Heaven is For Real Part 21

The microwave pinged it was done. Malaika removed tonight's meal of warm noodles. She was back home in her small apartment after having no recollection of what happened earlier in the day. All she could remember is that she woke up inside another apartment complex on the other side of Brimstone. Afterward she left, confused about how she ended up there to begin with.

Her own apartment was small. Small living room, small kitchen, and smaller bathroom. The only thing that was big enough was her bedroom, which was littered with her clothes all over the carpet floor. At least the rent was affordable with a teacher's salary. The walls were decorated with some posters of her favorite movies. A book shelf carried her copy of the Quran next to the Holy Bible, along with her collection of fantasy books, graphic novels, and RPG guidebooks. A dresser was stored inside a closet space. By her bed was a small writing desk, similar to the ones found at the elementary school she worked at. There were stacks of homework assignments that she already graded, waiting to be returned to the proper students.

Malaika dressed differently in her small apartment. She didn't wear her traditional gown or a hijab around her head. Instead she had on her sweat pants, a dark grey t-shirt with a funny looking elf character on it, and her hair was free to be. It was her choice whether she wanted to wear a hijab or not. Normally she would do so during school or in other public places, and she would definitely wear one whenever she went to mosque. Other times she chose not to wear one, like if she was at the beach or someplace else. Yet in her apartment, it was her world and her rules. That meant no hijab here. She was devoted to her Muslim faith but wasn't completely traditional, nor has she ever considered herself perfect. She owned and wore several different bikinis to prove that point. But she was just herself, which she was most proud of. This was a lesson she always taught and shared with her students, and even invented a clever little rhyme to go along with it: 'I'm not perfect, I'm just me. And that's the best thing I can be'.

After she prepped her dinner she moved into the her living room across the kitchen. There she had a little sofa with a glass coffee table that matched the sofa's height. Both furniture faced a wide screen television. It was big enough to touch both ends of her apartment walls. Those very walls also carried pictures of herself through the years, and of her loving family.

One picture had her parents, who lived in Chicago. Both looked very happy, as though they were greatly proud of the woman their eldest daughter grew up to be. Another featured a younger version of her, likely in her teens, along with younger two brothers, Rajin and Raed, and her little sister, Merin. The picture that hung below featured them as adults now, recreating the same funny poses they did. There was a picture of her, a valedictorian student, accepting her high school diploma. Another picture was of her dressed in an ROTC uniform during college, which later she wore again when she served in the United States Army before settling to become a kindergarten teacher at Brimstone Elementary.

Malaika then stared into her television set. Her finger clicked away at the remote. There were so many different titles that were on TubeFlix. Some of these titles included a were of movies she favored, most of them fantasy filled with knights, magic, and talking animals. There were plenty of cop dramas to watch, which was her least favorite genre. Searching through the infinite catalog of this streaming network she came across several documentaries, few educational programs, two dozen science fiction movies, a bad romantic comedy, a high school musical, and the ever infamous Captain Christian and the Holy Helpers. With all these different titles, she wasn't interested in watching any of them.

Finally she settled on an old black and white film, Top Hat. It was a very old film, released back in 1935, and starred Fred Astaire as the lead. She recalled watching once before. A friend recommended it, stating that this was one of their favorite movies to watch. At first Malaika was sure about watching an old time, colorless film but she remembered how much she enjoyed it overall. However, the name and the face of that friend who watched it with her escapes her memories.

When the film's forever famous scene played on the screen, for some reason Malaika felt sad. She didn't know what made her sad, or even why she was sad. Was it this bitter sweet scene? Or perhaps she no longer remembered something. Maybe she didn't remember someone. It felt as though someone was ripped out of her life. More and more she thought about this absence she grew sadder. Whatever it was it felt her heart empty with a black void that never healed.

The lyrics of the song didn't help matters either. "Heaven. I'm in heaven." Fred sang as he danced with Ginger Rogers on the television screen. "And my heart beats so that I can hardly speeeeeak. And I seem to find the happiness I seeeeeeek. When we're out here, dancing cheek to cheeeeeek." A small tear leaked out of Malaika's eye, which she quickly wiped away.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Those three knocks made Malaika jump from her seat. "Coming." she called back, setting aside her meal on the small coffee table.

Malaika sat up and walked to the main door. She opened it and was greeted by a kind stranger. He was tall gentleman with long golden-brown hair that touch the back of his neck. He was well built and muscular under an old brown leather jacket that he wore, along with a plain white t-shirt and dusty jeans. His face was handsome with a scruffy five o'clock shadow and charming blue eyes. The man smiled at her, like he was so happy to see her. Malaika didn't know this stranger, but deep down inside she felt like she recognized him.

"Can I help you?" Malaika asked.

The stranger's smiled slowly wiped away. He looked heartbroken when she asked him that. It looked like he was about to leave but then his smile reappeared. "Actually," the man said. "I'm here to help you."

He reached his hand out and touched Malaika's forehead. She walked as the man's eyes flashed brightly like headlights before becoming blinded by another light from his hand. It lasted only for a couple of seconds.

Suddenly Malaika felt a massive headache. The man removed his hand so she could rub her throbbing temples. Thankfully, that only lasted for a couple seconds too. Whatever happened it seemed to piece together what was missing in her life. A memory. A face. A boyfriend. A lover.

Malaika looked back. She did know this man. "Michael!" she gasped. She remembered. This was no stranger. He was an angel. An archangel named Michael, or Mike as he liked to be called. But she always addressed him as Michael, which he didn't mind at all.

Mike smiled too. "I told you I'd come-" Malaika's hand struck across Mike's right cheek, leaving a good, red mark on it. "OW!" Mike cried. It sounded like an annoyed whine. That slap hurt far worse than being stabbed earlier today.

Malaika darted at her angelic boyfriend, furious of his lies and secrets. He had much to explain for. But all that could wait for now. She immediately lunged at him and pressed her lips against his. She needed him now more than ever. The archangel kissed her back, deeply missing her touch. It feared that he would never again feel her touch or taste her lips. His hands scooped her by her hind legs and he carried her back inside her apartment. The door slapped shut behind them as they made their way into her bedroom.

Seven minutes of pure heaven later, the odd pairing laid underneath Malaika's bedsheets inside the comforts of her bedroom. Their clothes scattered on her messy rug floor. Their naked bodies cuddled together under the thin blue sheets. Both were breathing heavily after their long moment of pleasure. Malaika rested on Mike's breast, soothed by his steady heartbeat. Mike's large hand caressed his girlfriend's hand, never wanting to let go again.

"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" Mike said, recovering his breath.

"Almost. But not quite." she smiled and kissed him once more. "What happened to you today? The last I saw you, you were being arrested. What's going on?"

Mike explained everything that had happened earlier. He was honest about his arrest and trial, and how Rosemary and Regan accidently were transported to Heaven with them. He then told her about the terrorist attack inside the capital and warned her of their enemies, the Fallen. When he told her about the duel he had with their leader Abbodon, he was wise to leave out the part where he was stabbed. She didn't need any more to worry. He went on about how the Council found him not guilty of his charges and was free to see his new family and Malaika as he pleased.

Malaika listened to it all. Every little detail Mike said. Even the parts about how he explained why he was arrested. How it was against the angel's sacred laws to interact with humanity again. It was all so much to absorb but she listened and believed every word. "You should have told me about this." she said.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I thought I was protecting you."

"You're risking too much, Michael. And if this Fallen comes after us, or the Gravelys and your brother... perhaps we should-"

"No, please!" Mike pleaded fearfully. He held his girlfriend close and looked into her sweet eyes. "I need you. I don't want to lose you ever again, just as you don't want to lose me. We can make this work. If my brother can be with a mortal woman, and somehow make the impossible happen, there's hope for us. You give me something I thought I've forgotten long ago. Life. Meaning. But most importantly: hope."

Malaika stared back into his baby blue eyes. They were soft and sweet as he was. Malaika agreed to stay with him and the two kissed once more.

"I promise, from now on, no more secrets between us." Mike said. "I'll tell you what you want to know, but I'm afraid I cannot reveal everything. There are some revelations mortals are not ready yet."

"Tell me the ones I am ready for." Malaika replied. She closed her eyes and listened, happy to have the angel, the man, she loved back in her life.

Mike complied and told her much about his world. He told her of the nine districts that made up Heaven: Jannah, Elysium, Valhalla, Deva, Aaru, Iri, Anwyn, Yomi, and the capital Paradise. He explained how each district was set up differently, each with their own architectures and styles. He then proceeded to tell her about his Father, or at least what little he knew about Him. They weren't particularly close, him along with his other siblings. However, his Father did the best He could as a single parent raising eight children. But more so, he told her about the other most beautiful woman he had ever known: his mother, who had long since passed when he was a child.

Malaika asked for her name and Mike proudly revealed it. It was the only name she had ever be known by. "Life." he whispered before his girlfriend fell asleep. "Her name was Life."

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