A 'Touched by an Angel' story

And sequel to 'Recycled Dreams'

By: Yvette Jessen

Stephanie Zimmerman stood near the side of the ice rink; her dark hair was pulled back in a bun as the 22-year-old woman waited for her scores to be read. She sighed deeply as she looked around the large open rink. It had been the greatest performance of her life, she was now competing in national competitions, but in her heart, she felt completely empty. Patty, she thought as she contemplated the plight of her best friend, this had been your dream, and here I am fulfilling what you are no longer able to share in. If truth were known, she blamed God, and she was angry with Him for allowing this to happen to someone as wonderful as Patty. This just didn't seem fair.

There was a hollow emptiness that seemed to dwell in her heart as she sat down in the kiss and cry area and waited for her coach to join her. Seconds later, he sat down beside her on the bench and looked out at the crowd as they cheered. She could not see too many people there, as the lights were so bright, but she could hear them and instead of responding to them, she stared down at her lap hoping that she could will herself to look up.

It was no secret that the only time she ever felt any sense of joy was when she was skating her heart out, but as soon as she would leave the ice, her thoughts would immediately return to Patty, and this pain and fear of knowing that her best friend was suffering and may even be dying, filled her with the utmost dread and uncertainty.

As the tears brimmed underneath her eyes, she concentrated all her thoughts on her best friend. Patty had been with her through everything that she had endured, but she felt as though she had abandoned her, now when she needed someone to stand by her the most.

The scores came up and brought her crashing back down to earth. "5.9, 5.9, 5.8…" The announcer's voice boomed, and Stephanie could hear as the crowd began to cheer behind her. As the cheers continued, the 'artistic impression' scores were read until the announcer's voice faded completely and all was left were the cheers from the crowds when she realized that she was in first place and would probably win the competition.

"We love you, Stephanie!" A chorus of voices sounded behind her and she turned around, and smiled weakly, all the while waving as a teenage girl tossed a stuffed elephant to her.

She hugged the stuffed animal and sighed deeply as the announcer's voice erupted through the arena and she turned and face her coach, Jake McCall who was still seated next to her. "Hey, Stephy, you OK?"

She nodded. "I did it," her voice was weak, but she smiled at him, a trace of happiness present, but that disappeared within seconds and she wiped her face with her hand. "I never thought I would."

"I knew you would," Jake said smiling. "What really means a lot to me, not just having a protégé who is a champion, but that you stuck by me, even after I got married. I mean; a lot of skaters don't keep their coach from start to finish, but you kept me next to you when you could have gotten a better coach, someone with more experience."

"No, I couldn't, you're like a part of my family, Jake. I couldn’t have just shoved you aside, you and Patty helped make me what I am," Stephanie said weakly.

"Her cancer's getting worse, isn't it?" Jake asked gently, his voice soft.

"Yeah, the doctor said she's not taking to the chemo, and they don't know how long she has," Stephanie whispered. "I'd trade places with her in a heartbeat if I could, because I know that this is what she wanted. She wanted it more than me, but why did I get it and she ended up so sick?" Her voice trailed off and she looked at her coach helplessly.

"Stephy, she wants you to go for it, you know that, she wants you to accomplish this dream, because it will be for you both," Jake said, his voice filled with his assurances.

"I know, but I keep thinking how it's been almost ten years since I tried to kill myself, ten years since Patty and I became friends," Stephanie began softly. "Jake, do you remember what happened back then? Right now, I can't seem to get it out of my mind."

"Yes, I do, and although I don't know what exactly happened to you afterwards, you were different somehow no question. You know, I see on TV all the time about people having experiences that changed them, and they found religion, maybe that was what happened to you."

"Maybe, but would you believe me if I told you that I actually met the Angel of Death?" Stephanie asked. "He and his friends were in Harrisburg and I guess that they had been there to help me face everything with my mom." She shook her head. "I never told you about it, because I was afraid you'd think I was crazy, but that guy, Andrew, he was the Angel of Death and he was there with me when I took those sleeping pills. He talked to me, Jake, he didn't judge me, he was just there and it made a huge difference to me."

"I believe you, Stephy, but what did he do? I mean; what happened after you tried? I remember how you were so close to dying; it scared me. It made me realize how much significance you have to me. The doctor even said that you had lost your will to live."

"I know that it sounds so strange, but all that he did was comfort me. He told me that God was not angry with me for having done what I did." Stephanie shrugged her shoulders as she watched the next skater get on the ice and the introductions were made. She shook her head sadly, unable to release these thoughts and emotions. "All I know is that I can't get it out of my mind, but now…"

Jake took her hand in his and squeezed it. "Why don't you go back to the dressing room and rest for a few minutes? I'll come get you when it's time for the medal ceremony."

Stephanie nodded. "OK, but do you think Jodie would be upset if I leave and miss her performance, I have a headache and am not feeling very well?"

"No, if she asks, I'll explain to her why you didn't stick around," he said, but when he didn't elaborate, Stephanie stood up, walked out of the arena, and down a long hallway towards the dressing room. Jake remained in the arena and watched as Jodie began her long program, but after a few minutes, he walked towards the seats, sat down, and watched the performance until it was over.

*****

As Stephanie walked down the hall in the direction of the dressing room, her thoughts were literally swimming. She could see some of the other competitors in the hallway, and one approached her. "Hey Stephy, how'd it go?" One of the girls asked as she offered her a weak smile.

She smiled and looked up. "I guess OK. Are you that nervous, Stacy? You look as though you're about to jump out of your skin."

"Yeah, I have been trying to calm down, but I didn't sleep all night. I was so scared that I would totally mess up," the younger skater admitted. "You know how my coach is, if I make any mistakes, she's gonna fly through the roof."

"You'll do it, Stacy," Stephanie said calmly, "just keep the focus."

The other skater smiled at her and nodded. "I think you deserve to win, you give everyone so much encouragement."

"I learned from the best," Stephanie said softly dismissing the compliment with a shrug of her shoulders.

"I heard about Patty," Stacy said trying to touch the subject gingerly. "How's she doing?"

"I talked to my mom last night and she said that Patty's getting worse," Stephanie said softly. "I should have withdrew from the competition, I'm just not enjoying it."

"You're winning, Stephy, you can't mean that," Stacy said punching her arm gently.

"Perhaps, but I'm not enjoying this, I guess it's true, there is more than just winning…"Her voice trailed off as she glanced down the hallway and could see a sports reporter standing next to her dressing room door. "I guess I've got to give an interview, huh?"

"You'll handle it," Stacy said. "If I can give a flawless long program, you can give an interview to a couple of pushy reporters."

Stephanie smiled weakly. "Thanks Stacy. Did I ever tell you that you're really great?"

Stacy smiled and made her way down the hall towards the rink. Stephanie watched as her friend disappeared in the distance and taking a deep breath, she released a pent up sigh as she continued walking in the direction of her dressing room. As she reached the door, she looked up and made eye contact with the man. The second man was ducked behind the camera and she was unable to see his face.

"Excuse me, Miss Zimmerman, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions for the Indianapolis Sports Reporter," the man approached and she looked up, her eyes sad.

"The camera is rolling," The other man said, his voice indicating that his colleague could begin asking his questions.

"OK, the first question is probably the most obvious. How do you feel about being this year's national figure skating champion?" The man asked.

"Well, there are still two more skaters to go after Jodie Stevens, so please ask me that after they have done their programs. Please understand, I hate predicting that I would win at something before everyone competing has a chance to try," Stephanie said softly and shrugged her shoulders, her mind was not really on the interview. For some reason, her thoughts were drifting back to the day when she had met the Angel of Death for the first time and how, to this day, she hated these kinds of questions…

Stephanie's Flashback

Stephanie smiled when she saw that Patty's score was about as high as her own. But, when they announced that Patty was in second place, she sighed deeply.

"What's the matter," Andrew asked when he saw the shadow cross her face. He didn't understand what was happening, until he heard an excited squeal coming from behind them.

Within seconds, the woman that he had seen in the 'kiss and cry' area rushed over to Stephanie and wrapped her arms around her. "You won, you won!" Her voice was high with excitement. Stephanie glanced over at Andrew who smiled encouragingly at her.

"But, Mom, there are still two more skaters that have to compete," Stephanie muttered hoping that the woman would release her from the embrace.

Teresa apparently didn't listen, and continued to hug her daughter excitedly.

Stephanie's Flashback End

"Stephanie," the man's voice brought her out of the reverie, and she offered him an apologetic smile as he continued to speak. "You know there's no way that they can beat you, they came in third, fifth, and sixth respectively after their short programs."

"I understand, but please, some of these skaters are not only my competitors, they are also my friends, and as strange as it may sound, I know the value of friends, and I know that it would be absolutely arrogant of me to make any comments in this regard until they have had a chance to show the judges what they can do."

"That is a very unlikely stance, Miss Zimmerman, most skaters make a comment or two after their performance," the man pressed.

"You didn't ask me about my performance, you asked me about winning," Stephanie said softly. "I don't want to be rude, Sir, because I know it's your job to get the answers from me, and I really do understand." She sighed deeply as she continued to speak. "Let me just say that I am very pleased with my program, my coach is an inspiration and the people who choreographed it are positively fantastic. As for the program itself, I'm really happy with how it went, I am glad that I landed all the jumps and that my concentration didn't get messed up by all the things going on, but I'm also kind of sad right now, and before I have to come out again, I need some time alone. Please excuse me."

"Please, Miss Zimmerman, I really need to ask you a few more questions. What do you think about winning this competition?" The man pressed, his words indicating that he had not heard her last response to the question he had raised. When he finished speaking, the young woman shook her head.

"Let me ask you a question. Do you believe in miracles?" As she spoke, her voice was filled with unhappy melancholy undertones. "They do," she pointed down the hall in the direction of the arena, thus indicating the other skaters, "and that's why I won't say it's over until someone says 'the end'."

"You've always been very truthful," the man behind the camera said as he pressed the stop button and lowered the heavy piece of equipment from his shoulder. It was then that she looked up and her gaze met a familiar pair of sympathetic green eyes.

"Andrew?" She shook her head in profound disbelief and for the first time that evening, she could literally feel her knees turning to jelly.

At that moment, Jake had appeared at the other end of the hallway and the reporter, realizing that he would not get the answers he needed from her, he excused himself and approached where Jake was. Once he was gone, the young woman looked into the familiar eyes of the angel as a flood of memories overwhelmed her.

"Hello, Stephanie," he spoke as her thoughts brought her back to the experience she had after she tried to end her life. She remembered how Andrew had been with her during the pain she experienced as a teenager and in her overwhelming surprise of seeing him again, she sank to her knees.

Stephanie's Flashback

Stephanie had taken three of the sleeping pills the night before. The pain had to stop; the deeply embedded hurt she felt would not go away. She closed her eyes, but after a few moments, she could see some light and it was coming closer.

Stephanie, a voice, gentle and soft was addressing her.

She opened her eyes and looked up and into Andrew's gentle eyes. He was glowing, the halo of light surrounding him and she could see that he was dressed in a beige suit. I know you, she whispered.

Yes, my name is Andrew, and I'm an angel sent from God to help you, he said gently.

I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to disappoint God, she said softly, her voice cracking with emotion. I'm just so scared.

I know, and you're never alone, sweetheart, Andrew said compassionately. I won't leave you alone, and God is always there for you when you need Him.

I don't want to die, Andrew, she said softly. I just want my mother to let me live and to do the things other girls do. I want to have friends, and be accepted.

He brushed his hand gently through her hair. I know you do, but you have to fight, Stephanie, you're in a coma now, but you can fight, all you have to do is ask God for the strength you lack. I'm here for you, and I will do whatever I can to help you.

Just talk to me, she whispered, her voice emerged filled with sadness.

I'm here, he said softly.

Andrew, will God forgive me? She asked weakly.

Of course He will, Stephanie. He loves you so much, and He shares your pain in the most profound way. Why didn't you ever ask Him to help you before now? Andrew spoke gently.

I was afraid that He would be angry if I went against the will of my mother. I'm supposed to honor my parents, she said softly.

Don't worry, Stephanie, God knows everything that has happened here, and whether you want to fight for life or give up, you must know that He will help you with those choices. For this reason, He sent my friends and me to help you.

You mean, those two women who were with you? She asked.

Yes, Monica, Tess and I are all angels, Stephanie, and we'll do everything we can to help you, Andrew said softly and squeezed her hand gently.

You don't hate me for what I did?

No, I think I understand why you did it, and though it makes me sad, I realized that you felt trapped and alone, he said gently. Stephanie, as long as you allow God to help you, you'll never feel alone again and those feelings will disappear.

But, I've felt this way ever since I was five-years-old, Stephanie said softly.

I know, but there exists no reason for you to continue feeling this way, he said gently. You must never stop believing that God cares for you and He will carry you through.

She nodded and reached for his hand. Once she held it, she could feel the love of God encompass her in the embodiment of this wonderful angel. Through this experience, Stephanie Zimmerman learned a profound lesson that she was never alone.

Stephanie's Flashback End

"I don't believe it, it's you," she managed to stammer, but her eyes filled with tears as she looked up and made eye contact with him. "Y-you're really here. I'm not dreaming," she smiled weakly, her first genuine smile in such a long time. Yet, as quickly as the smile had appeared on her face, so too did it disappear as she remembered what kind of angel he was. "Y-you're here about Patty, aren't you? S-she's dead…Oh God, please let it not be true." She stared up at him, her eyes filling with tears.

"No, no, no…Stephanie, you don't understand, I'm not here because of Patty," he began as he came over to where she was on the ground and helped her to her feet. Once she was standing, the two of them went into the dressing room and the door was closed behind them. Once they sat down in one corner of the small room, she looked up at him. He had not changed, well his hair was shorter, but it was still him and she was taken aback that during the time she had thought of him, that he had just appeared from out of nowhere.

"T-then why are you here?" She whispered.

Andrew looked at her, his eyes serene. "Do you remember what we talked about when you were in the hospital ten years ago?"

"Uh-huh, h-how could I forget?" she whispered. "B-but I don't understand, you're the Angel of Death, I thought you'd be here for Patty, s-she's been so sick…" Stephanie managed, but he could tell that her breathing had quickened and he reached over and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Sweetheart, just calm down, it's OK. I know that Patty is sick, and I know that you're worried about her, but she's not the reason I came to see you," he said as he ran his hand through his hair.

"She's not?" Stephanie looked at him all the while standing up, and it was hard to tell if she was completely convinced by what he had just said. There was a small part of her that did not want to believe him. Yet, looking into his earnest green eyes, she sighed deeply knowing that she trusted him with her life and after a few moments, she waited for him to answer her question.

"The reason why I'm here is because you're needed back in Harrisburg," Andrew said gently. "There's a little girl who needs you."

"Me?" Stephanie asked. "Why would someone need me when she has angels helping and looking out for her?"

"Because you're her hero, and maybe she'll listen to you," Andrew said softly.

"I don't understand," Stephanie looked at him. "I'm not a hero, Andrew. Sometimes I think I'm only doing this because Patty can't."

"No," he shook his head. "You're doing it because it's a part of you, Stephanie, and it's something that God knew was special in you."

As he spoke, she could feel the tears streaming from beneath her eyes. He reached over and wiped them away. "Stephanie, you have an unbelievable talent, and look at the beautiful person you grew into. I saw you skating, and I know that it was hard for you to do this."

"It was because, I couldn't stop thinking about Patty. Why did she have to get sick? I thought for certain that she would one day go to the Olympics, and stand on the podium, and be given a gold medal. This was her dream, Andrew, not mine, I just pursued it because…" her voice trailed off and she broke down crying the overwhelming emotion finally getting the better of her.

Andrew wrapped her gently in his arms and pulled her up against him, her head coming to rest against his chest, but the tears continued to fall, her crying filled with the utmost agony and guilt, the pain finally allowing itself to surface. "Shhh, it's OK."

"It's not OK," Stephanie cried as she shook her head, the makeup she was wearing, smudging his white shirt, but he did not seem to mind, his hand brushed against her dark hair, the comfort emanating from him and his gentility served as a reminder of the day she tried to end her life.

As she finished crying, Andrew took her face in his gentle hands and made her look into his eyes. "You haven't had a chance to cry about any of this, have you?"

Stephanie shook her head. "No, every time I turn around, there are reporters asking me questions, or interviews or training. The truth is, I'm so scared, and I'm completely exhausted, Andrew."

"I know, but you know something?" When she shook her head, he smiled gently at her. "You did win today, and that may be the reason you're needed in Harrisburg right now." He took a deep breath. "Stephanie, I cannot force you to come back with me, but I can tell you, that it is not about Patty or her condition, yet it does affect her family profoundly because Patty has a little sister, Erika, and this is having a direct and very traumatic impact on her."

"What is it?" She asked weakly.

Andrew nodded, all the while he was squeezing her hand gently and his words emerged with the familiar kindness that she was accustomed to hearing whenever the angel would talk to her. She began to relax as he began to tell her why he had come.

Two Weeks Ago

"Harrisburg hasn't changed a bit," Monica said cheerfully as Tess drove her prided red convertible into the town. "Do you remember the last time we were here?" She smiled as she watched joggers making their way down the shaded streets of the town.

"Yes, I remember, that was nearly ten years ago, and I'd hate to say it, Angel Babies, but we're not in for a smooth ride here, there's a lot more going on since we were here before and met Patty, Stephanie, and their families," Tess said sadly. "Things have changed a whole lot for these two babies, as well as for those around them, well, let's just say that this will be a hard assignment, as it is like an onion."

"What do you mean?" Monica asked.

"I think you know, Miss Wings, deep in your heart, you know that an onion has many different layers, many different things that make it what it is."

Andrew nodded. "I think I know," he looked at Monica and shrugged his shoulders. "I took Thomas Guthrie Home about two years ago and he told me that Stephanie entered the seniors division when she was 18 and left town to pursue figure skating full time."

"And what about Patty?" Monica asked. "Didn't she also have big dreams of Olympic glory?"

"Unfortunately, Patty's family is why we're here. Stephanie's mother, Teresa, has been praying and asking the Father to send them some help," Tess said. "That's all I know except that Erika was a toddler when we first met Patty. As you know, that was some years ago and well, Erika has followed in her sister's footsteps and wants to be a figure skater too. The problem is; she's got a good friend who is also going about it all the wrong way."

Monica looked at Andrew. "Is that why you're here?"

"I don't know why I'm here yet, but from what Tess has just said, it might very well have something to do with the reason the Father sent me," Andrew said honestly. "I thought initially that I was supposed to help Patty…" His voice trailed off as he remembered the young girl. She had been so full of life, open and talkative. Today, she was a mere shadow of what she had once been and this, if anything, worried the compassionate Angel of Death.

"Now hold on to your halo, Angel Boy, Patty is not really the problem," Tess said bringing him crashing back down to earth.

"I know," Andrew said after a few seconds had passed and he was able to get his emotions back in check, "but I feel close to her all the same."

"We know, Andrew," Monica said smiling gently as she turned around to face her friend who was sitting in the back seat. "In the short time we knew her, she became close friends with both of us."

Tess nodded as she pulled into the parking lot for the local ice rink and the three angels got out of the car and went inside.

*****

This place is still the same, Andrew thought as he followed Tess and Monica into the arena-like hall. In the back of his mind, he wondered if anyone there would remember them from their last visit. Ten years was an awfully long time to not come back, and it was remotely possible that the people here may have forgotten that they had even been there, or for that matter, that they were angels. He released a pent up breath as they approached the glass doors leading from the lobby to the interior of the ice arena. As they walked, a young girl came running through the lobby, and brushed past them.

"Excuse me," she said as she ran towards the rink without saying anything further.

"She looks just like Patty did at that age," Monica remarked.

"Yes, baby, that's Erika," Tess said as the three angels walked towards the small shop that was situated along one side of the rink. There, they sold skates, figure skating costumes, as well as laces, and just about anything that a skater could use. Inside the shop, stood Teresa Zimmerman, her head was down, and she appeared to be concentrating on the newspaper, which was on the desk in front of her.

Tess cleared her throat, thus causing Teresa to look up. Her serious expression melted away and she smiled weakly when she recognized Andrew and Monica. Teresa knew that they were angels, but the other lady, she did not even recognize, yet something told her that the gray haired woman with mahogany colored skin was an angel too, something in her stance made it a dead giveaway.

Teresa smiled weakly, but in the back of her mind, she knew that something must be seriously wrong if angels were hanging around. Her face suddenly lost all its color, yet, contrary to the troubled look she carried, she greeted them cordially. "Hello."

"Hi Teresa," Andrew began with a smile. "God heard your prayer and he sent us here to help you. I think you remember Monica, well, this is Tess."

"I remember seeing you ten years ago, but we never really talked." Teresa addressed Tess.

"Yes," the oldest of the three angels replied. "How are you doing, baby?"

"I wish I could tell you that everything is just great and wonderful, but I can't," she shook her head sadly as she glanced down at the desk, but after a few moments, she found the courage to look up at them.

"We don't expect you to tell us that everything is great, Teresa," Tess began. "We already know what is happening here, but we need to ask you one favor."

"I won't tell anyone who you are," Teresa smiled weakly somehow almost guessing what that favor was going to be. When she saw that Tess was nodding, she continued. "I figured that was the request. I guess, I thought everyone here would think that I'm a few sandwiches short of a picnic if I told them there were angels hanging around in Harrisburg." She offered a weak smile.

"How is Stephanie doing?" Monica asked.

"This is probably the only really good news that is happening around here. Stephanie is going to a national competition in two weeks, and her chances are looking relatively good. I'm really so proud of her, but…" Teresa's voice trailed.

"But?" Andrew asked.

"She's been so worried about Patty. Every time she calls, it's 'Hi Mom, how's Patty?' She wants to know how Patty is doing first, before she even asks how I'm doing, she seems to only be concerned for Patty," Teresa shook her head as she made eye contact with the three angels. "I know that it's been hard for her, but it makes me feel kind of bad simply because she doesn't seem to ask me about me anymore. It's always about Patty."

"For good reason, Teresa, Patty is very sick," Andrew said softly.

"I know, and for goodness sakes I'm not upset or jealous, but what am I supposed to say or do when she calls and asks me these questions? I mean; the Fischer family had to take Patty to Lansing earlier this week to put her in a special clinic. Her sister trains here with Gilda and both her coach and I have seen the effect all of this is having on the entire family. Erika's really talented, but…"

"What is it, baby?" Tess asked, her voice gentle but somehow able to make Teresa find the courage to answer the question.

"There's just too much happening here," Teresa fished a tissue out of her pocket and looked at the angels, her eyes filled with sadness. "Erika's been hanging around a girl who is a bad influence on her, but more than that, I think she is a danger to herself. Her name is Natalie Delis, and she moved here from Nevada just after Stephanie left. Anyway, I don't want to jump the gun, but I think Natalie's anorexic."

When Andrew and Monica looked at Tess, the elder of the angels nodded as Teresa continued. "I suppose now that you are here, things have reached the breaking point for her, but the deal is, Natalie nearly collapsed two weeks ago during practice," Teresa shook her head. "Nobody believes it when I say that she's very sick, but she is. I designed her costumes for last season, and I had to take in so much on them that it was unmistakable; she had lost weight. She had gone down two sizes, and instead of being the average size of a twelve-year-old girl, she's now wearing costumes that the nine or ten-year-old girls are wearing. This wretched disease is hitting them younger and younger." By this time, Teresa's face was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with sadness and her voice bordering on hysterical.

"Try to calm down, Teresa, and tell us what you know about all of this," Monica cajoled her gently.

Teresa nodded as she glanced through the glass partition, could see the rink as well as the bleachers where Erika was sitting and waiting for Gilda. "Working here with Mabel, I overhear a lot, and she and I both know that all these two girls do is talk about dieting and who has lost the most weight. They are trying to fit into the smallest and skimpiest costumes they can. Worse still, I can't say anything because I've heard them talking about me, and I know they don't like me, as I am the 'arrogant mother of a celebrity'. Yet, most of the time, these girls talk only about dieting or skating."

"Does Erika know that her friend is sick?" Andrew asked, his gaze following that of worried woman.

"No, but I swear to you, she's starting to travel down the same road, Andrew," Teresa said softly. "It scares me."

Andrew reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "Don't worry, we're going to do everything we can for both of them."

She nodded, but could feel the tears streaming from beneath her eyes. "I know, just like you helped me and Stephanie, but now I really think you guys have your work cut out for you, because I don't see this resolving itself in the near future."

Tess smiled gently, but nodded numbly acknowledging the truth in the woman's words.

Present

"Anorexia?" Stephanie looked at Andrew for signs that he was kidding with her, but when she did not see him smiling, she shook her head in profound disbelief. "You know, I had heard a lot of stories over the past few years about skaters starving themselves to death. I guess it's pretty rampant in the sport. The girls want to be thin, they want to be beautiful, the only trouble is, most of them are beautiful before the disease takes hold of them. Why do they do this to themselves?"

"They want to be in control of some aspect of their lives, and they feel that this is the only thing they are completely in control of," Andrew said softly. "You remember that you wanted this as well, but it played out in a completely different way."

She nodded sensing the truth in his words, and for a moment, she could feel the shame enveloping her. "I was like that, wasn't I?"

"In a way, yes, you were so frightened of what could happen, of what your mother would say or do, that you felt as though you were surrounded by glass and had no way out. Well, these girls have the same challenges that you did, only they're playing them out in different ways."

"It's terrible," Stephanie said weakly, but she looked at him. "You never judged me because of it, you were always there, just kind and compassionate towards me."

Andrew nodded and squeezed her hand as they both heard that someone was knocking on the door to the dressing room. "Go ahead and open the door," he said gently.

She nodded, stood up, and went to open it. Jake was standing on the other side. "You won, Stephy, congratulations."

"How did Jodie and Stacy do?" Were the first words to emerge.

"Jodie finished fourth, and Stacy came in third," Jake said smiling.

"I'm glad," she smiled weakly. "Stacy was really scared before she went out. She was afraid that her coach was going to come down on her."

"I know, I think that she really skated well," Jake said softly, but when he saw the tears in Stephanie's eyes, he looked at her. "Are you OK?"

"I just got some news from back home," she looked at Jake. "I have to go back tonight, Jake, I can't stay here."

"You'll miss the showcase," he said softly.

"I know, but I can't help it, things are just coming unraveled with my life and I can't concentrate on skating right now. Please, Jake, I can't go on like this, I feel like I'm coming unglued. If I'm going to the Olympics, then I have to get my life in check before I go."

The coach nodded. "OK, I'll inform the people here and let them know. What should I tell them, though?"

"I don't know, tell them that there's been an emergency in my family and I had to go home," Stephanie said.

"Patty is not your sister," Jake said.

"No, but she's like the sister I never had," Stephanie said softly, her voice filled with sadness. "Besides, it's not just about Patty, there's something happening with her sister, and I have to go back and help her. It's important, and though this sounds like an overused cliché, it is a matter of life and death."

Jake looked at Stephanie. "You know, the trouble with you is you just can't stop looking out for other people." He smiled weakly. "Somehow, your being humble is an inspiration to a lot of other people. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll understand."

"Thanks, Jake," she smiled weakly. "I'll be out in a few minutes, I need to freshen up a little."

"You've got five minutes."

"OK," she said softly and once he left, she closed the door and turned around to see Andrew was still seated in the room. "I guess victory does come at a price, huh? I mean; the best part of these events is always the showcase, and now I have to miss mine."

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"No big deal," she smiled weakly, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm pretty much used to having bad luck."

"Stephanie," Andrew looked at her.

"You don't have to say anything, Andrew, I am happy to see you again, I'm just feeling…lost."

"What is lost can always be found," he smiled gently.

"Perhaps, but for once, I wish that I could do what I want and not what everyone else expects," she shook her head and looked at him.

"Stephanie, this is happening for a reason, and I don't know what that reason is, but maybe it's there because you have to trust God."

"Patty doesn't anymore," she whispered.

"Maybe you will help her find Him again before she goes Home," Andrew said softly.

"Maybe," Stephanie whispered. "Andrew, she really is going to die, isn't she?"

The Angel of Death nodded. "I'm sorry, Stephanie."

*****

At this very moment, Patty Fischer was sitting up in bed, her eyes filled with sadness as she stared at the television screen in front of her. As they went to a commercial break, she looked around the small hospital room, which was what she labeled as 'her new home'. Sighing deeply, she watched as the door opened and a tall, handsome man in a white lab coat, graying hair and eyes walked into the room. "Well, how are we doing this afternoon?" He asked; his voice filled with kindness.

"Hi Adam," she shrugged her shoulders as she looked up and met his gaze. After a few seconds, her attention returned to the television screen, her eyes never leaving the captivating images that were before her "I guess I'm OK."

"I was thinking that maybe we could go for a walk before your treatment this afternoon," he offered as he rubbed his hand across his bearded chin.

"No," she said softly and he could tell that her voice seemed to lack any energy. "They're presenting the medals in a few minutes and I want to see Stephanie. She won in our division."

"How about after the show is over?" Adam suggested. "A bit of fresh air will do you some good."

"I'd rather not," she said, this time, her voice emerged louder and it seemed to him as though his mere presence was annoying her.

"I thought you liked being outside," he tried one last time to persuade her.

"I just don't want to," she whispered, and as much as she tried, she could not find a reason as to why, she simply did not feel like going outside. However, as soon as she saw a shadow cross Adam's face, she smiled weakly at him. "If it will make you feel better that I go outside, I'll go, but I'm not going in the wheelchair and I won't go until after they show the medal ceremony."

Smiling, Adam agreed and sat down to watch it with her.

As the announcements were made, Patty watched as Stephanie skated out to the center of the ice and watched as the crowd cheered. In the back of her mind she wanted to scream, but another part of her was truly happy that her best friend had achieved what she had wanted for so long to accomplish herself.

After five minutes of silence had passed, and the show was over, he went over and retrieved her blue bathrobe from the hook on the bathroom door.

Once she was on her feet, she managed to put the robe on and the two of them left the room. As they walked towards the elevators, Patty finally looked at him. "Adam?"

"Yes?"

"It's not really anything important, but I've been thinking about how you aren't like the other doctors around here. Why are you so interested in me?" She asked weakly, but then thought better of the question and tried to rephrase it. "What I mean is, you come to see me everyday, and you talk to me about general things, not just about the fact that I have cancer and look like the before picture in a wig emporium advertisement."

Adam smiled weakly at her attempt with humor. "Patty, I come to see you because I think you're a remarkable young lady, and because..." his voice trailed.

"Because?"

"…Because your parents asked me to," he said smiling sheepishly, but the rushing of answers did not go unnoticed by the young woman. Instead of commenting on his words, they continued to walk towards the elevator and rode down to the first level in silence.

As they stepped out of the elevator and were walking down the hall towards the exit, she broke the awkward stillness. "I'm dying, aren't I?"

Adam nodded, "everyone will sooner or later die, Patty."

"You have an amazing talent with begging the question, you know that?" Patty asked, "Maybe you should have become a lawyer instead of a doctor." When she noticed that her voice had emerged somewhat more cross than she had intended, she looked at him. "Tell me the truth, Adam, I'm dying, aren't I? I mean; I'm going to be paid a visit by an Angel of Death, and very soon."

Adam closed his eyes for a moment, and then when he opened them, he realized that he had no choice but to tell her the truth. "Yes, you are, Patty."

The young woman smiled weakly, her eyes all the while filled with an unexpressed sadness. "You think I'll be able to see the Olympics?"

"They will be starting in a few weeks. As of right now, I don't see why not," Adam said smiling.

"Did you know that I was a figure skater?" Patty asked. "It was before I got sick. I was in practice every day, I had the greatest coach in the world. Did you know that my best friend is Stephanie Zimmerman, and that we've been friends for the last ten years?"

Adam nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "Yes, I remember you mentioning that you and Stephanie competed in every event up until three seasons ago when she entered the senior's division and you had to retire a year after that."

"She just won a national championship," Patty said softly. "I haven't seen her in about two months, and we used to be inseparable. Now…"

"Now?"

"I would be too ashamed to even look at her," Patty said softly. "I would be afraid that all that would happen would be the press would show up and they would say 'Poor little Patty Fischer, dying of Cancer and Stephanie Zimmerman's best friend." She shook her head trying to block the tears that were streaming down her face.

"I think I understand why it is that you have become more and more depressed as this competition has come closer and closer. You wanted to compete in it and now you see Stephanie reaching the heights that you wished you, yourself could reach."

Patty nodded. "Yeah, it's like God is laughing at a cruel joke, and all of it at my expense."

"God isn't laughing at you," Adam said softly. "He wouldn't, Patty, not ever."

"You know something? Ten years ago, I would have believed you, but today, I just can't anymore. I feel like He has abandoned me to die all alone in this dark and cold room. It's just like Stephanie did when she left and now like my parents when they schlepped me here and dumped me in a hospital with a bunch of strangers to keep me company. I guess I might as well die, because the chance of me making a difference now is about as likely as me getting that Olympic gold medal."

"Maybe you're here for a reason and that reason is to touch one life before you go Home," he said softly.

"You know, you're going to think I'm crazy, but the only person I ever knew who called Heaven, 'Home' was someone I knew ten years ago. He was someone who brought Stephanie and me together as friends. Someone who is so special that I don't even know if I can begin to hope that I would see him before I die." She looked at him. "His name was Andrew, and right now, he's probably the only person I know who could convince me to believe that God cares for me."

Adam nodded numbly, but in the back of his mind, he could understand the pain that seemed to prevail in the young woman's heart and words. Her family was more focused on her little sister, and she felt shoved aside and alone, but now, in all of this, Erika needed her more than anything else, and he hoped against hope that he would not be too late in encouraging Patty to talk to, and possibly inspire, her little sister.

"A friendship is a valuable gift, Patty," Adam said gently. "One of the most precious things that God could give to His children."

"If I have friends, then where are they? Tell me, where on Earth are they?" Patty could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks as she began to shout, but before Adam could even answer her question, she walked slowly away leaving him standing and staring after her.

"They're on their way," was all that he was able to whisper as he stood in the park and stared after her. Once she disappeared around a corner, he nodded and began to slowly follow her.

*****

Stephanie sat in the front seat of Tess' red Cadillac convertible and every so often, she glanced over and could see that Andrew was concentrating on the road in front of him. In the distance, she could see that the sun was setting in the horizon, and she stared at it as she tried to close her eyes and get comfortable against the plush seats. After a few moments, she opened them, sat up, and looked at him.

"Can't sleep?" He asked.

"No, I can't, I don't know why," she said softly.

"Maybe you're just so tired that even sleep is not possible, maybe all you need is just a little rest," he said. "Do you want to turn on the radio?"

"I don't know," Stephanie said. "How long will it take for us to get there?"

"Three or four hours, I guess," he said.

"I never thought I'd be riding cross country with the Angel of Death in a red Cadillac convertible. Life is sometimes very strange," she said softly.

"I'm glad that you came," Andrew said sincerely.

"I don't know why I came, if you want to know the truth, maybe because I knew deep inside that I would follow you to the ends of the earth," she said as she shrugged her shoulders. "You haven't changed at all, you know. I mean; your hair's shorter, but you're still the same as I remember; handsome, kind, and loving…"

Andrew smiled gently. "Stephanie, I didn't forget you."

"I was thinking earlier today that maybe you did, but then when you lowered that camera, I thought I was going to pass out or something. It came completely unexpected, but it brought back so many memories. I remembered immediately what happened when I tried to commit suicide."

He nodded. "I suppose I do have that effect on people."

"That's an understatement, you know," she said.

He chuckled and glanced over at her, but after a few moments, his attention was back on the stretch of highway that lay out before them.

"You know what I feel like?" She asked after a few minutes, thus breaking the silence.

"No, what?"

"I want to eat something that I haven't had in a long time," she said softly and pulled her wavy brown hair out from in front of her eyes.

"What do you want to eat?" Andrew asked, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Apple pie, like Mabel Guthrie used to make. She would make the most delicious pies and cakes, just like someone's grandmother. When I left Harrisburg and moved to Ann Arbor, they threw a big party for me, bigger than anything you could imagine, and Mrs. Guthrie made pies and Patty and I would stuff ourselves full. It was like we had both died and gone to heaven." She smiled weakly when she saw his face. "Don't worry, I wasn't speaking literally, it was just a figure of speech. Anyway, do you think things will ever be the same again?"

"No, I don't, because like life, things are in a constant state of change," he smiled gently at her.

"Yeah, like kids these days worrying excessively about weight issues. You know, that was one thing my mom never pushed with me, even before I met you the first time. No one ever made a big deal about my diet, I guess they just figured that a triple toe loop would work off 400 calories or something." She smiled weakly, and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess kids face different things today than what I did growing up."

"Stephanie I should tell you more about what happened in Harrisburg before we get there."

"You told me that my mom was worried about Natalie and Erika, but there's more?" She whispered.

"Yes, unfortunately. Your mom had told us that Natalie had collapsed during training, but she collapsed again at the rink and my friend, Adam, was there."

"Another Angel of Death?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, and right now, he's trying to help Patty realize that both Natalie and Erika need help. He's been trying to get her to talk about this, but he has not been overly successful."

"Why Patty?" Stephanie asked.

"Well, it's hard to explain, but after Adam was sent to see Natalie, he realized that the only way that Erika would survive would be through the encouragement of her older sister, and the only way Natalie will survive this disease will be through…"

"…Me?"

Andrew nodded as he pulled the car to the side of the road.

"So it was like you said in Indianapolis, this isn't completely about Patty, it's about Natalie and Erika," Stephanie said.

"Well, I hate to say this, but Stephanie, Patty is dying, and we're running out of time," Andrew said softly. "If we are going to help Erika, we have to help Patty see the truth and encourage her to help Erika. Do you understand?"

Stephanie looked at him and nodded. "Patty always wanted to do something special, to be special."

Andrew reached over and touched her shoulder. "Yes, and through her sister, Patty will discover this before she dies, but Stephanie, she will die, and very soon, but she won't be alone, not ever, she will have God with her and she will have an angel by her side."

"You?"

"Mm-hum," Andrew nodded.

"So where are we going?" Stephanie asked. "Harrisburg, or Lansing?"

"Lansing, there I will stay with Patty, and you will accompany Tess and Adam back to Harrisburg," Andrew said.

"Where's Monica?" Stephanie asked.

"She's staying in Harrisburg to keep an eye on Natalie and Erika for Adam," Andrew said. "It's a little confusing, I know, but this is God's plan, and we are to trust in what He says is the right thing to do. With four hours driving time, I think I should finish telling you what has happened in Harrisburg."

Stephanie leaned up against the seat. "OK."

Andrew smiled as he pulled the car back onto the highway and began to speak once again, this time his voice emerging sad, and Stephanie could sense the gravity of the situation in the tone of his voice.

She took a deep breath as her mind became centered on the words of the compassionate angel.

Two Weeks Ago

The ice rink was bustling with activity the afternoon after the angels arrived in town to help the two girls Teresa had told them about. Today, Monica and Andrew had been instructed to have a relaxing afternoon of skating, but neither of the young angels could understand why it was that they were even there. "I still don't understand why Tess told us that we had to be here," Monica said as she laced up her skates.

"I don't know why either, but maybe we're here for a reason and should just go with the flow," Andrew shrugged his shoulders as Teresa came over to them.

"Hey, I thought you'd be doing something besides goofing off," she began, her voice somewhat anxious and Monica looked at her.

"This is where we have to be right now, Teresa," Monica began and pointed to the other side of the rink where Natalie and Erika were on the ice cutting up as older boys whizzed by them. "Maybe the Father thinks this is how we're supposed to make contact with the girls."

Teresa looked at them somewhat embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I'm just worried, it seems like things are getting worse. I tried to talk to Natalie's father this morning when he brought her for training and he told me to mind my own 'stinking' business."

Andrew rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "He was angry with you for interfering, wasn't he?"

"He acted like I used to," Teresa looked down at the ground. "I guess I deserved it, but…"

"No, you didn't," Monica said gently. "You were trying to help his daughter."

"A lot of good that did," she said sadly. "If I'm not the arrogant mother of a 'celebrity', then I'm an 'instigator' or 'annoying' or something worse that I wouldn't repeat in the present company." She shook her head.

"Let God be in control, Teresa, we know your heart is in the right place," Andrew said gently.

"You're right, He is smart, but I just don't know what I'm supposed to do or say anymore, how can I when no one listens to me? I might as well be invisible." Teresa said weakly as she turned and could see that Brad and Mandy Fischer were coming into the rink. "Excuse me, maybe I can get somewhere with Brad and Mandy," she mused, and once she was gone, Andrew smiled as he took a deep breath and could feel the cool air filling his lungs.

"Considering everything that is going on around here, it's really a nice day, isn't it?" The Irish angel asked as she stretched her arms above her head.

"I hope it will stay that way," Andrew said softly, but he pointed across the hall in the direction of the entrance. "Look who just came in."

Monica turned and stared, her eyes widening as she recognized a tall man with salt and pepper hair and gray-blue eyes. "Adam, but what's he doing here?"

Andrew shook his head. "I don't know, maybe we should go and ask him."

"Maybe you shouldn't," Tess' voice interrupted them and he sighed deeply when he heard the typical attitude emerging in her words. "Adam is not why you two Angel Babies are here, Adam is here because he has a job to do, and that doesn't involve either of you, do you hear me talking, Mr. Halo?"

"OK, Tess, but why is he here?" Andrew asked, but before he could even get the question out, Tess had disappeared.

Shrugging his shoulders, Andrew followed Monica towards the ice. "Andrew, if Adam is here now, don't you think that the Father would have given us a little more time to help Natalie?"

"I suppose He would have, but remember the last time we were here? It was a few days after we had met Patty and Stephanie. I honestly don't think that the Father would send us here only to watch a little girl die."

Monica nodded, but something inside of her was not convinced.

When she looked at Andrew, she could see that the younger Angel of Death wanted to listen to the words Tess had told him, but something deep inside him knew that he would not rest easy without talking to Adam. Sighing deeply Andrew took Monica's hand and led her out onto the ice, but all the while he was unable to shake the uneasy feeling that seemed to encompass him and instead of dwelling on this, he tried to focus his energy on working with Monica. Once they were on the ice, they began skating, their abilities coming from the Father and within minutes, they were skating like professional pair skaters.

*****

Natalie and Erika were out on the ice at that moment, the two girls practicing their spins. "Did you see those two people that just came in?" Natalie was asking Erika as she attempted a double toe loop and two-footed the landing. "The guy was really cute, too."

Erika shook her head. "You know me, Nat, I'm not into guys, I'm more into other things like skating, and listening to music by N'Sync."

"Yeah, yeah, but speaking of other things, I heard that Stephanie Zimmerman is going to compete next week in the national championships. What a cool deal, huh? It's hard to believe that the high strung lady from the sport shop is related to her, she's such a pain in the hindquarters," Natalie complained.

"You're just mad because she told your parents that she thinks you've got an eating disorder. I mean; Nat, maybe, she means well. I wouldn't stress about it, because your parents did tell her to take a hike," Erika said. "Maybe she doesn't know yet that the 'fruit and vegetable diet' is 100% safe."

"I don't like half the vegetables on the list, though, so I just replace them with oranges or apples, or drink water. At least that's something I like," Natalie said as she turned around and could see a couple on the other side of the rink. "I wonder who they are, I've never seen them before, but the guy is a doll. Do you know who they are?"

Erika turned around and stared. "I don't know, but they're good. Come on, Nat; let's go see if we can find out something about them. I don't want to stand around here watching when I can talk to someone like them. They must be real professionals, maybe they can give us a couple of tips."

"I'm not going over there, it'd seem so stupid," Natalie said, her voice emerging sarcastic. "How un-cool can you be, Erika?"

Erika looked around, and shrugged her shoulders as she watched Natalie skating away. Instead of following her friend, Erika skated slowly over to where the blonde headed man and the auburn headed woman were skating. They make a lovely couple; she thought smiling slightly as she listened in to their conversation.

"Let's try the side by side double axel again, Monica," the man called out.

"OK, Andrew," the woman smiled and the two of them attempted the jump. As they landed, Erika was staring open-mouthed at them, but found the courage to eventually skate over to them.

"You guys are fantastic," Erika could barely contain her enthusiasm.

"Thank you," the man said smiling at her.

Erika shrugged her shoulders. "You guys new here?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, we are," the woman said. "I'm Monica and this is Andrew."

"I'm Erika Fischer," she said, but in the back of her mind, her thoughts were literally reeling as she remembered a conversation she had had with her sister about four years ago. It was strange, because Patty had told her a story about angels, and it seemed odd that two of the names that Patty had dropped where the same as the names of the two strangers.

"I recognized you when I saw you skating with your friend, you look a lot like your sister when she was your age," Andrew said. "We knew Patty from a few years ago and she may have mentioned us to you." He looked at her knowingly.

"Yeah, I think she did, she said that you were angels, but she doesn't believe in angels anymore, and neither do I," Erika said, her voice slightly rushed.

"Why is that?" Andrew asked, his curiosity noticeable.

"If there was a God then He wouldn't have made my sister sick. He wouldn't have taken her dreams and smashed them into oblivion," Erika said bitingly.

"God wouldn't steal your sister's dreams away, Erika," Monica said softly.

"I don't care what you say, to me there is no God, and no angels, either," Erika's words emerged with the extent of the pain she felt inside. "I also don't need you to preach at me about it."

Andrew looked at Monica and they both shrugged their shoulders. "We didn't mean to upset you, Erika, although we have differing views, we're not here with the intention of preaching to you," he offered.

"No big deal, everyone around here says the same thing, anyway," Erika said softly. "I'm sick of it all." She started to skate away from them, but Andrew reached out and touched her shoulder.

"Erika, we aren't here to upset you," he said gently.

"What does it matter?"

"It matters a great deal," Monica said gently. "We aren't here to make you sad or unhappy just as we didn't come here ten years ago to make Patty or Stephanie unhappy."

"Sure, just like everyone else, I'm nothing but Patty's sister, and when she's dead, I'll still be 'PS' around here, and when those initials are mentioned, they're not writing a postscript, they're usually referring to me."

"We weren't trying to make you feel overlooked, Erika," Monica offered honestly. "We knew your sister some years ago, and we heard that she was going through some rather difficult times."

"Yeah," the young girl said. "Everyone knows it, but nobody is doing anything to help her."

"That's not true," Andrew said softly, "there are a lot of people who would like to help Patty. Somehow I get the impression that even though you are upset with the situation, you are not angry with your sister, you're scared for her."

Erika nodded, her sadness showing as his words struck home, but a second later, her anger overshadowed every other emotion she had. "Stephanie Zimmerman is supposed to be her best friend, but she suddenly became this big shot celebrity and now Patty means nothing to her."

"That's also not true," Monica objected.

"How do you know? What makes you so certain?"

"Because, when we met Patty, we also met Stephanie and we both know that these two are best friends, and no amount of celebrity is going to change that," Andrew said softly.

"Then tell me this, when was the last time you even saw Stephanie?" Erika snapped; her voice filled with hurt.

"The last time I saw her was ten years ago," Andrew said honestly.

"See, there you go, so next time you decide to preach to me about this, then the least you could do is back up your argument with some sort of fact," Erika skated away from them, this time, neither of them made the attempt to stop her.

Before Erika reached the railing on the other side of the ice, a scream erupted out in the lobby and she felt herself compelled to go and see what had happened.

Seconds after she had exited the ice, she raced through the arena in the direction of the lobby, where she reached a small gathering of people. Within seconds, she could hear that Teresa Zimmerman had cut the music off and was speaking over the DJ's microphone and asking if there was a doctor in the arena.

Erika looked around, and when she saw a woman with mahogany skin and graying hair skating towards the edge of the ice, she watched as the woman breezed past her and was parting the group of people the way Moses would part the Red Sea.

When the young skater reached where the people were standing, she could see the crowd giving way and Natalie was lying on the ground. After a few seconds, she self-consciously glanced back in the direction she had come and could see that Monica and Andrew were both gone.

*****

Seconds later, Erika went over to where Natalie was on the ground, got down next to her friend, and took Natalie's limp hand in her own. She glanced over at the doctor, and when the dark eyes of the woman met her own, Tess offered her a gentle look.

This is like what happened in practice, Erika thought and stared down at the pale face of her friend.

Now that Tess was at Natalie's side, Erika was convinced that her friend would be OK, but the young girl could not shake the fear that seemed to curse through her body. "Somebody call an ambulance," Tess instructed breaking the young girl out of her reverie, and the words hit the skater with the same intensity as a bucket of iced water. "This girl is unconscious, but she needs medical help."

"What's wrong with her?" Erika shouted above the murmur of the crowd, the fear and uncertainty etched in her words.

"From the looks of it, and without getting an accurate prognosis, I would guess that she has a latent stage of malnutrition," Tess said.

"She eats," Erika said defensively, her voice rude, but after a few moments, the angel glanced over at her.

"Perhaps, but how much?" Tess asked, her voice literally cutting through Erika's rudeness like a knife. Her voice softened as she looked at the girl. "I'm sorry, but I call them like I see them and I would guess you and your friend are both prime candidates for malnutrition and possibly eating disorders. I can tell by looking at you. I see this kind of thing every day, so, if you are getting angry with me about what I see, then it is your own problem, because what I see is what I see."

"Yes, you're right she doesn't eat, and Erika, you know it, too," Teresa said above the crowd. "I think Natalie is anorexic, that girl has tried every fad diet that there is, she has done nothing but complain about how fat she is and now Erika is following her down the same road, aren't you?" Teresa looked at Erika, whose eyes were now filled with the utmost anger and hostility, but this did little to deter Teresa.

"Do you have proof of this?" Erika snapped, immediately on the defensive.

"Well no, but just look at her, Erika," Teresa said, her voice filled with aggravation. "The doctor reached the same conclusions and I think, in this case, her prognosis is all the proof you need."

Tess looked at Teresa hoping that her next question would not be taken the wrong way, but she knew that Teresa needed to speak the truth and perhaps it was her responsibility to help coax that truth out. "If you knew about this, then why didn't you tell someone, the girl's parents or a medical professional?"

"I did, countless times, but nobody would listen to me," Teresa said, her voice bordering on hysterical. "She's been in to have fittings for costumes I designed for shows and things as she's a figure skater and one of about 70 who train here. I have seen her go from a size of costume worn by an average 12-year-old down to the size of girls in the eight to nine-year-old age group, if that even. I have tried to get people to listen to me, and nobody will, everybody just stands around and waits. The question is, what are they waiting for, the Angel of Death to walk through that door?"

As Teresa spoke, Erika realized that she was not only seeing her friend, and the doctor by her side, but there was someone else present, and this was a man dressed in a beige suit and tie, his melancholy gray-blue eyes staring down at the girl on the ground before him, his soft words inaudible as he whispered reassurances to the unconscious girl. "I think he's already here," she managed to mutter as the angel looked up and made brief eye contact with her. As he nodded, she stood up, her fear overpowering her, and she backed away from where Natalie was lying on the floor.

As she continued to stare at the events, she realized that she wanted to put as much distance between herself and the gray eyed Angel of Death as she could. Sitting down on the bleachers, she quickly removed her skates, put on her tennis shoes, and put her skates inside the duffle bag.

Standing up once again, she literally broke into a run get out of the skating rink. As she came outside, her face was flushed, and she stumbled across the courtyard all the while running in the direction of the parking lot.

Her head was down as she continued to run, her eyes filled with terror, and she suddenly realized that she had run into someone, and self-consciously backed up, all the while managing to look up.

"Andrew?" Erika managed to speak, but her voice was filled with fear as though someone was chasing her, but when the angel glanced over towards the entrance, he could see no one behind the petrified girl.

"Are you OK, Erika?" He asked, but he could see that she was clearly shaken up by something, and he sincerely hoped that it would be easy for her to finally discover the truth for herself. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Erika nodded numbly, but Andrew could see the fear that was emanating from her and he put his hand on her shoulder and could feel it trembling beneath his touch. "Try to calm down, everything is going to be OK, sweetheart."

The girl nodded as Monica pulled up to the curb in the Cadillac and he was about to get in. "Are you guys leaving?" She managed to finally ask, her voice still trembling and Andrew realized that he did not want to leave her alone there; she looked positively terrified.

"We were planning on going and having some lunch," Monica said. "Are you OK?"

"I think I made a mistake in there," she looked at Monica and Andrew as the tears began to stream from beneath her frightened eyes. "I want to believe in angels now, I want to believe in something, I don't want to loose everyone I love." As she spoke, she could feel her voice rising in pitch and fervor all the while she sank to her knees.

"What is it, Erika?" Andrew asked.

The girl shook her head. "I'm scared, I'm so scared."

Andrew got down on his knees next to her and he put his arms gently around her trembling shoulders. "We know that it was your friend who collapsed in there, but believe me, Erika, everything is going to be OK."

"Mrs. Zimmerman said that Natalie had some disease, but I don't want to believe it, but then…" her voice trailed and she looked at them. "Oh my God, I want to believe in something, not lose my faith like Patty did." As she took a gasping breath, the angels could see that her complexion was getting more and more pale and they feared that she would be the next to pass out.

Monica looked at the young girl, her brown eyes earnest. "Erika, tell us what you saw in there that scared you so much."

"I s-saw someone in there, a man in beige," she whispered her face completely pale. "I don't want to believe it and my parents aren't due here to pick me up for another two hours, but I don't want to stay here. I'm so afraid, and even though I should go to the hospital to see Natalie, I just want go home; please, c-can you take me home?"

"Yes of course, Erika, just get in, and we'll get you home," Andrew said gently and he helped her get to her feet and watched as she climbed into the back seat.

Once she was seated and had the seatbelt on, she had a chance to think about what she had said in the ice rink. "I didn't think that you guys actually wanted to talk to me, especially after what I said in there and how rude I was. It's just that Patty told me about you, she said that you were there for her when she was scared, and that you were really angels from God."

"She spoke the truth, Erika, but it's OK, neither of us are angry with you," Andrew said smiling gently. "In my, uh---line of work, I have heard much more than just what you said in there."

"Your line of work?" Erika whispered and her eyes met his and somehow, she knew what he was implying. "Andrew, you're really an angel, like Patty said…" Her voice trailed off and she backed away from him.

"No, don't be afraid, Erika, yes we are angels, and we were sent here to help you, and to help Natalie," Andrew cajoled her gently, his voice filled with his loving assurances.

"You're the Angel of Death like she said?" Erika asked, her eyes wide.

"Yes, and the man you saw in the arena was an Angel of Death too, his name is Adam," Andrew said gently. "I know that you remember when your sister told you about us, but Erika, you have nothing to be afraid of. Just because an Angel of Death shows up somewhere doesn't mean that a person will die."

Erika nodded, "I thought Patty was crazy, but then when she got sick, she stopped believing that God was there for her and I thought He had abandoned me, too." As she spoke, her eyes filled with tears. "Is He mad at me?"

"No, sweetheart, He's not mad at you," Andrew said gently as he shook his head. "You are going through a difficult time right now, and God thought you could use a little extra help, nothing more." At least in the back of his mind, he hoped with all that was in him that it was nothing more. He reached over and rested his hand on her shoulder.

Erika looked down at her lap, but after a few moments, she glanced back at him and managed to offer a feeble nod.

Present

"So you told Erika the truth?" Stephanie asked. "You told her you were an angel."

"Yes," he nodded. "But, actually, she figured it out on her own. She's a smart girl."

"But, if you told her, and Natalie saw Adam, then why do you need me?" Stephanie asked weakly. "I mean, Erika hates me, she hates my mom, and Patty is probably angry with me, too. Andrew I did everything all wrong. What good am I going to be able to do now?"

"You forget the impact you have on people almost constantly, Stephanie," Andrew said softly as they pulled into a fast food restaurant and he cut the motor. As he pulled the key from the ignition, he turned to face her. "Stephanie, Patty needs to know that you're her friend and that you will remain her friend."

Stephanie could feel the guilt covering her like a blanket. "I think I've turned into that which I don't want to become."

Andrew shook his head. "There's more to this that I need to tell you, but please, don't believe that you're without worth in this. You're more than just a figure skater, or a celebrity, you're beautiful, you're God's child, as you always have been, even when you had lost all hope, God was there to give it back to you. Let Him do that now, and trust that His plan has a purpose, and that you have a purpose here. OK?"

She nodded. "You've always said the most beautiful and empowering things. I love you, Andrew."

The angel smiled gently, "I love you, too, and I'm really glad that you trusted God enough to come and face all these difficult things. It takes a very courageous person to drop their life to go and help someone grab onto their own."

Stephanie smiled and nodded as the two of them got out of the car. As they came inside the small diner, they could see that the place was practically empty, and a waitress approached them. "Hello, two? Smoking or non smoking?"

"Non smoking," Stephanie said and the young woman led them to a table and once they sat down, she handed them each a menu.

Once they had selected their items from the list, Andrew noticed that the waitress was keeping her distance from the table but after a few moments, she hesitantly approached to take their orders.

"I don't mean to be rude," she said smiling cordially, "but you look familiar to me."

Stephanie smiled weakly, but could not find the words to speak.

"My name is Ginger, and well, I uh…" her voice trailed.

"Ginger, get back here." A voice emerged and a man approached, his eyes gleaming. "You know you are to get their orders and continue polishing the silver. You know perfectly well that I don't approve of my employees idly chatting when they're supposed to be working."

The young woman nodded, her humiliated eyes meeting those of Stephanie. "I'm sorry." As she spoke, she looked as though she was going to cry.

"You have no reason to be sorry, Ginger," Andrew said, "Does she, Stephanie?"

The young woman looked at Stephanie as her embarrassment deepened and she stared at the ground. "I wasn't mistaken."

"No, I guess you weren't mistaken," Stephanie said softly.

"What can I bring you?" Ginger asked, trying to keep from yawning, and both of them could see that she was completely exhausted.

"Nothing yet, but tell me this, when was the last time you actually had a break?" Stephanie asked gently, her heart going out to the young waitress.

"Three O'clock this afternoon," Ginger said softly. "Look, I don't want to be rude, but I need this job, and if I lose it, then…"

"What?" Andrew asked. "Why would you keep a job when you are being emotionally abused by your boss? Ginger, you can't mean that."

"But, I do, ever since my parents died, I've been trying to support myself. We didn't have much money, but they were killed in an accident, and I had to drop out of high school to earn a living. I was too old to move into a group home," Ginger said softly. "If I lose this job, I might as well live on the streets. I've been living in the storage room ever since the bank foreclosed on my parent's house."

Stephanie looked at Andrew, her sadness showing upon hearing the girl's heartbreaking story. "Andrew, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

The angel nodded as the man who had yelled at Ginger came storming back up the aisle. "I told you to get back to work, now, are you going to do as I said or am I going to have to toss your useless backside out of here?" He sneered at her, thus causing Stephanie to stand up, her anger evidently showing and she put her hands on her hips and her eyes bore into his.

"How dare you treat her like this? Can't you see that she's hurting?" Stephanie put her arms around Ginger's shoulder and helped her to sit down. "Do you bully your customers the same way you bully the people who work for you?"

The man stormed off and Stephanie looked at her. "I don't want to get you into trouble," she began, "but he has no right to treat you this way."

Ginger looked into Stephanie's eyes, her shoulders were slumped and it dawned on the young figure skater that this girl looked as though she had not slept in days. When Ginger tried to open her mouth to speak, the words wouldn't come and she collapsed in Stephanie's arms and began weeping. "I don't know what to do, I need help…" As her voice trailed, she glanced up and could see kindness present in the other woman's expression.

"It's OK, Ginger, you're not alone anymore," Stephanie said gently as she held tightly to the young woman's trembling body. "Shhh, it's going to be OK, I promise. I'm not going to leave you here."

As she spoke, the burly man approached and dropped a large duffle bag on the floor. "Ginger, here is your stuff, now get out of here," the man seethed before he stormed away leaving the three of them alone.

"What am I going to do now? I have nothing left!" Ginger continued to weep, as she reached for a napkin and Stephanie sat back down at the table, her arms still wrapped around the distraught young woman's shoulders.

"Ginger, why don't you come with us?" Andrew suggested gently. "You needed a reason to get out of this place, you need to find closure and now, you have someone who can help you find it."

Ginger looked up and her eyes met those of Stephanie Zimmerman. "Y-you want to help me?"

"Yes," Stephanie smiled gently at her. "Come on, let's get going, we have a long drive ahead of us and I seemed to have lost my appetite. We're heading to Lansing."

"Lansing, I thought you were from Harrisburg. You know, I've been following your career for years now, my mom used to skate, too," Ginger said with a melancholy smile.

Stephanie smiled weakly. "I don't know what to say."

"I do," Andrew interrupted, "we need to get going, and Ginger, there's something I'm going to have to tell you before we reach Lansing. You'll need to know because there are a lot of things going on right now. It's why Stephanie is here now, and why God led us to you."

"Andrew, are you saying that we stopped here just to pick up Ginger and not to eat an apple pie?" Stephanie asked as they left the diner and walked outside in the direction of the parking lot.

"This goes to show that you do, in fact, leave an impact on a lot of people, Stephanie, just as you did with this beautiful girl," Andrew said and he could see that Ginger was blushing. He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly before he was able to continue speaking. His attention now centered on the young waitress. "Ginger, the reason we came is because God sent me to help you, I'm an angel." As he spoke, he began to glow, the light of God's love surrounding him and her eyes widened.

"Y-you're an angel?" Ginger asked weakly as she stared up at him.

"Yes," Andrew said softly. "You have no reason to be afraid."

"I'm not, but I don't understand, you knew that I was going to need help tonight?" She asked weakly. "But, why are you here now?"

"Stephanie is going home because her best friend is dying," Andrew said softly.

"I'm sorry," Ginger whispered, her voice filled with sadness as she regarded the woman who had helped her. "I do know how you feel, when I lost my mom, I lost my best friend."

Stephanie nodded, but she could feel the tears streaming from beneath her eyes, and she tried to wipe them bravely away. Andrew looked at the two of them at this moment, his eyes earnest. "Stephanie, I think you should sit in the back, OK, you need to get some sleep, maybe there you'll be more comfortable."

"OK," she said softly as the three of them got into the convertible. After a few moments, Stephanie drifted off to sleep and Ginger was sitting and staring down at her lap.

"Are you OK?" Andrew eventually asked, thus breaking the silence.

"I'm confused," she said softly. "I'm kind of grateful, I'm a little scared, but I don't know why I'm here."

"God knows, Ginger, and He will eventually tell both of us why and for what reasons tonight happened the way it did," he said softly.

"I wanted to quit there for so long, but in the back of my mind I wondered what would happen to me if I did," Ginger whispered. "I thought maybe if something wonderful happened to me, that I would be able to let go of the past, but…"

"Up until now it didn't happen, did it?" Andrew asked gently.

She shook her head. "No."

"But, you know that God loves you, that He would never hurt you," Andrew said gently.

"I'm not very religious," she whispered softly. "After my parents died, I stopped going to church."

"This isn't about religion or church, Ginger, it's about God, the God that loves you, and the God who knows your pain and sadness. The same God that sent you an angel tonight, because He knew beyond any doubt that you needed some support."

"And Stephanie?" Ginger asked as she cast a fleeting glance towards the back seat and could see that the young woman was still sleeping.

"Yes, and Stephanie," Andrew affirmed.

"She's nothing like I expected. I thought when I saw you two coming in tonight that she would not give someone like me the time of day. I'm a nothing in comparison."

"You are not 'a nothing', Ginger, you're a very talented and gifted young woman," Andrew said softly. "You have had angels watching over you for years, you just didn't know it. Sometimes, finding the courage to make a change brings us into your life, but we're always around."

"I know, but, I can't help but wonder about how come Stephanie doesn't act like a celebrity," she said softly. "Not even a little."

"Stephanie is a very caring young woman, Ginger, celebrity doesn't change that. Most people don't see that in her because they don't look beyond the exhibitions, and the competitions and the glamour of figure skating. The thing is, she is not as the media depicts, rather the opposite. She has been through so much in the last year that no one really knows the true Stephanie; sometimes she doesn't even know herself. All she is able to see is this celebrity, but she has to learn that she is so much more than that."

"I noticed when she hugged me, but I still have a question."

"Well, go ahead and ask," Andrew said gently.

"You're not her guardian angel, are you?" Ginger asked.

"No, I am actually her best friend's Angel of Death," Andrew said softly. "Patty Fischer is dying, Ginger, and Stephanie knows it. That's why we are going back to Lansing, because that's where Patty is; she's in the hospital right now. From there, you and Stephanie will join two of my friends and you will be going to Harrisburg to help someone else."

"Me? How can I help someone when I can't even help myself?" As she spoke, she could feel the tears streaming from beneath her eyes.

"You can, and you will, just trust in God," Andrew said gently. "He is in control of everything that is happening to you."

"This is so unbelievable," Ginger said softly, a weak smile on her face. "I never imagined in a million years that I would be helped by a famous figure skater and an Angel of Death. You guys are the strangest crop of heroes I've ever seen."

Andrew began to chuckle, and he reached over with one hand and rested it against the shoulder of the young woman, thus squeezing it. "You know, I have never been called a 'hero' before."

"Never?" Ginger asked.

"Nope, not in thousands of years of existence, either," he smiled gently at her. "Thank you."

"No big deal, I usually call the shots like I see them," She smiled w