Daniels Song. Katherine Dobney
I knew I had to talk to Willy. There was a rollercoaster of emotion in me, which I didn’t understand. This was all so new to me. I felt a sudden wave of relief when I saw the house lights were on. I needed to speak to Willy, the thought making me chuckle to myself. Hell I would even talk to his hand, as he often said, if it would help me understand these feelings.
As I opened the front door there stood Willy. Waiting for me, knowing that I needed him, he always knew. Willy was wearing a red smoking jacket (Willy doesn’t smoke) and plaid pajama bottoms. His hair was tousled, I always wondered if it was natural or if he worked at making it look like that. Right now I didn’t care, I was just relieved to see him. Willy knew that I needed his council and his wisdom.
“Where would you like to talk?” His voice was calm. Willy always had a power to help me control my racing thoughts.
“Do you mind, my room?” As I walked to my room I could sense Willy following me. After stepping inside, I walked to the big glass double doors, which lead to the deck beyond, opening them as far as they would go. I needed some fresh air. I also needed to see the stars, noticing more now than I had in a long time. I collapsed onto the small settee near the patio doors where Willy joined me. I leaned my head back staring at the stars, hoping for strength.
“Willy, something strange happened to me today. For the first time, I don’t know what to do. I feel unsure of my duties.” I took a deep breath, willing myself to say the next words. “She knows what I am.”
“What, that you’re an angel. There are no rules that say they aren’t to know we exist. We’ve shown ourselves from the beginning of time and we will until the end of time. You’ve done this before. She will be your charge until…”
“Until, what do you mean, my charge… and where was her guardian? There wasn’t one at the accident. I haven’t … felt the presence of one near her. Willy what is going on?” I took a deep breath, pulling the calmness through me. Something was wrong. Hope, like all others, should have at least one guardian and I knew I didn’t rate that distinction.
“Daniel, she’s in your care. I will make sure that you will be given power to be… aware of her. Should she be in danger, you will know.”
What is it about this girl, Willy had not laughed or made a single joke? What was Willy so worried about? Then it came to me, the question I had not asked. “Willy, who… placed her in my care?”
Willy looked straight into my eyes. He was looking for something.
“Gabriella.” His voice soaked in concern. “Daniel, she is one of Gabriella’s children.”
“They’re all Gabriella’s children, what makes her different? And why didn’t Gabriella... give her guardians? Someone with the power to protect her, and not a bottom of the list angel.” I had nothing I could use to protect her with. I help the dying find peace, help free souls. I didn’t protect the living, not any more. I lost that privilege, a very long time ago.
“What do you want me to do?” I said in defeat.
“Tell her who you are, answer her questions. Help her, teach her, and be her guide. Daniel… Learn… from her. There is much she can teach you. Remember she is one of Gabriella’s children. I have faith in you.” With that Willy got up and walked out the door. I sat there, watching the stars, wondering what to do. Heaven only knew, and it seemed so did Willy. Willy… it wasn’t Willy who had talked to me, it was William. With a voice as old as time itself, and the wisdom of the ancient ones.
I was so exhausted; I couldn’t even remember a time when I had felt so drained. My mind was on overload. What was I going to do about tomorrow? I needed some sort of plan, but I was too tired to think. I looked at my bed, knowing I needed to get some sleep first but I didn’t have the energy to move. I just turned to the stars, waiting for them to answer me in some way. My decision was made. I closed my eyes and fell asleep on the small settee, under the stars, my stars, my heaven.
I could hear the pounding in my head, and I was running. I couldn’t remember if I was running toward someone or away from something. As I opened my eyes the realization came to me. Someone was knocking on the door. It was Rachael’s voice coming through the door. “Daniel, are you all right?”
“Yes, come in.” I sat up, stiff and sore from sleeping on the settee. Rachael gave me a puzzled look as she glanced around the room.
“You slept there?” As she looked from my bed, which hadn’t been slept in, to the settee.
“Yes… I was too tired, and I think better when I’m watching the stars.”
Rachael walked over to the settee where I had slept. Sitting beside me, she took my hand in hers. Her hands were so small. As she looked into my eyes, I wondered what she saw and I wondered how someone so small, held so much power.
“Daniel… Willy told me what happened last night. If I can help you in any way, please, ask.”
I looked into Rachael’s sparkling periwinkle eyes noting how they shined. They had the colors of the universe in them.
“I don’t know what to do Rachael. I prayed that Father would give me an answer, but I didn’t get one. Sometimes, I wonder if he even hears me. Have I displeased him so much!
Rachael had pulled me to her in a tight hug. “Daniel… He loves you… never doubt that. You are his hope.” I still didn’t understand. Suddenly there was a smile on Rachael’s face, like a child on Christmas morning. “Don’t you have a date with some stars?”
“I have time,” smiling back at her.
“Daniel, its six P.M., you’ve slept most of the day.”
Six, I was supposed to pick Hope up at eight. Seeing my distress, Rachael got up and left the room. Not before telling me that everything will be fine. Two hours to shower and get ready. Good, there wouldn’t be enough time to think. Maybe that was my answer.
Two hours later, I was presentable and knocking on Hope’s door. The door opened and all I saw were a pair of green eyes, emerald green, observing me.
“You came… you really came?” Hope seemed surprised to see me, as if I might have disappeared in the night.
“I told you that I would take you to see the stars. Do you still want to see them?” I was one of the stars in her nightmares. Maybe she didn’t want to be near me though the smile on her face told me otherwise. “Are you ready to go?”
“Dad, Daniel’s here,” she yelled through the open door. “Why are we leaving so early, its not dark yet?” I could hear the footsteps of Hope’s father, Robert, as he came to the door.
“We need to be at a place called the cove, before high tide. Otherwise we’ll have to hike in and its tricky hiking the bluffs in the dark.”
“Daniel, I don’t mean to be rude, but where is the cove and how are you getting there?” Hope’s father wanted to know where Hope would be and with whom. I had seen so many fathers who didn’t care. I had to respect him for that, for caring so much for her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hope’s face, staring down the sidewalk, just now noticing my car was missing. I nodded toward the driveway.
“My motorcycle, its easier to drive down the beach and park it in the cove before the tide comes in. The cove is at the end of the beach at the rocky bluffs.”
“What time do you plan to bring Hope home? I don’t want her out all night.” Every young lady should have a father like Robert. He was noble and I liked that.
“It would be about two. We’ll need to wait till the tide is ebbing. I didn’t check on how high the tides would be tonight. We’ll leave as