Heaven is For Real Part 18

A crack of light woke Michael.

"Mother?" the young angel mumbled.

Michael was a child again, approximately six or seven in mortal years, long before he ever achieved the title of archangel. He awoke inside his childhood bedroom, dressed in is red and blue striped pajamas. The crack of light blinded the boy version of the destined archangel that he couldn't see what was happening. All he knew was that the light came from his bedroom door. The light faded immediately and the young Michael saw who entered his old bedroom.

It was his mother. She was considered the most beautiful woman in the universe, even by her husband God himself. His mother was always dressed in a plain long white gown and wore a veil over her even longer florescent hair, which always changed into a different colored hue pending on her mood. Her skin was oddly transluscent—light could always pass through her body—yet it had a warm glow around her. Her tranquil eyes, a featured that Mike remembered most fondly of, held a whole galaxy inside them.

"I'm sorry, my child," his mother softly spoke. Her voice was like loud whisper. "Did I wake you?"

"W-what's going on?" the boy Michael asked again while he rubbed his tired eyes.

"It's nothing," his mother reassured with her ever most loving smile. "I was just checking up on each of you." She seated at Mike's bedside and tucked her eldest son in. Mike saw her deep, glistening eyes reflected sadness, just as her hair morphed into the color of the ocean's darkest blue.

"Mother?" he asked shyly. "Is something wrong with Lucifer?"

His mother paused for a second. "No, my child. Nothing is wrong." she was lying of course. Mike didn't know it then but he felt that she was sad and afraid about something.

"But I heard you and Father arguing-."

"It's nothing you need to worry. Come morning and everything will be alright." she lied again. Michael's mother started stroking her fingers through her child's head. "Michael, can you promise me something. Promise me that you'll look after your siblings, especially your baby brother. Promise me you'll keep him safe. Promise me."

"I promise, Mother." Mike tried his best to be brave for her. "I promise."

"I love you, Michael." there was a weak tremble in her voice. "I love you and your siblings. So, so very much."

"I love you too, Mother." Mike leaned back up to his mother's side. He wrapped his small arms around her to give the largest hug he could. His mother smiled and returned with a hug of her own, knowing full well this would be the last time she would do so. She then placed him back on his pillow and tucked him in again. Her lips blessed his forehead with the sweetest kiss.

Inside the bedroom came a soothing hum. Mike's mother sang to him the song which always helped put her dearest children to sleep.

Hush my darling

Don't make a peep

I'm right here

While you sleep

Sleep in safe comfort

As I sing this lullaby.

Know that my love

For you will never die

After her gentle song was finished, the boy Mike drozed back to sleep. At last sound asleep so that he could not witness the tears drip from his mother's cheeks when she closed them.

An adult Michael stood nearby and watched. He remembered that night. It was the last time he ever spoke to his mother before her untimely passing. Everyone found her next to the crib of her last child Lucifer. It was still a mystery of how she died that no one could answer, not even his own Father. From then on everything changed. The children, their Father, and Heaven itself all changed.

Mike continued to watch his mother, completely shocked of what he was looking at. He wanted to say something to her, but no words came out. He wasn't sure if she was real or not. The last he could recall was saving his nieces before fading into black. He looked around the new environment and noticed they were now alone. The boy version of himself vanished before his eyes. His room was gone too. All that remained was his mother, who sat quietly on his bed and stroked the empty spot where her son was. White mist faded in and surrounded the area.

Was this Oblivion, Mike wondered. Was this where the souls of angels and demons, and the souls of other beings, go for their final resting place?

"Mother?" Mike whispered. His mother did not answer him at first. But he wasn't a ghost to her. She turned her head and opened her eyes. Those very elegant eyes were filled with sadness like before.

Mike slowly walked to his old bed where his mother sat. He tried to say strong, but the spiritual image of his deceased mother was too much. Her saddened glare made him weep. Tears gushed out of his eyes as he broke down. He dropped to his knees and rested on his mother's lap.

He could touch her as she touched him with her hands through his head, like what she used to do for him as a child. It felt like her. It smelled like her. Her natural scent of a fresh garden in blossem. Her tranquil, soothing voice sounded like her. Mike figured it must be her. But how? Why? He could not bring himself to get answers. He wept loudly and wrapped his arms around her. It had been too long since he did that. She was still silent as the ghost she was. Still feeling through her son's thick hair.

"I... I'm sorry, Mother," Mike kept weeping. "I let Lucifer be corrupted to our adversaries. I hurt him. I couldn't... I couldn't protect him. I failed him. I failed you."

His mother still remained silent. Her gentle hands lifted his head for Michael to get a good look into her eyes. He saw that she was no longer sad, nor was she angry at him as he feared. She was smiling that ever heartwarming smile she had. Happy that she can be with him again.

"No, my son." her tender whisper echoed the realm of Oblivion. "You haven't failed me. You never failed me. You still are keeping your promise. You're still watching over him. Him and his family. Our family."

His mother wiped away the last of her son's tears and kissed his forehead, like how she did when he was younger. The archangel felt as though the sun shined through the clouds, providing him the warmth and comfort by his mother.

Suddenly there was a whisper from the distance. "Michael?" it was another woman's voice. Younger and with an Arabic accent. "Michael?" the voice whispered again.

The Archangel of Justice immediately recognized who called his name. "Malaika?"

"Go to her, my son. Follow her voice home."

Mike then felt himself being pulled out of his mother's arms. He tried to resist but he was powerless as he was dragged away towards a new light. His mother had her arms out to him but she was not reaching for him. She was pushing him away. She was pushing him home. The last thing Mike saw before being consumed by light was his mother still smiling for him. That same ever most, loving smile she will always be remembered evermore.

Mike's eyes finally opened slowly. He felt the air touch his lungs as he took in a deep gasp. The lights above blinded his vision, but he could tell that he was somewhere else. Not Oblivion but definitely Heaven. A hospital most likely. When his sight regained he met someone waiting for him.

It wasn't his girlfriend Malaika. Instead it was two girls, Rosemary and Regan, who were overjoyed upon his return home.

#sinsofthefather #fiction #fantasy #comedy #horror #angels #heaven