piercing light. Slowly, my eyes adjusted and I could see everything around me with little trouble. I was on the roof of a tall building.

No one was around me and I was all alone.

I glanced down at myself in alarm.

Blood, I realized.

I'd been warned again and again of the pain I would have to endure as a human. They said physically it hurt the most. They said you get used to it after a while. They never said it would take so damn long.

What seemed to me minutes was to them hours and soon the sun was setting as my thoughts raced wildly.

"Gabriel," a soft voice whispered.

I turned my head to the sound of the voice and was startled at the sight of my brother standing there.

He was barely visible almost translucent.

Blake smiled at me.

"Brother," he said, "In this building you now sit atop is an apartment just for you. He will help you, but only for 30 days and 30 nights. You will be left to live a human life as others. This includes bills, money."

He sounded as though he was reciting a speech and some part of me knew he probably was.

That distant look in his eyes faded and he looked at me more seriously.

"Brother," he whispered, sounding more like himself. "Why would you choose such a life as this?"

He looked torn between what he wanted to say and what he should say. He was conflicted.

"Do not mind that question. I do not want the answer."

He paused and searched my face, "You're going to be okay, brother. You're going to be okay."

With those final words, he disappeared and I was left once again, alone.

I rose feeling stiff and wobbly on my new legs. Some part of me regreted this decision of mine, but the stronger side of me reasoned that challenging myself would make me stronger.

Clothes I thought dimely. I need clothes.

I turned my head and as if by magic clothes appeared at my feet.

Thank you, I whispered silently to the sky. Thank you.

I slid the clothes over my body with numb fingers. Angels did not feel any emotions, but new emotions -- if that was the word-- were running through me.

My wings were visible only to those I allowed, but when I glanced at them to make sure they were still there I froze in shock.

My wings, that had once been so radiantly so white had turned black.

Falling was a choice that all of us were given, but once you fell you never went back as an angel. The best part was that you could keep your wings and that just happened to be my favorite part.

I shook off my disappointment at their color and headed for the door. I threw it open and headed down the steep stairs.

I could smell the inviting fragrances of expensive perfumes. Laughter spilled out through cracks in the doors I passed and scents of food lulled me forward.

I could not tell you how I made it to the room that was known as mine from then on, but I did. Perhaps, it was God leading me to it.

Shortly after my creation I had not believed in God. How could he be there if I could not see him? Soon I realized that a lot of what is believed to be true is never seen. The wind blows past you and is not seen. Yet, you know it is there and you feel it's presense.

I sighed heavily and glanced around at the splendor before me.

It was nothing special, but it was something to call my own and that was more important than anything else.

The walls were bland and white with little to no decoration at all. Clearly, little thought had been put into the room itself.

I had walked straight into the living room. A couch was leaning against a wall to my right. It was bright orange and expensive. Probably the only color in the whole house. (I found out later that it was left there by an old tenent who hated it so much they left it behind.)

Directly to my right lay the kitchen. As I moved to examine it my bare feet brushed the carpet. It as soft and plush under my feet and of course, a sharp white. Keeping the carpet that color was going to prove a problem.

The tiles on the kitchen floor were also -- Yes, you guessed it-- white. The counters were marble and appeared peppered with black over the deep brown beneath it. It smelt clean, but I couldn't help but be cautious. It was after all an apartment.

The appliances were up to date, much to my surprise. I smiled at that. Cooking was something else I was going to tackle in my human life.

I yearned to wonder the rest of the apartment, but I was worried. I was living a human life now and that meant I had to get a job.

Maybe I can be a waiter... At least until I can get a college degree in something else.

It seemed the perfect plan. I grabbed my key from the counter and set off to find a job.

Then, I realized it was dark outside and sleep was probably what I needed first... Tomorrow the hunt for a job would begin.

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Dear Readers,

This story has nothing to do with God so please keep that in mind as you read. The main character is an angel so therefore of course he loves him and believe in him. If you do not believe in God, please do not attach me for this. Keep those comments to yourself. However, I hope you enjoy and continue to read!

This story will be written by me and Potatoes12. How's that for proper english? ;)

Thanks guys! :)

~ Just_A_Writer