Some charges are easier to come to know than others. I felt that I knew Freya, for example, before the end of my second encounter with her, but it took me months to even see the good in Shannon. Sometimes, however, all it takes is one very telling conversation to give me the key. I was with Hannah this evening, intending only to check in on her and give her some encouragement before moving on, when she received a phone…
Adnar’el once observed to me that trying to help a struggling marriage is like dragging both partners up a slippery slope—one tries to go one way, the second another, and you are always just one wrong step from tumbling down all together. I can see now that he was right. Gabrielle and Nick fought again this evening, and some things were said that cut both of them deeply. It started when Gabrielle was going to be late returning home—there was…
I had an opportunity to speak to Danit today, for which I was glad; I have been wanting to ask her about what happened with Freya. It was a surprise, though, to arrive and find Zezette there as well. They were speaking of some of Danit’s other juniors, and I could not help but wonder if they had been talking about me as well. I have been aware of closer supervision than before in the past few weeks, but nothing…
I have to admit, I am a bit concerned by what happened tonight. Perhaps it is nothing—the merest coincidence—but recent experience has taught me to be wary of anything that is unexpected. I was with Freya, and there was nothing to indicate that it would be a remarkable evening. She did indeed stay in touch with George over the holiday: tonight was their second date. Their first was a turbulent, short affair, as they spent most of it arguing about…
I spent this evening with Hannah, trying to move past my first impression and really begin to understand her. I have to say, while she is not an easy soul to read—almost as difficult as Jonathan was at first—I have learned something for certain, and that is that it is an exhausting process to become a doctor. Hannah was not working today, so I expected to find her busying herself with a hobby, or perhaps with friends. It is true…
This evening Harrington and Isabella went out together on a much-needed date. They had intended to go on Sunday night, but Harrington’s back was hurting, so they postponed. Harrington was adamant, however, that his wife deserved a good evening out, so the restaurant was kind enough to give them a reservation on the very next night they had an opening. Despite this, the evening didn’t get off to a very good start, at least for Harrington. At his wife’s insistence,…
Today was my last evening with Ted and Elaine, and my first with Anna—or at least, the first when she was my official charge. I had the full approval from Danit for both changes the other day. Anna is a delight to me. She is such a bright spirit, and so passionate about what she does—sometimes to exclusion of all else. I arrived at her apartment this afternoon to find her chattering away on the phone to her mother, from…
I do worry sometimes that the period of time in which I am absent from my charges for the holiday celebrations in heaven will have negative impact on them. Usually it is not the case—Danit has told me that the Readers watch carefully in the weeks before and warn any angels whose charges are at risk during that time, and those angels do not attend worship. I received no such warning, so I know that nothing happened during this time…
Danit was not wrong that I would find my new charge’s outlook a bit challenging. Her name is Hannah Valdez. She is thirty years old and is nearing the end of her medical residency in Baltimore. She is tall, dark, and utterly charming, with a charismatic manner and a wistful smile. And she looks at the world as if she is standing in a shadow at all times. I found her just as she was leaving her shift with a…
The celebrations have ended, leaving a ring of warmth in every heart. I know that some of my siblings prefer to linger in heaven, to hold that warmth close to themselves, and if that is best for them then I respect that. For me, however, it has always been necessary to go straight back to work. To say truth, though, there is hardly enough work now to hold my attention. Grace has been deferred, and I am all but certain…