“There were these men.”
“Did you know them?”
She shook her head. “Not really. They took me after our home was destroyed.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“I don’t know.” Tears spilled over her cheeks. “There was a fire, and everyone was running. I couldn’t find them.”
“So these men took you?”
She nodded. “They brought me to their house, and then these other men showed up. There was a lot of yelling in a language I couldn’t understand.”
I stroked a hand over her hair. “Do you remember what happened next?” Sometimes people didn’t actually remember their deaths.
“One of the men who’d brought me there pulled out a gun. The other guys yelled something. There was gunfire and then there was you.”
I wasn’t sure if she’d been caught in the cross fire or deliberately killed. Either way, it was an experience no one should have to go through, especially a child.
“Nor, I’m going to tell you something very important.”
She looked at me with big dark eyes still wet with her tears.
I cupped her face between my hands, using my soothing powers to bring her peace. I let warmth wrap around her like an embrace of calm and comfort. “You’re home now. No one will ever hurt you here. Can I show you something? It’ll feel a little bit like you’re in a dream, but you won’t be sleeping.”
“Okay.”
I closed my eyes and focused on showing her God’s court. I showed her the great hall, the people gathered around the table to share meals together. I led her through streets of gold. I let her see humans hugging and laughing.
When I opened my eyes again, Nor was smiling tentatively.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“It’s so pretty and happy.”
I grinned. “And it’s all just waiting for you.” I dropped my hands from her face, watching to see how she responded to the fading of my calming powers. The tension didn’t come back into her shoulders—she still looked at peace. Often all it took was some help breaking through the pain and fear. “Are you ready to go meet your heavenly family?”
Nor wiped at her cheeks. “Can I touch your wings?”
It wasn’t the first time I’d gotten the request, and God knew I couldn’t deny the kid anything she wanted that was in my power to give. “Sure.”
She reached out and ran her fingers over the golden feathers that marked my service to God’s court.
A shiver ran down my spine at the contact of Nor’s fingers on the sensitive skin of my wings. I’d never admitted it to anyone, but I loved the feeling of my wings being touched, craved it in a way I didn’t understand.
“They’re so soft,” Nor said in wonder.
I smiled at her. As much as it broke my heart to talk to those who’d passed on way too young, I couldn’t deny that there was something special about being able to speak with children. They gave me perspective, and they were a joy to talk to.
I rose to my feet and held out a hand to Nor. “Are you ready now?”
Since Nor’s parents weren’t here at this time, I planned on leaving Nor in Elizabeth’s care. Elizabeth was one of the kindest souls I’d met. She’d had a difficult human life, and I knew she’d understand Nor. She’d be there when Nor needed a mother figure, someone to look up to and help her understand how to live out the Father’s will.
Hours later, I dropped into a seat at the table in the great hall.
“You look exhausted,” Jonah commented.
“I’m fine,” I said with a tired smile. “This is what I was born for.”
