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In a cozy, lonely house, Michael sitting on his bed. Soft pillows supporting his back, warm blanket covering his frail legs. His wrinkled hands gently caressing stack of papers on his lap, trembling with age.
The papers are old, almost as old as the man holding it right now. It filled with beautiful writings, still visible enough for the old Michael’s eyes without needing any glasses despite the paper holding it got eaten up by time.
It was letters sent to him from an angel.
Letters that cheered a lonely little boy who just lost his parents. Letters that keep him alive amongst cruel destiny that he almost given up from living at all.
For a long time, those letters were safely placed at the corner of this house. Past Michael never took it out because he's busy with his job, being a doctor and saving many people as much as he can. Besides, he know the angel would always watch him.
Michael took it out because he need to return it to the sender. He don’t need this anymore. He won’t be staying here too long.
Why does he know that? He just feel like it.
He lived a pretty long life for a human. Almost hitting a century mark.
He did his best. For people who need him. Who needed his care, and who needed his knowledge.
He’s ready for the next big step.
As he pick up a letter to read, a white, soft feather fall onto his lap. He immediately raise his head. Shortly after, a man materialized from thin air, right in front of Michael’s eyes. That beautiful creature take an appearance of the person that Michael met back in his med school days.
“Foolish Michael.” said the creature, with a fondness that warms Michael’s lonely heart.
"Raphael, you're worried about me, aren't you?" Michael ask him, as if talking to an old friend.
He didn't look any different at all. He's still the same Raphael from 70 years ago.
Michael feels like both of them already have this conversation, word by word. But this is the fourth time they met since Dr. Derrick's death, and Michael is sure that they never talk like this.
He then decided not to think about it too much. He's happy that he finally meet Raphael again, an angel that have been watching him his entire life.
"You've been alone all this time, aren't you?" Raphael gets closer to the bed. The angel spotted a framed photo on Michael's bedside table. A photo of Michael in his 60s, surrounded by young doctors in white coat, all looks happy and promising for the future.
"I think I was meant to be alone," Michael sighs, noticing Raphael gaze towards the picture, "Ah, it's from the day when I retired from the hospital, fellow young doctors insisted to take a photo with me."
"What do you mean, you're meant to be alone?"
Raphael know the answer, but he want to know why Michael thinking that way.
"I did something so wrong before, didn't I?" Michael carress the letter on his hand, "Everyone that I hold dear leave me, like my parents and Dr. Derrick. People around me seems to disctanced themself from me, and some people who did approach me that not in professional way, always ended up with a reason not to stay by my side," Michael grip his blanket weakly, "So I push them away before we had the chance to be closer."
A sad smile appear on Michael's face.
"I thought I will be fine, since I know I had you watching me. But life goes on, I'm too afraid to be left alone again..."
"So you don't want to form a personal connection in the first place," Raphael finishes Michael's sentences, "And it's the same with these doctors in the picture. Am I right?"
Michael answers him with a weak smile. As if remember something, Michael pick up another letter from his lap. The first letter that Raphael sent him back when he was a sad and lonely little boy.
He read it, smiles, and put it back on his lap.
"Hey, Rapahel." Michael try to reach Raphael's face, "Will I get punished for loving an angel?"
"Loving someone you're not supposed to again?" Raphael let out a soft chuckle as he held Michael's hand, "You're really a fool, Michael."
Again?
For some reason, Michael can't say that out loud. But he believed what Raphael said, as his entire body feels to weaken.
"Thank you for the letters, Raphael."
Michael can feel Raphael softly pulling his hand.
"Every time I remember your letters, I can live this lonely life."
As the angel pulling him, his hand slowly lose it's wrinkle. In a short moment, his entire arm completely smooth and regain the strength as if he's going younger.
"I love you, my angel."
Michael took the letters with his other hand and slowly get out of the bed. His legs also regain the same strength as his arm, no more pain from moving his joints anymore.
"I want to return this letters to you."
"It's yours the moment you received it." Rapahel assured him. Slowly but steady, all wrinkles from Michael's body dissapeared, his eyesight getting clear, and his gray hair turned into dark hair.
Michael's appearance turned back to the time when he saw Raphael during Dr. Derrick's death. Young, healthy, and full of life.
"Now, you can come with me." Raphael gently carry now younger-looking Michael in his arms.
Michael feeling like he about to cry. Tears already welled up on his eyes.
"It's weird," his voice shaken, "I miss this feeling so much."
He love Raphael. He never been held in his arms, but there's this nostalgic feeling lingering among his happines to be finally embraced by the angel.
"I'm glad," Raphael spread his wings as he carry Michael to the next realm.
"I'm glad I could hold you in my arms again, dear Michael."
Fortunately, there's no punishment for a human who fall in love with an angel.
As they leave, the papers on Michael's lap disappears with a flickering light.
"I can take Michael's soul?"
"I'll give you the exception," said Uriel, "It seems like the best thing for him."
"What about my punishment?"
"As long as you don’t show yourself in front of other human, you'll be forgiven."
"Got it. Thank you, Uriel."