My brother and I were two very odd peas in a pod.

We had been created as high-ranking angels, but he was higher than I, so the pressure was definitely on him. And like many things did, he cracked.

But there was no room for cracked sculptures in the world's finest art gallery.

Specifically, I remember the day very clearly. He woke up, his eyes leaking water of some sort, and told me he couldn't do it anymore.

He explained later that God had banished Lillith for speaking her mind, and I felt something stir in my heart as well.

I had been carrying out my duties when my heart twisted so painfully I almost dropped to the ground. I went looking for Lucifer instantly.

His wings were mangled by the time I reached him, screaming until my throat went hoarse as God turned away, allowing the seraphim to pick him up by the ends of his broken body, and toss him down to the Earth below.

Finally, I understood exactly what My brother had felt when he stayed up all night making pitiful noises. Higher Angels weren't supposed to feel emotions, and he did.

I did.

It didn't take long for the suspicion to then be placed on me. The twin of what was now considered the greatest evil ever created.

I was called to the throne of the Lord for questioning. With all eyes on me, I accepted the fate that would befall me.

So, to start, I stared directly into the eyes of the lord. I was punished, of course. Holding my tongue was what saved me from a worse fate.

"If you wish to follow the path of your unfortunate brother," God -no- Gabe, said. I was hurt, and I was going to remind him of that. "I will have no choice then to punish you the same."

I hadn't done anything wrong, but the suspicion against me was too high. Looking around, there wasn't a single Throne angel in the room.

Not a single angel to question God's judgement.

The judgement that wasn't even his.

Like Brother, Like brother, I suppose. I let go of my tongue once.

The scariest part is that I don't regret it.

"As you wish, Gabe."

But humanity will never remember my answer. Nor will they ever remember me. I am a forgotten whisper among my own kind. A story they tell to the younger ones, about how following the Lord goes above family and even love.

They don't know that the story kept my soul thriving, and allowed me.to be born anew once more.

——-
He only spoke to me in his dreams, calling me "The Glowy Man."

By him, I mean the little boy I was reborn as. A kind child with a heavenly glow. Though his name rolled off the tongue in an odd way for me. After centuries of living amongst beings with no less than four I's or E's in their name, Damien sounded incredibly simple.

Nonetheless, He was a wonderful child. Born in a house of horrors, he was also very unfortunate.

"Glowy Man." He told me one night, walking around in the darkness of his mind. "Will I ever see my brother again?"

I gently touched his head as he stayed very still, and let go.

"Yes." I had responded. "It's very blurry, But somewhere in your future, You shall embrace him again."

"Do you know if he's ok?" Damien asked, the wide innocence in his eyes practically crushing my heart.

"That, I do not know. I only catch fleeting bits of your future, and your future alone. I'll be here as long as you believe in me."

"But what if I forget?"

"You will not, Dear Child. There will always be something of me for you to remember."

After that, he began doing daily prayers. It was adorable, For such a small child to know with all his heart that as long as he believed, anything could happen.

His prayers increased my energy, and we began combining before he was ten.

His father had slammed him into a wall, before locking him in the bathroom while he went downstairs. Bleeding profusely, he began freaking out, tearing up the bathroom for something.

Child. I remember saying. Focus.

"I don't know how!" He blubbered.

Imagine the cut healing up and closing off. Believe in it.

He focused. Lord above, he even shut off the lights and closed his eyes to focus. As I had hoped for, the wound healed shut leaving behind a thin white scar.

"Cool!" He giggled, once he had turned back on the light, looking at his hairline. "Did I do that?"

"All by yourself." I had smiled.

Partially a lie, but I was no longer required to always tell the truth.

That night, he prayed with such intensity, I had to knock a toy from his shelf before he attracted every demon within fifty miles.

This small, weak, young child was practically a beacon of potential power, screaming for someone to come kill him and take it. I was no longer and would never be an angel again, but I felt it right within my soul to protect him from all harm.

From the mighty throneside of God himself, to the guardian of a mere human.

"Goodnight, Glowy Man."

"Goodnight, Dear child."

You know what? I'd take this over throneside anyday. This young child I call my own will prove to be great. And I myself will guarantee that.

——-
Slamming my hand on the blaring alarm, I sat up straight. The sun was just on the horizon, and my phone was flooded with Voice Messages.

Damien, I-

Delete.

I messed up bad-

Delete.

Please Damien, I-

Delete.

They were all like that, of course. So I deleted them all, of course. I don't have time to think of Jay when there's an entire list of children to meet today. I'd have to go to the Florist for a bouquet. Maybe something yellow. Or blue.

My hair was a mess, as usual (thanks genetics), but I only had time to run my fingers through it as I brushed my teeth and shoved waffles in the toaster, putting everything in my car before leaving.

In my rush, I passed the Lillies growing by my front step, and paused. There was a little one growing. A baby bud, brand new. A gentle breeze of Cinnamon blew past.

I knew what I was going to do.

Muttering curses under my breath as I rounded corners, I wondered how in my name I had spent so much time putting such a little flower in a large pot. The answer was Caution and care, but I was too angry at myself to reason with it.

Stopping at the florist, I stumbled out of my car with a sigh, brushing my hair back before walking inside.

"Welcome, What can I do for you today?" A voice behind the counter top chirped.

I took a look around, before picking up a large bouquet of Yellow and White Carnations.

"Just this, Please." I smiled politely. The employee smiles kindly, tapping on his screen before accepting the money.

Scooping up the flowers, I rushed back out and practically flung myself into my car, cutting corners and not stopping for a coffee or breakfast as I pulled into the parking lot.

Brushing my hair back again, I checked the time to realize I was thirty minutes early to my first appointment.

Shrugging, I simply packed all my stuff in my bag, grabbed the bouquet with one arm and gently cradled the Lily in the other.

Walking into the bright yellow walls was always a refreshing start to my morning.