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 weakly, but after a few moments, she glanced back over at him. "Andrew, is there an Angel of Death with everyone who dies?"

"Yes," came the immediate answer.

"Were you with my parents?" She asked weakly.

"No, but you will meet the angel who was, he will be meeting us when we get to Lansing," Andrew said and smiled gently at her briefly before he focused his attention on the highway.

"I will?" She asked weakly. "That makes me a little bit afraid. I mean; what will I say to him?"

"You have nothing to be afraid of, the words will come to you when you need them," Andrew said gently. "Adam is a very kind angel."

Ginger nodded but yawned as she tried to speak.

"Why don't you try and get some sleep too?" Andrew suggested. "I have a feeling you're going to need it just like Stephanie does."

Ginger nodded and leaned her head up against the seat and within minutes, she had fallen asleep.

*****

Patty woke up the following morning, her breathing heavy, but she sat up in bed and turned towards the light that was shining in through the window. She reached for the book that was on the nightstand and opened it. Sighing sadly after a few moments, she cast the book aside and closed her eyes.

"Patty?" A gentle voice spoke her name and she opened her eyes to see that Tess was standing in the room. Next to her stood Adam, his gentle eyes regarding her with the extent of caring he had for the young woman.

"Tess? Adam?" She whispered.

"Yes, baby, we're here," Tess' voice was filled with warmth and the young woman could feel the tears catching in her eyes. "Don't be afraid, honey, we're here to help you."

"Why?" Patty's voice cracked as she tried to find the words to speak.

"Because God loves you, Patty," Adam said gently. "He loves you so much that he sent angels to surround you and your family."

Patty looked at him. "Y-you weren't here because my parents asked you to come, you were here because God asked you?"

"Well, yes, but they did too," He came over to where she was lying on the bed and he sat down in the nearby chair. As he did, he reached for her hand and when she offered it, he continued. "I wanted to be here, I wanted to meet the courageous girl that Andrew and Monica had told me about."

"That's right, Patty," Tess said gently. "Now, you have a choice to make."

"I do?" Her voice cracked as she regarded the two angels.

"Yes, you will find out in a little while what that choice is, but you will be able to make it," Adam said gently. "But, God wants you to know that regardless of how you choose, He's never going to stop loving you."

"Funny, I thought He had abandoned me. I thought that I had somehow disappointed Him and that He didn't love me anymore." As she spoke, the tears spilled down over her face. "I thought He made me sick because of something I had done."

"No, He loves you, Patty," Adam could feel the emotions once more getting the better of him. "He loves you so much."

"I'm going to die, and leave my family and friends," Patty could feel the tears continuing their trek down her face. "I'm scared to die."

"You won't be alone, Patty," A voice emerged and she looked up to see that Stephanie was standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with tears, and she ran towards the bed and threw herself into the arms of her best friend. As she did, she continued to cry. "I'm sorry, Patty, I'm so sorry that I wasn't here."

"Stephy," Patty's voice cracked as she felt the arms of her best friend around her. "I thought you were in Indianapolis."

"Andrew came and brought me here," Stephanie said softly. "He said that he and his friends needed our help. But, I wanted to see you in the worst way. I don't want you to think that I ignored you."

"She didn't, you know, you were all she talked about," Ginger said nervously as she stood in the doorway. "I never met anyone like Stephanie before, and even though she was sad about what was happening here, she and Andrew helped me."

As the young woman spoke, Andrew came into the room all the while brushing past her. Seconds later, she could feel that someone else had come over to her and wrapped her in a gentle embrace.

"You look like you haven't slept," Patty remarked bringing the focus back to her and Stephanie.

"She hasn't," Andrew said softly. He nodded in the direction of the other angels. "Hello Adam, Tess."

The two angels nodded and Ginger looked up to see that Adam was now holding her and without saying a word, he escorted her out of the room as Andrew came over and sat down next to Patty's bed.

"You didn't forget me?"

"No, I've been worried about you," Stephanie said softly. "I was afraid to come back because the press has been relentless and I didn't want them to get on your nerves. But, that doesn't matter anymore. You're my best friend and I want to give you something."

"You do?" Patty asked.

Stephanie took the hand of her best friend, placed the medal there, and pushed her fingers up so that she would be holding the object. Stephanie looked at her and smiled weakly. "It's yours."

"No, Stephy, I didn't earn it," Patty could feel the tears in her eyes as she stared down at the gold medal.

"If it weren't for you, I'd have never gotten there, you know it's true, Patty," Stephanie could feel the tears still tumbling down her face. "Sometimes I think that you deserve it more than I do. You saved my life, gave me a reason to believe that life was good and that I deserved whatever good came to me." She looked at Andrew. "You did that, too you know, and I never forgot you."

"Oh Stephanie," Andrew said softly, his face a depiction of someone who had been moved by her words.

"Patty, we have to help your sister and her friend, I think God is depending on us," Stephanie said softly.

"I stopped believing," Patty said. "I even told my sister that…"

"Andrew told me that Erika knows the truth," Stephanie said, but she looked at the angel. "You were going to tell me what else happened."

The angel nodded as Tess came over, sat down, and waited. "This was about a week ago. Natalie had been in the hospital for about three days, and we didn't see her or Erika for nearly a week after Natalie had collapsed at the rink."

A Week Ago

The skating rink was practically empty when Erika and Natalie arrived there to resume their training. Natalie had been released from the hospital and both were anxious to get back into the swing of things. Gilda was standing at the skate rental counter when they came inside.

Erika still looked a bit shaken up after her meeting with Andrew and Monica, and although she was no longer afraid of running into them, she carried an apprehension in her eyes that made it obvious that she did not even gun up the courage to discuss with her parents what had happened the day Natalie had collapsed.

As they came closer, Natalie's smile disappeared when she saw that her coach was not dressed in training clothing, but rather normal street clothing, and she was having what appeared to be an intense discussion with Teresa.

"Oh, hello girls," Gilda said as Teresa excused herself and returned to the store.

"Hi," Natalie said meekly, but her eyes tended to follow Teresa's movements and the girl did not look happy, in fact, she looked irritated. "What's going on, I thought we had training today."

"I'm sorry girls, but training will not resume until you both see a doctor and get some help with your problems," Gilda said all the while trying to use a tough love stance. Near her stood Monica, but the angel was observing in angelic form and neither the two girls nor the coach could see her.

"Problems?" Natalie screeched, her voice indignant. "I don't have a problem."

"Yes, Natalie, your problem, or should I call it, your eating disorder?" Gilda stood her ground. "It took me awhile to realize that Teresa was telling the truth, that she did what she did out of concern for you. I have already talked to your parents about this, and they have agreed that your training will not resume with me or with anyone else until you get some help. They are calling the hospital as we speak to get you into therapy."

"What about me, Gilda?" Erika said softly.

"Erika, I have always, always, loved your family, we have been through some rough times together, and you mean the world to me, but now you have to get help too, you have to do something for yourself, and not for Patty or anyone else. Please, go and see a doctor," Gilda said and walked away. Behind her, Adam stood, he had heard everything.

Once the two girls were alone, Natalie looked at Erika. "The nerve of that woman," she began to complain. "First, she starts spreading rumors about me, now she's got Gilda talking to my parents. I don't care whose mother she is, she has no right. I am going to give her a piece of my mind and right now."

With that, Natalie stormed away leaving Erika standing alone, the young girl shaking her head. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, but seconds later, Adam had approached where she was standing his hand reaching out and touching her arm.

She whipped around and her eyes widened when she saw him standing before her. "W-what do you want?"

"Don't be afraid, Erika," he said softly, his words filled with sadness.

"But, I am," Erika cried out. "I s-saw you."

"Yes, you did, as I saw you," Adam said, his voice gentle.

"Why?"

"Because God wanted you to see me then," he said softly. "I am an angel, Erika, and although I may not know what the reasons are that caused the Father to send me here, I do His bidding as I am His and I love Him."

Erika nodded numbly but was unable to find the words to speak. "M-my sister."

"Patty has an angel too, Erika," Adam said softly. "God has surrounded you with angels, because He knows that you will listen with your heart not always with your mind."

"I don't want to, I'm too scared to," she whispered. "This is like a nightmare."

"No, not a nightmare, and I know that you're afraid, but you have no reason to be," Adam said gently, but after a few moments, he watched as she slid to the ground, her hands covering her face, the terror never leaving her eyes. He got down on his knees in front of her. "Erika, look at me, come on, sweetheart, it's OK."

The girl shook her head, but after a moment had passed, he took her chin gently in his hands and tipped her face up so that she would be looking at him. "I don't want to believe."

"You told Andrew that you did, and I think you do, but you don't know how, but can I make a suggestion to you?" He smiled gently at her and when the girl nodded, he continued. "Go see your sister, let her help you find your way, you have a storm ahead of you, but you will find your way, Erika, you will find the truth, and it will not be the same truth as Patty's, but it will be your own, thus, it will be special. No one in God's eyes is a postscript, not one of the Father's children is more or less important or significant than you. None, and that's the message God asked me to give to you."

The girl nodded numbly, and with the hesitancy of someone much younger, she reached her hand out as though she wanted to touch him. She could see the light that emanated him, but she wanted to know for herself that he was real and not a figment of her imagination. As she did, she could suddenly feel his hand holding hers.

"I'm real, Erika," Adam said gently.

She swallowed the golf ball sized lump that suddenly formed in her throat, but after a moment, she closed her eyes and nodded.

Present

"She hasn't come to see me, Andrew," Patty said softly. "Nobody has, my parents even asked Adam to come and keep me company."

"I know, but there's a lot of things going on in Harrisburg," he said softly. He reached over and took Patty's hand. "I know that you're angry, and that you are hurting because you think that God stole your dreams away, but now you have a chance to make something wonderful happen before…"

"…I die," Patty said, her voice void of emotion as she looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. "Here, in this horrible hospital."

"Not necessarily," Tess said standing up. "The doctors have said that there is little they can do for you, so they have released you to go home. Now, there are a few things you still need to do before Andrew takes you Home."

"You are taking me?" Patty asked.

Andrew nodded. "Yes."

Patty smiled slightly but looked down at her lap. "I think right now that God is mad at me because I said some horrible things about Him."

"He's not, Patty," Tess said smiling gently at her. "He knows that you are unhappy about your dream not coming true, baby, but there's more to it than a medal, there's friendship, those things that make you special in His eyes."

"What do we have to do?" Stephanie asked weakly looking at Tess.

"This morning, we will drive to Harrisburg and Stephanie will start working with Natalie; Patty, you will be able to have a long heart to heart with Erika. Without this, your sister will die as well," Tess said softly.

Patty nodded. "I won't let that happen." There was a new sense of determination in her voice, and she laid down against the pillows. As Stephanie walked towards the door with Tess, she watched until they were gone, then she looked at Andrew. "I thought you would be going with them."

"No, I'm here for you now," he said and smiled weakly.

Patty nodded as she remembered when she had found out the truth from Andrew as to who he was. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them to see him still sitting next to her. "I never thought it would come to this."

"I know," he said softly and he reached for her hand. "I wish that it could have been different, but you know, the Father will always welcome you with open arms, Patty."

"I really am dying," she shook her head. "How much time do I have left?"

"I don't know," he said softly, but when he could see the tears in her eyes, he stood up and sat down on the edge of the bed, his gentle fingers reaching over and brushing them out from beneath her eyes. "Patty, whatever happens, I will be there with you, no matter when or where, I will be right beside you, I promise."

"I'm scared," she whispered. "I know that you're here, and that makes it easier, but Andrew I'm so scared. I thought everyone had abandoned me, that I was alone in all of this, and now I know that I'm not, and I thought it would lessen my fear, but it's still there. Oh God, why is it still there?"

"You have nothing, which you should be afraid of, sweetheart," he whispered as he reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. As he spoke, he pulled her into an upright position, wrapped her in his arms, and held her tightly. "Just let it out, Patty," he whispered gently to her.

As she began to weep bitterly in his arms, she could feel her own wrapping around him, her crying becoming stronger, and the emotions getting the better of her. When she tried to speak, her voice cracked and the angel responded by tightening his hold on her trembling body.

*****

Outside in the hallway, Ginger was sitting and waiting, her head was down and she looked as though she was in prayer. Yet, in her mind, she was dealing with a raging array of feelings and thoughts. Now, I'm in the middle of someone else's life, and it seems to be as hard as what I left behind. Should I have even left? What is the point of me even being here? She asked herself almost constantly, but instead of speaking, she looked down at her lap as Adam came over and sat down next to her.

Within seconds, Ginger glanced up but only for a moment to see that Tess and Stephanie had come out of the room as well.

"I want to go to the chapel before we leave, Tess, is that OK?" Stephanie asked.

"Of course, baby," she said and looked at Adam. "Angel Boy, we'll be waiting outside for you in a few minutes," Tess said and Adam nodded. Once the elder of the angels and Stephanie disappeared into the elevator, the young woman seated in the hallway took a deep and staggering breath.

"She calls you 'Angel Boy'?" Ginger finally managed to ask him.

"That's Tess' style, she's been calling me that for years," Adam said shrugging his shoulders. "She calls Andrew that as well. Do you have a nickname?"

"My dad used to call me, 'Fairy Queen' because I loved fairy tales," she began. "That was before, when I was a little girl. Today, people sometimes call me 'Cinnamon' because it's a spice, like ginger," she sighed deeply. "No one has called me anything like that in over three years, not since the accident happened."

"What happened to you after that? I know you remember me, don't you?" Adam asked gently, his hand still resting against her shoulder.

"Yes, it hurts to, but I remember," she said softly trying to hide her wayward emotions. After all, here was the angel who had taken her parents away, and the last thing she wanted to do was to try and share with him the wayward emotions she was experiencing. She did not know if she even wanted to trust him, she did not know if he was a depiction of what she had heard as a child about the Angels of Death, and she regarded him warily.

"I know it's hard, but you sometimes have to face your past before you can face your future," he said gently.

"My dad used to say stuff like that," Ginger whispered.

Adam nodded, but sensing her discomfort, he looked around the area and then back at her. "It must be very strange for you to be in a place where you don't know anyone."

"Yeah," Ginger managed to speak, but her voice emerged weak. "I sometimes wonder why I'm even here. Why I have to see you now, when so much time has gone by and I never saw an angel afterwards. I never got any help after my parents died; I was completely alone. I felt so unimportant and insignificant, even after I had prayed; I prayed so much about what had happened. Yet, I didn't stop, not even when I thought my life was nothing, not even after the bank came and took my parents' house away. Then suddenly, out of the blue, I am working at this diner on the highway, living in a storage room, and suddenly Andrew and Stephanie walk in and tell me that Andrew's an angel and God wants me to come with them to Lansing. I'm supposed to help them help someone else, but I don't even know what kind of help I'm capable of offering, when I don't even know what will help me." She looked at him, her eyes filled with deeply embedded pain.

"Ginger, you can do a lot more than you think," Adam began, but when she didn't respond, he looked at her, his eyes intent. "Maybe in helping someone else, you'll discover that you have inadvertently helped yourself."

"Maybe," she whispered all the while shrugging her shoulders. "Andrew told me that you took my parents, but that was three years ago."

"How old were you at the time?" He asked.

"18, I had just celebrated my birthday and was in my last semester in high school," she stared down at the ground.

Adam nodded but rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I'm sorry."

She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his for the first time since they had become acquainted. "You are?"

"Yes, I know that it was hard for you to cope after everything happened," he said. "What helped keep you going?"

"I guess it was my belief that everything would somehow work out, that God would see me through," she said softly.

Adam smiled weakly, but he could see the nervousness evident in the young woman's stance. "Are you afraid of me, Ginger?"

She nodded numbly, her eyes staring down at her lap, but she wrapped her arms around herself as though she was cold. Finally, she closed her eyes as she somehow started to feel shame overwhelming her.

"You have nothing to be afraid of. I would never do anything to hurt you," he said gently. "I think I know why you are here now though."

"You do?"

Adam inched closer to her and began to whisper in her ear. As he spoke, Ginger smiled and nodded. "That makes sense," she offered weakly, but then she looked at him. "Adam, do you think I'll succeed in helping Stephanie convince Natalie to get help?"

"I think you will," the Angel of Death said confidently, "I honestly think you will."

"I hope you're right, I don't want to think that I disappointed God," she shrugged her shoulders as Adam stood up.

"You won't, I think you will handle everything wonderfully," Adam said smiling as he offered his hand to her. "Shall we go?"

Ginger nodded as she accepted his hand, stood up, and the two of them walked towards the elevator.

*****

In Harrisburg, Monica seemed to have her hands full keeping track of Natalie and Erika. Erika had proven to not be a problem, but Natalie still had a major chip on her shoulder. Erika did not wish to go to the doctor, but she was trying to get a grip of her eating disorder alone, thus Monica had tried without success to talk to her about what Teresa had said.

Sighing deeply, Monica watched as Natalie came into the arena and began to put on her skates. Next to her, she had books on skating and she was determined to skate without having a trainer, and nothing, not even Gilda's refusing to train her, seemed to stop her.

Monica sighed deeply; she wondered if there was anything to be gained in Gilda's refusing to work with her, she was trying to train herself with instructional manuals and videotapes. Her eating habits had, since Gilda's abrupt announcement ceased to exist, and Monica was absolutely beside herself with worry.

Father, what should I do? She asked the stillness. Natalie doesn't want to get help, but if she tries to use these books to learn new skills, she could seriously injure herself.

It's her choice, My angel, were the words that came back and all she could do was watch and wait. As she did she could see that Teresa was watching Natalie as well, and the angel finally walked over to the counter.

"You're at a loss, too?" Teresa asked softly.

"Yes, I suppose I am," Monica replied in kind. "I have tried to talk to her, but she won't talk to anyone she has seen talking with you."

Teresa's face was filled with sadness. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

"You are," Monica affirmed. "Natalie doesn't know it yet, but she will have to realize that you are doing this with her best interest at heart."

"A week ago, she came into the shop and started screaming at me, telling me that I'm a nosy busybody, that I haven't a clue about diets and skating," Teresa shook her head. "I know that I was never the best when it came to dealing with kids but I really did what I could for other people. I feel like I did everything wrong, Monica."

"No, but she is going to have to accept the truth from someone, and it looks as though that someone is now walking through the door."

Teresa glanced over to see her daughter coming into the arena. "Stephanie?" She whispered under her breath, but shook her head as her daughter came closer to where she was standing. "Stephanie, what are you doing here?"

"I came back because Andrew asked me to," Stephanie said softly, and when she saw her mother's worried face, she somehow knew what was going on, and her heart nearly shattered into a thousand pieces. "Mom, are you OK?"

Teresa shook her head, her gaze on the ice where Natalie was skating.

"Is that Natalie?" Stephanie asked.

Teresa nodded and Stephanie looked at Monica. "My mom's been worried about her, hasn't she, to the point of not sleeping?"

The auburn headed angel nodded, "we all have been, Stephanie."

"OK, then I guess it's time to get busy," Stephanie said and when she noticed that Ginger was standing next to Adam near the door, she motioned for her to come over to the counter. Once Ginger reached them, Stephanie introduced them. "Mom, this is my friend, Ginger, Ginger, this is my mom, Teresa."

"Pleased to meet you, Ginger," Teresa said kindly.

"Likewise," Ginger said softly.

"Mom, could you get her a pair of skates, she's my backup," Stephanie said and looked at Ginger shrugging her shoulders.

"You have a plan?" Monica asked.

"Not yet, but give me a few minutes and I'll think of one," Stephanie said and she looked at Ginger. "Patty and I used to stir up all kinds of trouble around here when we were younger."

Teresa smiled weakly. "That's the understatement of the year, and you know it. They used to be called the 'gruesome twosome' simply because they were always together, and always giving Jake or Gilda a hard time."

"Well, Jake's still putting up with me," Stephanie said smiling wryly. "Mom, the skates, if you please."

Teresa smiled weakly and looked at Ginger. "What size are you?"

"Eight," Ginger replied.

Teresa retrieved the skates and once Ginger had them, the two of them walked towards the bleachers. "You said that your mom used to skate, right?" Stephanie asked.

"Yeah," Ginger said. "But, I don't know if I inherited her coordination though."

"Don't worry about it, today it's just for fun, as Patty always says, 'the jumps will come later'," Stephanie offered Ginger a warm smile, but when the young woman didn't return the gesture, she rested a hand on Ginger's shoulder. "You OK?"

"I just can't believe that I'm hanging out and talking to you," Ginger offered honestly as the two of them sat down in the bleachers. "It's almost like a dream."

"Or a nightmare?" Stephanie cracked a mischievous smile, but when Ginger didn't smile, she looked at her. "Listen, let's get on the level here, OK?" Once Ginger nodded, Stephanie continued to speak. "I'm a normal person just like you, I just have a really interesting job is all. Come on, I learned a long time ago that even figure skaters need friends from the 'outside world'."

"You want to be my friend?" Ginger asked.

"Gee, I said that, didn't I? I said it when I introduced you to my mom, and I said it just now, so it must be true," Stephanie said smiling wryly, her voice, a controversial whisper. "Come on, as my newly appointed friend, we have some work to do. Are you game?"

Ginger nodded and she smiled. "You're really funny, you know?"

"I do what I can, at least I succeeded in making you relax. Come on, let's get out there and see what you can do," Stephanie said smiling.

The two young women took to the ice Stephanie glided out first, her hair blowing in the breeze as she turned around and motioned for Ginger to come out. As Ginger began to get accustomed to the ice beneath her feet; she could see that Natalie was skating at the other end of the rink. Ginger eventually skated over to Stephanie.

"I don't know all that much about figure skating," She began. "But the way she's skating one would think she has a death wish."

"I think we'd have to ask Andrew or Adam if that fits their definition, but I would say she probably does; anorexia and skating like she was a member of the Gladiator Hockey team, that'll do it," Stephanie smiled. "I think I know how to do this, though."

"How?" Ginger asked. "I mean, we can't just go over to her, it would seem so obvious."

"True, but I have an idea, a really mischievous and wonderful idea that would make Patty so proud," Stephanie said as she pulled Ginger over towards the edge of the ice before Natalie would notice them. With her back to the young girl, Stephanie smiled at Ginger. "How good are you at melodramatic acting?" Stephanie asked, her eyes still following Natalie's movement, but they need not worry because the girl was more involved with her books than she was in what was happening on the other side of the rink.

"Not very, why?"

"Well, I think the best thing to do in this case is to pretend that you have just seen me here, just out of the blue. Maybe this celebrity thing ain't so bad after all," Stephanie said smiling weakly. "Listen, I'm going to go over there and start doing some easy jumps and stuff."

"Oxymoron," Ginger said smiling. "Easy jumps."

Stephanie laughed. "We have to get serious, Ginger."

"OK, I know now that you're not the only one who can crack jokes," she replied, but nodded indicating that Stephanie should continue outlining her plan.

"Just let me go and do some jumps and stuff, and you uhsort of recognize me and freak out, totally, play it to the hilt. It's the only way that I can think of to get Natalie's attention without her knowing what we are up to."

"But, what if she doesn't bite?" Ginger asked.

"Oh don't worry, she will," Erika's voice emerged and Stephanie recognized Patty's little sister as she skated over to them. "Hi Stephanie," she offered weakly.

"Hi Erika, how's it going?" Stephanie asked, not certain as to how her best friend's sister was going to react to her.

"OK, I just wanted to tell you, I talked to the angels, and everything is OK now, but I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry," the younger girl began. "Patty called the house today, and she's going to be coming home tomorrow, but she wanted me to know that you had come back here to help Natalie. I thought that was really cool."

"It's OK, Erika, no big deal, but you better make yourself scarce or this isn't going to work," Stephanie smiled weakly.

"I hope it does," Erika said softly and Stephanie could see the sincerity in the younger girl's eyes.

At that moment, Stephanie skated away and Ginger watched her as she began to execute jumps. Erika returned to the side of the rink where she started talking to Adam, who was standing along the edge.

Father, please don't let me mess this up, Ginger whispered under her breath as she swallowed the lump in her throat and glanced over in Erika's direction before shrugging her shoulders. After a few minutes had passed, she skated frantically over to where Stephanie was, all the while her arms were waving like an overburdened windmill. "Stephanie Zimmerman, oh my God, I can't believe that you're here, I have dreamed my whole life of meeting someone like you."

"And she thought she wasn't an actress," Erika mumbled under her breath looking at Adam. "You know, if there was an award in acting for being totally obnoxious, I think your friend, Ginger, would win it hands down."

The Angel of Death smiled weakly and watched as Ginger reached Stephanie, her smile bright and cheerful, and he couldn't help but hope and pray that Ginger would find that same internal happiness that she was externally displaying. "Did you arrange to talk to your sister yet?" He asked.

"Yes," emerged her answer. "She comes home tomorrow, Adam."

Adam smiled as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, all the while his attention diverted to the theatrics that were taking place out on the ice.

*****

Ginger had by this time reached out in the hopes of taking Stephanie's hand, both of them watching out of the corner of their eyes to see if Natalie was planning on coming over to investigate what was happening. "I can't believe that Stephanie Zimmerman is back home," Erika called out, thus causing Natalie to turn around, see her hero, and her face suddenly turned the color of a lobster just after it had been pulled out of the ocean. When she saw where Stephanie was, she began to move slowly in the direction of where the two young women were.

"It's working," Ginger whispered under her breath, "she's coming over here."

Stephanie nodded. "OK, you'll get an autograph, but let go of my arm, please. I'm going to work here a little longer and then when I'm done, come catch me before I go home, agreed?"

Ginger nodded and let go as Stephanie smiled. Natalie skated closer to her at that moment. "Excuse me," she began as Ginger conveniently skated away.

"Yes," Stephanie turned and smiled at the young girl. "What can I do for you?"

"I was just wondering if I could talk to you, Miss Zimmerman, I'm really a big fan of yours."

"Thanks, but cut the formalities, call me Stephanie, and you're?"

"Natalie," came the answer.

"Oh yes, I heard about you, my mother told me that she's been worried about you."

Natalie started to skate away from her, but Stephanie reached out and touched her shoulder.

"No, I didn't say that with the intention of making you leave," she said smiling gently. "My mom has the best of intentions, but she's always been a tad bit overprotective."

"Really?" Natalie asked, her stance relaxing somewhat and she looked up at Stephanie as though star-struck. "Would you be able to give me some pointers?"

"I'd be glad to, but can I make a suggestion?" Stephanie asked.

"What?"

"Let's have lunch first. I just got into town and am completely famished," Stephanie said truthfully. "We go and eat something, and then we can skate all afternoon."

"I already ate," Natalie lied, her voice small and she was not looking Stephanie in the eyes.

"That's not what I heard, my friend Monica said that you were here all morning," Stephanie said, but she looked at the young girl earnestly. "Listen, let's not beat around the bush, Natalie, you're not eating and you should."

Natalie looked at Stephanie as though she had been stricken, but instead of objecting, she nodded. "I have to loose weight, I need to be in shape for competition."

At that moment, Stephanie glanced over and could see that her mother was waving in her direction. "Hey Stephanie, I heard you wanted to have some pie today," her mother called out and she could see that standing next to Teresa was Mabel Guthrie and they were both next to the bleachers.

"Apple?" She called out smiling impishly.

"Of course, we both know it's your favorite," Mabel called out.

"Apple pie, oh boy, you know, maybe I should come home more often," Stephanie said enthusiastically. She looked back at Natalie who was staring at her in complete surprise.

"Stephanie, how can you eat pie and not worry about gaining weight?" Natalie asked.

"Easy, with each jump, I burn at least 400 calories, maybe more," Stephanie said smiling. "See there's more to being successful in figure skating than just how much or how little you eat. Natalie, there's dedication, a healthy psyche or mental capacity to cope with the stresses of competing; there's a spiritual centeredness, and a physical strength. You cannot skate if one part of yourself is not in tuned with the rest of it. If you don't eat, your body will become weak. If you don't have calcium, you will break something when you fall, if you don't have vitamin C, you will find yourself easily winded, if you don't have magnesium, your legs will cramp something terrible. You see, a healthy diet is important, but it is not the entire package. You have to be able to accept that you need to be healthy in many areas in order to be a success. Didn't you wonder why it was I didn't skate for the showcase last night?"

"I guess so, they said you had a family emergency," Natalie answered.

"Well, that's not entirely true, it was actually because I'm not spiritually centered right now on skating," Stephanie answered honestly. "My best friend is dying, Erika's sister and I have been friends since we were your age. Yesterday afternoon after the competition, a very dear friend of mine came to see me and he told me that there was someone who needed me here. So, even though things were not easy for me, I came here to help." Stephanie rested a gentle hand on Natalie's shoulder. "Sweetheart, you have anorexia nervosa, and whether you believe it or not, it is a dangerous disease and as long as you keep going this way, you will die from it."

"Die?" Natalie looked at Stephanie as though she was kidding.

"Yes," Stephanie sighed deeply before she continued. "Natalie, I know about the pressures of skating, probably better than anyone else you'll ever meet. I know what it feels like to do something for the sake of others, and not for yourself."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Natalie whispered.

"Then, let me tell you a little story," Stephanie led Natalie off the ice and the two of them sat down on the bleachers off to one side of the rink. "When I was twelve-years-old, my mom and I had serious problems getting along. I was going through some really difficult stuff, as I hated skating and didn't want to do it, but I was pushed into it because my mom wanted something for me that she had been denied. I didn't know it at the time, all I wanted was to have friends, I wanted to be Patty's friend more than anything, and when my mom said 'no', I thought I was inching closer to loosing it. Then something happened, and suddenly our friendship was OK with my mom. We were inseparable, had been since her family moved here from California. Anyway, all these things happened right after the citywide figure skating competition. For me, it had reached the breaking point and I thought suicide was the only way out."

"Did you try?" Natalie asked.

"Yes, I did, and as ashamed as I am to say, I wanted it to be over. I'll never ever forget that day as long as I live because I met an Angel of Death," Stephanie said. "He was really cute, too, had the prettiest green eyes I had ever seen in my life, and he was tall with blonde hair. Patty told me later that she had even told him that if all Angels of Death looked like Andrew, that there would a line a mile long of women waiting to go to Heaven."

"It sounds like someone who was here a few weeks ago," Natalie mused more to herself than to Stephanie.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he did show up here again," Stephanie said softly. "Anyway, after I tried, there he was, dressed in a beige suit, and he got down on the floor next to me. He was holding my hand and talking to me like I mattered to him. Don't you see? I wasn't just an assignment to him, I mattered, I was like his friend, and I was someone he cared about. I'll never forget what he said to me, and how kind he was to me. He said 'Stephanie, God loves you,' and meant every word, I could feel it somehow and it became the truth for me."

Natalie looked at Stephanie, the tears brimming under her eyes. "He said that to you?"

"Yes, and there was something so surreal about him, but yet there was also a sense of love and compassion that emanated from him. He became my friend, and Natalie, he was the friend I mentioned who came and asked me to come here and help you. It became an honor to me to fulfill his request, but it reminded me that there was more to all of this than just competing and wining, it was a reminder that life is a celebration and that in all we do, whether we skate, or draw or use our imaginations, we're all special, because God is real, and He loves us, all of us. It doesn't matter if we're skinny or beautiful, what matters is in His eyes we are precious. Sometimes, in all the glitz and glamour, we forget and become sidetracked in false expectations or images of how we are supposed to be, but we don't need that."

"I'm scared," Natalie whispered.

"I know, and you know what?" Stephanie said softly.

"What?"

"I'll be here with you through all of it, you just promise me that you're going to get some help for this, OK? You can't face anorexia alone; Natalie, and you have a few friends who are going to be looking out for you. One of them is your angel."

"My angel?"

"Yes, do you see that man over there, the one with the graying hair and the beard?" Stephanie asked.

"Yeah, but who is he, there's something strangely familiar about him," Natalie said softly.

"He's your angel, Natalie, and he was sent here to help you," Stephanie said gently. "But, he can't help you unless you decide to help yourself."

"I'm scared," Natalie cried as she threw herself into Stephanie's arms, the tears were now washing down over her face.

"I know you are, but I also know that you can be brave, and you can find the strength to overcome this. I'll do whatever I can to help you, I think you know that."

"W-what about the Olympics?"

"I'll be there, and I think it's going to be good," she smiled. "But, why don't we make a pact?"

"A pact? Why, what good is that going to do?"

"Well, sometimes a little encouragement is good, but sometimes, a willingness to go beyond ourselves is better. So, I will skate my heart out at the Olympics, if you give it your all when the time comes for you to get over this manmade mountain, OK?"

Natalie nodded. "OK."

"Great, now then, why don't you go and say hello to Adam?" Stephanie said. "You're lucky, you can thank your angel right away, it seems like I had to wait ten years in order to thank mine."

"OK," she said and smiled weakly. Once they stood up, Stephanie reached for Natalie's hand, and they came down from the bleachers, and walked over to where the angels were standing.

As soon as they reached them, Natalie looked up at Adam. "Y-you were there?"

"Yes," came the gentle reply.

"Thank you," came the soft response and after some moments, she watched as he leaned down so that he would be eye level with her.

"Natalie, it was my pleasure," he smiled and what happened next took the Angel of Death by surprise, the young girl literally collapsed in his arms, and she kissed his cheek.

"Will you come with me to the doctor?" She asked the angel.

"I'll come, I'll be right there with you, I promise," he smiled and he looked at Erika, "and you, make sure you talk to your sister, OK?"

Erika nodded. "I promise."

Adam looked at Ginger. "You have made a new beginning, it's what's you always wanted, now you hold onto it."

"I will," Ginger nodded and smiled as Adam took Natalie's hand and led her away from the group.

Once they disappeared outside, Monica joined them and she was positively glowing. "Oh everything just fell right into place."

"Naturally," Stephanie said smiling. "When there are angels around, that always happens."

"Touché," Tess said and smiled. "Come on babies, let's get going, we're still not out of the woods yet."

Stephanie nodded and they all walked towards the exit. Once they stepped outside, she could feel the sunshine beating down on her. "I can't believe that worked."

"Why not?" Monica asked.

"I don't know, I guess I didn't know I was capable of making a difference to her," Stephanie said softly. "What would have happened had Andrew not been able to persuade me to come here?"

"A lot," Tess said softly. "Natalie would have died within three days, Ginger's life would have been drastically different than what it is now, and Patty, bless her sweet heart, would have died not knowing that her best friend truly loved her."

Stephanie glanced skyward. "Thank you, Father. I know I'm not done yet, and I know it's going to be hard to let go, but I will and I thank you for giving me the strength to come this far."

As she spoke, Ginger looked at Tess. "She's right, she is like me."

"How do you mean, baby?" Tess asked gently.

"I think I know why I'm here." Ginger could feel the tears in her eyes. "She will lose someone very special, but she will have the chance to say good-bye before she does."

Tess nodded and put a gentle arm around the young woman's shoulder, and they walked to the Cadillac.

*****

The following afternoon, Andrew drove Patty home and the reception that waited for her was the biggest that Stephanie could remember ever happening in Harrisburg. Although, she was afraid, Patty seemed happy to be back home and she knew that although her parents and friends loved and cared for her, she felt somehow distanced from them. All she was able to concentrate on was the impending conversation she would have to have with her little sister.

As the final guests were leaving, Patty was able to talk to Stephanie one last time. When her best friend left, Patty had tears streaming down her cheeks, because she knew that that would be the last time she would see her. Sighing sadly, she turned back around to see Andrew standing next to her, his gentle eyes speaking louder than his words ever could, and she could see that the angel was deeply moved by the events of the past few days.

At least my parents have accepted him, she thought to herself as Andrew helped her over to the sofa and she laid down on it, her head coming to rest against the pillows. "I'm so tired, why?"

"Today took a lot of energy out of you, now it is time for you to relax," Andrew said softly.

"I can't, not until I talk to Erika," Patty whispered. "Andrew, would you go find her for me?"

Nodding the angel went outside and found Erika standing next to the lake. She had found some stones and was tossing them into the water. "This is where Patty found out the truth."

Erika turned and looked at him. "Is everyone gone?"

"Yes, Patty is resting in the living room, but she wants to talk to you," he said.

"OK," she said softly and walked with him into the house, but she managed to keep her distance from him. He noticed this, but said nothing.

Once inside, Erika went into the living room and sat down in the nearby chair. It was at this moment that the younger of the two sisters finally realized that Patty looked dramatically different, but the young girl offered her hand to her sister once she sat down, all the while, trying to conceal the feelings she carried in her heart.

Patty shifted on the sofa and once she had made herself comfortable, she noticed that her little sister was sitting near Andrew, looking none too relaxed. "It's OK, Erika, I'm not going to bite, and I don't think Andrew has any intention of baring his teeth at you, either." Once he shook his head, Erika looked at her sister.

"This is all so weird," she offered weakly.

"Yeah, I know," Patty smiled at her younger sister. "But, you know what, we're lucky because God doesn't master in confusion. I think He likes happy endings."

"But, it won't be a happy ending, not if you die," Erika said softly, the tears beginning to stream down her cheeks as she finally admitted her greatest fear to her sister.

"It will be, because I won't hurt anymore. You, Mom, and Dad will get through it," Patty said softly. "Come over here and sit by me. I want to show you something."

"What?"

"Andrew could you hand me my purse please?" Patty asked.

"Sure," the angel went and picked up the requested object and brought it over to them. As he came closer, Erika self-consciously backed away. Patty noticed this and looked at her sister, her eyes intent.

"You don't have to be afraid, Andrew is a friend, and he will make sure I find my way Home when the time comes," Patty said softly and she looked at him. "Won't you?"

"Yes, I will," Andrew responded. "I promise, Erika, I won't leave her side for a second."

Erika looked at him. "You won't?"

Andrew shook his head. "I won't."

Patty reached for her sister's hand as she pulled out the medal Stephanie had given to her at the hospital. "Erika, Stephanie gave this to me yesterday before she came home. She told me that I was the reason she accomplished so much. She said that it was me that made her what she is. I thought that she had forgotten me; I thought that she had gotten caught up in all this celebrity, but the truth was, I had cut her off. I was jealous of her because I was ashamed of what happened to me. I didn't want people to pity me, and I was scared."

"It wasn't your fault," Erika said softly.

"I know that now, but I didn't before," Patty said.

"What's going to happen?" Erika asked the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm going to go Home," Patty said softly. "But, I want to tell you something. If you want to make it as a figure skater, you go girl, you do it, but do it for you, and do it safely. I heard about Natalie, and I know she's in good hands, but now you're the one I'm worried about. You promise me that you will see a doctor and if you want to diet, you get a professional involved. Talk to Gilda about it, she knows her way around the sport, and her wisdom could be a great asset to you, OK?"

"I don't know if I can, I'm scared, you know how I am about doctors," Erika looked at her sister.

"Yes you can, and I know you're scared, I am too, but neither of us are alone in this. You're never alone, Erika. I made the mistake of believing that that I was," she looked at Andrew. "Can you do something for me?"

"If I can, yes," he answered.

"Will you take care of my sister, help her get trough the treatment? I know that she'll be in good hands if you are there," Patty said softly.

Andrew offered her a gentle nod as the young woman continued speaking to her sister.

"Erika, there's one very important thing I learned ten years ago and that is this: Andrew doesn't just show up when someone is sick or dying, he shows up when a friend needs him. Let him be your friend, and don't be afraid of him, I think it hurts him when people are afraid of him. But, he's good and he's kind, and if you need him, he'll be there for you. Sometimes it may take a little while for him to get back to you, but he's there if you really need him."

Erika looked at him, and when the angel nodded she glanced back over at her sister. "I'll try."

Patty reached out a hand towards her sister. "I want you to go out and earn one of these." She held up the medal. "I know you can do it, you can do anything you set your mind on, but don't ever think that I'm not watching you because I will be."

Erika nodded and crawled over to where her sister was sitting, all the while, she wrapped her arms around Patty as the tears streamed from beneath her sorrow-filled eyes. After a few more moments, she looked at Andrew. "How much time?"

Andrew shook his head. "I don't know, Erika, but I'm here with you both."

The young girl nodded and she leaned up against her sister and closed her eyes. Andrew looked at Patty. The party as well as the conversation with Erika had taken so much energy out of her that she looked as though she rapidly deteriorated over the course of two or three hours since coming home.

As he watched them holding tightly to each other, the Angel of Death pulled his pocket watch from his pocket, opened it, and looked down at it, all the while realizing that time was quickly running out for Patty Fischer.

*****

It was late that night when Andrew came to Patty for the last time.

As he appeared in her room, he could see that she was now coughing, blood coming from every cough, the illness encompassing her frail body and he knew deep inside that this was it. It was nearing time for him to bring her Home.

She continued to cough, the tears streaming from beneath her eyes as the pain cursed through her body. When she finally managed to stop, she opened her eyes slowly to see a glow of bright light in her room. "Is it morning already?" She moaned as she tried to wipe the blood from her mouth.

Andrew came over to the bed, the nimbus of light still surrounding him, and he smiled gently at her as she looked up at him, the fear in her eyes unmistakable. "It's time?"

"Yes," he said softly.

"Andrew, I'm scared," she whispered.

"Don't be afraid, just close your eyes, I'm here, Patty, I'm not going anywhere. Here, take my hand," he said gently. "What you did today for your sister will be remembered forever. It was the biggest difference that you could have made to her."

"Will you tell Stephanie that I love her, and that I'm so sorry?" Patty opened her eyes and looked into the eyes of her angel. "Please, Andrew, tell her that I'm going to miss her and that she was a better friend to me than I was to her."

"Shhhh, it's OK, relax, sweetheart, it won't be long now," Andrew soothed her gently his hand stroking her head as he smiled at her.

When she could feel his hand against her bald head, and his compassionate eyes meeting her own, she found herself relaxing somewhat. "Please hold me, I'm so scared."

Andrew did as she requested and wrapped her securely in his arms. She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. "Andrew, do you remember what I said ten years ago?" Patty asked weakly as she took a deep and staggering breath, but the tears continued to fall.

"Yes, I do. You told me that I was a klutz on skates," he smiled, his eyes sparkling. "I don't think I'll ever forget that, but since then, I've practiced a little."

"Not that, you goofball, it was something else," she whispered as she began to cough.

"What's that?" He asked, his hand still stroking against her forehead.

"I said that you were so handsome that there were probably a bunch of girls waiting in line for you to take them to Heaven," she whispered and she reached over and touched his face. "I'm so glad that I didn't have to wait in line."

"Oh Patty, that is so sweet, but now it's time," Andrew smiled gently at her as she opened her eyes warily, and could feel that he had reached over and brushed the side of his hand slowly and gently across her death pale cheek. As he drew her spirit out, he laid her body back against the pillows and stood up. "Are you ready to go Home now?"

Patty looked at him, reached up and touched her cheek as though not able to believe that she was no longer trapped in the shell of illness and sadness, she had hair again and was dressed in an off-white gown. "Andrew, it's me."

"Yes, it is," he smiled gently at her, and offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

As she accepted his arm, he led her to the light.

*****

Three days later Patty was laid to rest, and Stephanie arrived at the cemetery and looked around the group of mourners. Family and friends were there, and she could see that Natalie, her parents, Gilda, Mabel Guthrie, Teresa, Ginger, Erika, Mandy and Brad were all present, and she could feel the tears streaming down her face as she got out of the car and walked with weighted steps across the moist grass in the direction of the gravesite Patty's family had selected for her.

Stephanie could feel the tears rolling from beneath her eyes as she came closer to the casket, her hand covering her eyes as she began to weep bitterly. As she cried, she suddenly felt someone's arms wrapping around her and she looked up to see Ginger was standing next to her. "I can't be Patty, Stephanie, but you called me a friend, and that's what I want to be to you."

Stephanie wiped her hand over her face and nodded as she wrapped her arms around the young woman. "Thank you," she whispered as the tears seemed to be constantly rolling from beneath her eyes. She held tightly to Ginger but after a few moments and the young woman had loosened the embrace, thus leaving her alone for a few minutes.

She sat down on the ground not caring that the dew was now soaking through the black silk dress she was wearing.

"Stephanie?" Andrew's voice interrupted her thoughts and he came over and crouched down next to her. He held the gold medal in his hand and he rested his second hand on her shoulder. "I promised that I would come back and tell you that Patty is happy."

She nodded as he placed the medal in her hand and she looked down at it. "I don't deserve this. I should have been here."

"Listen to me, you were here, and Patty knows that you are one of the most special friends she could have asked for. Your friendship may not have lasted long, but it was a gift from God, and He gave it the enrichment that it needed, He gave her a choice just as He gave you the very same one, and do you know what?"

Stephanie shook her head.

"Both of you made the best ones," he said gently as he pointed across the cemetery and she could see Natalie and Erika standing with their families. "You made a choice to help those girls, and look at the rewards of having done so. Two lives were saved."

"No, Andrew, three lives." They looked at Ginger, who had returned and was standing next to them, she had overheard everything and was smiling at them.

The Angel of Death nodded and looked at Stephanie. "The Father wants you to know, Stephanie, that your work is far from being over, and I don't just mean the Olympics, your work as an inspiring person will live on even after you retire from athletic competition. Hold tightly to the gifts that He has blessed you with, and remember the friends He has honored you with. You will encounter many false friends, but the ones who will mean the most will be the ones who knew you when you were humble, and they knew when you were weak, those are the friends God wants you to surround yourself with."

Stephanie nodded and seconds later, Andrew was gone and she was looking at Ginger. "New friendships can't replace the old, but still, I'm really glad you're here."

Ginger nodded and hugged her friend. "I am too." As the two of them looked out across the cemetery, they could both could see a white dove flying through the trees until it disappeared in the distance.

Epilogue

One month later, Stephanie skated out to a full house to hear the applause erupting in her ears. Her eyes were shining brightly as she accepted another gold medal, this time, the Olympic gold. She smiled warmly as the silver and bronze medallists climbed to the top of the podium and stood next to her.

"I heard about what you did for your friend," the bronze medallist said as she hugged Stephanie. "Everyone's talking about it."

As the anthems were played, Stephanie began to pray. Father, you know as well as I do that this is for Patty. Let her know that I did this all because she gave me the courage and strength to do so.

Two minutes later, she was skating around the rink with a smile on her face, but as she left the ice, Jake was there to meet her, and he wrapped her in a big hug. "Ginger, Natalie, and Erika are waiting near the exit, and we thought you'd like it if we all went out to dinner."

"OK, let me change clothes and I'll meet you as soon as I get done," she said softly.

Jake left and she went down the hall towards the dressing room. As she opened the door and went inside, she smiled when she saw Andrew standing in the room and waiting for her.

"Hello, Stephanie."

"Andrew, I did it," she said.

"And how do you feel?"

"Wonderful, on top of the world," she said softly. "I never thought it would happen."

Andrew smiled. "Patty wanted you to know that she is really proud of you."

Stephanie smiled as someone knocked on the door. "I wonder who that could be," she mused as she looked at him.

"Just go out there and see," Andrew said. "Don't forget, you will always have angels watching over you, and sometimes, you will be the angel watching over someone else."

Stephanie nodded and went to open the door. As she did, she turned back around to see that Andrew was gone. "How do you feel, Stephanie?" The reporter asked once she came out of the dressing room.

"Like I have made a difference, and not just in the world of figure skating," she said as she offered him a warm smile.

The reporter nodded, and from somewhere deep inside of herself, she knew that he understood what she was saying and why she had said it.

The End…

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