Chris ran toward the door.
“I’m going after them.”
Susan grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
Chris turned.
“Mrs. Hunt, I have to.”
“No.”
“But you don’t understand.”
Susan tightened her grip.
“The last thing we need right now is you racing after Steve with my daughter in that car.”
Chris stopped.
His jaw tightened.
“Steve is bad news.”
Susan looked at him.
“He’s capable of anything.”
For a moment, Susan simply stood there.
Then everything she had been holding inside seemed to collapse at once.
Her eyes filled.
She looked toward Brother Kriese.
“I don’t know what to do.”
Her voice broke.
“God...I don’t know what to do.”
Brother Kriese stepped closer and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
“Come back inside.”
Susan looked at him.
“We need to pray.”
He paused.
“And we need to pray right now.”
Chris looked toward the road where Steve’s car had disappeared.
Then back toward Susan.
Slowly, the three returned to the kitchen.
Across town, Steve reached for the radio.
He twisted the knob.
Heavy metal exploded from the speakers.
The windows seemed to vibrate.
Steve grinned.
“Oh yeah!”
He glanced toward the back seat.
“Sweet freedom, Kathy!”
Kathy stared at him.
“How does it taste?”
She opened her mouth to answer—
but the music was so loud she couldn’t even hear herself think.
Lucy slapped Steve’s arm.
“Turn it DOWN!”
Steve looked offended.
“What?”
“STEVE!”
Lucy reached across and turned the volume down herself.
“You big moron. Maybe we’re not in the mood to lose our hearing.”
Steve rolled his eyes.
“Whatever.”
Lucy stared at him.
“Whatever, Queen Lucy.”
Kathy almost smiled.
Almost.
Lucy turned around in her seat.
Her expression changed when she looked at her friend.
“What happened?”
Kathy looked out the window.
“With your mom.”
Kathy hesitated.
Then began to tell her.
Behind them, unseen in the smoke and noise, John flew as fast as his little wings could carry him.
Steve punched the accelerator.
The car surged forward.
John coughed as a cloud of exhaust rolled over him.
He waved it away.
“Really?”
Then he flew after them again.
Inside the house, Susan paced back and forth across the kitchen.
Chris and Brother Kriese sat quietly, letting her talk.
“I’ve lost her.”
Susan wiped at her face.
“What happened to my little girl?”
No one answered.
“Where did I go wrong?”
Her voice rose.
“I’m a failure as a mother.”
Chris started to speak, but Susan kept going.
“I’m a failure as a Christian.”
Across the table, Paul felt every word.
Every accusation Susan aimed at herself seemed to strike him too.
Susan turned toward the door.
“I need to go get her.”
Brother Kriese watched her.
“I’m her mother.”
She pressed a hand against her chest.
“As long as she lives under my roof, I’m responsible for her.”
Susan shook her head.
“I’ve spent too much time trying to be her friend.”
Her voice steadied.
“I need to be her mother.”
Brother Kriese waited.
He didn’t interrupt.
He simply watched until Susan finally looked at him.
Then he spoke.
Slowly.
Carefully.
“Mrs. Hunt…”
Susan stopped pacing.
“God is still in control.”
She stared at him.
“Even now.”
Susan looked toward the window.
Brother Kriese continued.
“I don’t know what He has planned.”
He leaned forward.
“But I believe we are going to witness His greatness.”
Susan’s eyes filled again.
“You have to let go.”
Brother Kriese reached for her hand.
“And let God be God.”
The room became quiet.
“Let’s pray.”
Susan sat down.
Chris moved closer.
The three bowed their heads around the kitchen table.
Susan prayed for her daughter.
Chris prayed for Kathy.
Brother Kriese prayed for wisdom, protection, and mercy.
And every word was filled with love.
Paul stood nearby.
Watching.
Listening.
Then something happened.
A warmth moved through him.
At first it felt small.
Then stronger.
Paul looked down at his hands.
His wings began to spread.
His body seemed to grow.
The young angel who had stood quietly beside them was changing.
His shoulders broadened.
His wings became larger.
Stronger.
Powerful.
Golden light poured from the prayers around the table and washed over him.
Paul looked toward Heaven.
He understood.
His time was growing short.
There would not be many more chances to help John.
Or Kathy.
Or Susan.
Paul spread his wings.
For one breathtaking moment, he seemed to fill the room.
Not with fear.
With Light.
By the time Steve pulled into Lucy’s driveway, the party had already begun.
And it was growing fast.
Cars lined the street.
More pulled in behind them.
People Kathy didn’t recognize walked toward the house carrying bags, coolers, bottles, and whatever else they had brought for the night.
Kathy looked around.
“Lucy…”
Lucy glanced at her.
“Yeah?”
“Who are all these people?”
Lucy stopped.
She looked toward the house.
Then toward the driveway.
Then back at Kathy.
“I don’t know.”
Kathy stared at her.
Lucy turned toward Steve.
“Steve.”
He kept walking.
“Steve!”
He looked back.
“What?”
“Who are all these people in my house?”
Steve grinned.
“Oh, come on.”
Lucy folded her arms.
“The more the merrier, right?”
Lucy put both hands on her head.
“I’m not sure about that.”
Another car pulled in.
Then another.
And another.
The people climbing out seemed to know someone—
but not necessarily Lucy.
Music thundered from inside the house.
Someone had brought a stereo system big enough to shake the windows.
Kathy and Lucy stepped through the doorway.
The sound hit them like a wall.
Lucy leaned close to Kathy’s ear.
“LOOKS LIKE A PARTY!”
Kathy managed a weak smile.
“Yeah.”
She looked around.
“Looks like one.”
They disappeared into the crowd.
Above them, John hovered near the ceiling.
He watched.
Everywhere he looked, he saw people laughing.
Shouting.
Dancing.
But beneath so many of them—
darkness.
Sadness.
Emptiness.
John searched the room.
“Kathy?”
Someone walked through him.
John spun around.
“Hey!”
Another person passed through him.
He looked toward the kitchen.
Then the hallway.
Then the living room.
“Kathy?”
She was gone from sight.
John suddenly felt very small.
He looked down at himself.
One little angel.
One enormous room.
So much darkness.
“What can I do here?”
His wings trembled.
“I’m just one little angel.”
Then John stopped.
Something moved through him.
A strange power.
His whole body began to shake.
“What the…”
His wings stretched outward.
Larger.
Fuller.
Stronger.
John stared at them.
“Whoa.”
He flexed his arms.
His eyes widened.
“Whoa!”
His little body began to grow.
Not enormous.
Not yet.
But stronger.
More powerful.
John flapped his wings once.
The air around him seemed to move.
A huge grin spread across his face.
“I LIKE THIS!”
He flexed again.
“This is AWESOME!”
Then John looked back toward the crowd.
The smile faded.
He understood something.
His time was running shorter too.
And whatever battle surrounded Kathy—
it had already been fought.
The darkness might look powerful.
But it had already lost.
John looked toward Heaven.
“Thank You.”
His wings opened wide.
“For the victory.”
He looked back into the crowded room.
Then smiled.
“And for the Gift of Your Son.”
Friday afternoon faded into Friday night.
The music kept pounding.
People shouted over one another.
The house grew hotter.
Louder.
Messier.
Food disappeared.
Drinks disappeared.
Someone started collecting money to go get more.
Kathy sat quietly on the edge of the couch.
For all the noise around her, she felt strangely alone.
Her thoughts drifted home.
To her mother.
She wondered what Susan was doing.
Whether she was still angry.
Whether she could somehow look past everything Kathy had done...
and still love her.
A voice interrupted her thoughts.
“You look really out of place, pretty lady.”
Kathy looked up.
“Billy?”
He smiled.
“How are you?”
Kathy forced a smile of her own.
Billy had known Kathy nearly her whole life.
They had been classmates since elementary school.
And for most of those years, Billy had carried a not-so-secret crush on her.
He had tried jokes.
Showing off.
Acting cool.
Anything that might make Kathy notice him as more than just a friend.
But there had always been Chris.
As far as Kathy had ever been concerned, there would always be Chris.
Billy sat beside her.
“You okay?”
Kathy nodded.
“I heard you were in the hospital.”
“I’m better.”
She answered quickly.
“Nothing serious.”
Billy glanced down at her hand.
The place where Chris’s class ring had once been.
“So…”
Kathy knew what was coming.
“I heard you and Chris broke up.”
She looked away.
Billy tried to sound casual.
“You two aren’t together anymore, right?”
Kathy thought about the hospital.
Chris’s face.
His anger.
His pain.
She couldn’t imagine him ever forgiving her.
A tired sigh escaped her.
“Yeah.”
Billy waited.
Kathy stared across the crowded room.
“That’s true.”
Her voice grew quieter.
“We’re done.”
Chris stood at the dark window.
Outside, the night had settled in.
His reflection stared back at him.
But all he could see was Kathy.
He loved her.
He knew that now more clearly than ever.
And somewhere out there, she was hurting.
Scared.
Angry.
Maybe surrounded by people who had no idea what she had been through.
Chris turned toward Susan.
“Mrs. Hunt…”
She looked up.
“I have to go find her.”
Susan studied his face.
“I’ve got a terrible feeling.”
Chris pressed a hand against his stomach.
“Right here.”
He shook his head.
“I can’t explain it.”
Then his voice softened.
“But I think God wants me to go find her.”
Susan stood.
For the first time in hours, something in her changed.
The fear was still there.
But now it had direction.
“You’re right.”
Chris looked at her.
“There’s been enough worrying.”
Susan reached for her coat.
“Enough hand-wringing.”
She took a breath.
“Let’s go get our girl.”
Brother Kriese had already gone home, but before leaving he had told them to call if they heard anything.
Susan nodded toward Chris’s phone.
“Call him.”
“Tell him where we’re going.”
“And ask him to pray.”
Chris pulled out his phone.
Before he could dial, it rang.
He looked at the screen.
“A friend.”
He answered.
“Hey, man. I can’t really talk right now. I’m heading out.”
The voice on the other end was loud.
Slurred.
“Hey, I was just wondering if you and Kathy were coming over to Lucy’s.”
Chris froze.
“What?”
“Lucy’s house.”
The friend laughed.
“Her parents are gone all weekend.”
Chris’s face changed.
Susan saw it immediately.
“What is it?”
The voice kept talking.
“Big party, man. Huge.”
Chris slowly lowered the phone.
“No.”
Susan stepped closer.
“Chris?”
He stared at her.
“No, no, no.”
“What happened?”
Chris ended the call.
“There’s a party at Lucy’s house.”
Susan’s expression fell.
“Her parents are gone.”
Chris grabbed his jacket.
“It’s already packed.”
Susan didn’t hesitate.
“Then let’s go.”
Chris headed for the door.
“We need to go now.”
Unseen beside them, Paul watched.
Something inside him tightened.
He knew.
Whatever was happening at Lucy’s house—
this night was far from over.
Paul spread his wings.
For one second, he wished he could simply pick Susan and Chris up and carry them there himself.
Then he smiled faintly.
“No shortcuts.”
And with one powerful sweep of his wings, Paul shot into the night.
Toward Lucy’s house.
Toward John.
Inside Lucy’s house, somebody shouted from the kitchen.
“That’s it!”
A few heads turned.
“We’re officially out!”
Someone groaned.
“No chips!”
Another voice added:
“No dip!”
Then, with great seriousness:
“And dare I say it…”
A dramatic pause.
“No more beer!”
Billy looked toward Kathy and laughed.
“That is a tragedy.”
Kathy shook her head.
Billy stood.
“We’re making a run to the County Merchant.”
He looked at her.
“You want to come?”
Kathy glanced at the empty beer can in his hand.
“Absolutely not if you’re driving.”
Billy grinned.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve been drinking.”
“I can handle it.”
Kathy held out her hand.
“Give me your keys.”
Billy laughed.
“Come on, Kathy.”
“I mean it.”
She kept her hand out.
“I’ll drive.”
Billy started to argue when Steve and Lucy walked past.
Billy threw an arm around Steve.
“Well, well.”
Steve looked at him.
“What?”
Billy grinned.
“You still driving that mosquito wagon?”
Steve immediately stiffened.
“My what?”
“That old skeeter wagon of yours.”
Lucy closed her eyes.
“Oh no.”
Steve pulled Billy’s arm off him.
“I’ll tell you what.”
Billy smiled.
Steve pointed toward the driveway.
“My old skeeter wagon will beat that thing you drive any day of the week.”
Billy stepped closer.
“Is that right?”
Steve grinned.
“Made right here in the good old U.S. of A.”
He looked toward Billy’s car.
“Not made out of chopsticks and rice.”
Kathy looked at Lucy.
Lucy looked at Kathy.
Both girls knew exactly where this was headed.
“No.”
Billy and Steve stared at each other.
“Definitely no.”
The girls hurried outside.
Kathy climbed into Billy’s driver’s seat.
Lucy slid behind the wheel of Steve’s hot rod.
“Keys.”
Billy stared at Kathy.
She held out her hand.
“Give them to me.”
Lucy did the same.
Steve looked at Billy.
Billy looked at Steve.
Then both boys smiled.
“Well…”
Steve rubbed his chin.
“This could be interesting.”
They tossed the keys to the girls.
Kathy started Billy’s car.
Lucy fired up Steve’s.
The old hot rod came alive with a deep growl.
The girls looked at each other.
Kathy revved the engine.
Lucy revved back.
For one second, both of them laughed.
Then Billy moved.
Fast.
He lunged toward the driver’s side.
“Billy!”
He shoved past Kathy and grabbed the wheel.
At the same moment, Steve realized what was happening.
“Oh no you don’t!”
He jumped into his own car and pushed Lucy toward the passenger seat.
“Steve!”
Dust exploded across the yard.
Engines roared.
The laughter disappeared.
“Stop!”
Neither boy listened.
Steve looked toward Lucy.
“Buckle up!”
Lucy stared at him.
“You idiot!”
Steve punched the accelerator.
The hot rod fishtailed through the yard and hit the pavement in a cloud of smoke.
Billy’s car tore after him.
Kathy grabbed whatever she could hold onto.
“BILLY!”
Behind them, partygoers poured out of the house to watch.
John hovered above the yard.
His eyes widened.
“Oh…”
The two cars disappeared down the road.
John spread his wings.
“…this is bad.”
And he took off after them.
Kathy grabbed the door handle.
“Billy, stop!”
He ignored her.
“Let me out!”
Billy pressed harder on the accelerator.
The car surged forward.
Kathy’s voice rose.
“I mean it! LET ME OUT!”
Billy looked into the rearview mirror.
Steve’s headlights were gaining on them.
Closer.
Closer.
Then Steve pulled alongside.
For a few terrible seconds, the two cars raced side by side down the dark two-lane highway.
Billy glanced over.
Steve looked back.
Both grinned.
Neither willing to back down.
Lucy turned toward Kathy in the other car.
Their eyes met.
The laughter was gone.
The fun was gone.
What remained was fear.
Pure fear.
Kathy covered her face with both hands.
She wanted her mother.
She wanted home.
She wanted this night to disappear.
Above the road, John flew in front of Billy’s car.
He planted both hands against the bumper and pushed with everything he had.
“Slow down!”
Nothing happened.
He pushed harder.
“Come on!”
The car kept gaining speed.
Then John looked across the highway.
Paul was there.
Flying in front of Steve’s car.
Pushing.
Straining.
Trying.
Paul looked toward him.
“It’s not helping!”
John’s face tightened.
The two angels moved alongside the cars.
Watching helplessly as the speed climbed.
Farther down the highway, Susan sat beside Chris.
They had already called Brother Kriese.
Now they were heading toward Lucy’s house.
Chris pointed ahead.
“I’m pretty sure it’s this way.”
Susan looked out into the darkness.
“She lives about four miles past the County Merchant.”
Her stomach tightened.
“I hope we don’t see them there.”
Chris knew what she meant.
Buying alcohol.
Susan looked toward him.
“What am I going to say when I see her?”
Chris didn’t answer right away.
“What am I going to do?”
He looked at her.
Then said the words Susan already knew.
“Love is the answer, Mrs. Hunt.”
Susan stared at him.
“Love is always the answer.”
Chris gave her a faint smile.
“And God is Love.”
Susan looked forward again.
The words carried her back to the hospital.
To the hallway.
To Kathy’s door.
To the moment she had reached the same conclusion herself.
They passed the County Merchant.
Susan scanned the parking lot.
No familiar cars.
She exhaled.
Chris tried to sound hopeful.
“Maybe everything’s okay.”
Susan looked at him.
“Maybe I’m worrying too much.”
He continued.
“Lucy wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
Susan knew he didn’t completely believe that.
Neither did she.
But she nodded anyway.
“We can hope.”
Chris looked back toward the road.
“Yes.”
Susan whispered:
“We can hope.”
The two cars were side by side now.
Faster.
Faster.
The headlights cut through the darkness as the engines screamed down the narrow highway.
Lucy gripped the door.
“Steve, stop!”
He looked over at her.
His grin had become almost reckless.
“Watch this.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
“Steve—”
He reached beneath the dashboard.
A small toggle switch waited there.
Steve flipped it.
The engine roared.
The car lunged forward.
Lucy screamed.
“STEVE!”
For a moment, the old hot rod shot ahead of Billy’s car.
Steve laughed.
“Light speed!”
Then he jerked the steering wheel.
Too hard.
Too soon.
The rear of Steve’s car struck the front of Billy’s.
Everything changed.
Both cars snapped sideways.
Tires screamed against the pavement.
Billy fought the steering wheel.
Steve did the same.
Neither had control anymore.
Kathy opened her eyes.
The world outside the windows began to spin.
Sky.
Road.
Headlights.
Trees.
Sky again.
Lucy looked toward Kathy.
Across the chaos, their eyes met.
Neither girl screamed at first.
There wasn’t enough breath.
Then the cars left the pavement.
Grass exploded beneath the tires.
Billy’s car began to roll.
Steve’s followed.
Glass shattered.
Metal folded.
Branches snapped.
The night filled with screams.
Then—
silence.
For one strange second, everything stopped.
Smoke drifted through the trees.
Then Steve’s car erupted.
A violent burst of flame lit the dark sky.
Billy’s mangled car began to burn nearby.
Black smoke rolled across the road.
And through it all—
John moved.
He found Kathy.
He did not know how.
He did not stop to think.
He simply reached her.
With strength he had never known he possessed, John pulled his mother away from the wreckage.
Away from the smoke.
Away from the fire.
He carried her toward the roadside.
Then gently laid her in the grass.
“Kathy.”
No response.
John knelt beside her.
Soot covered her face.
Bits of grass and debris clung to her hair.
John carefully brushed them away.
His hands trembled.
“Momma…”
Kathy stirred.
Just slightly.
John stared at her.
He knew.
This was his moment.
His one chance.
His Kiss and Whisper.
John leaned down.
Very softly, he kissed his mother’s cheek.
“I love you, Momma.”
His voice broke.
“I love you so much.”
Kathy’s eyelids fluttered.
John moved closer.
“Please find your Light.”
A tear slipped down his cheek.
“The Light of Jesus.”
Kathy slowly opened her eyes.
For one brief moment—
she saw him.
Not a shadow.
Not a dream.
Her son.
John.
Their eyes met.
Then Kathy slipped back into unconsciousness.
John stayed beside her.
Holding her hand.
Chris saw the flash in the distance.
Then the sky lit up.
“Whoa!”
He leaned forward.
“What was that?”
Another glow flickered beyond the trees.
“Something exploded.”
His voice changed.
“Something big.”
Susan stared ahead.
Chris grabbed the wheel tighter.
“Call 911.”
Susan reached for her phone.
“I think there’s been an accident.”
They could already see flames licking along the roadside.
Smoke rolled across the highway.
Chris slowed as they approached.
“I can’t see anything.”
Black smoke swallowed the road.
Fire burned through the grass and trees.
Then, through the haze, Paul found Lucy.
She lay unconscious in the grass.
Badly hurt.
Paul dropped beside her.
He spread his wings and began fanning the smoke away.
Again.
Again.
Trying to keep the flames from reaching her.
Then he heard a small voice behind him.
“She sure is beautiful, isn’t she?”
Paul turned.
A little angel stood there.
He looked from the child to Lucy.
“She sure is.”
Paul reached out and gently drew the little one closer.
“What’s your name?”
“Debbie.”
Paul smiled.
“And what are you doing here, Debbie?”
She looked toward Lucy.
“I’m supposed to meet someone.”
Paul listened.
“Someone who can help me with my mother.”
Her eyes filled with questions.
“I have so much I need to know.”
She looked up at him.
“Can you help me?”
Paul’s expression softened.
“I’m not that angel.”
Debbie looked disappointed.
“But don’t worry.”
Paul glanced toward Heaven.
“My time here is almost finished too.”
He smiled.
“Someone is coming for you.”
Almost before he finished speaking, a golden light streamed down through the smoke.
Debbie stared.
Paul pointed toward it.
“Go.”
A tiny hand reached from the Light.
Debbie stepped closer.
Then another little girl appeared.
She smiled.
“Hi.”
Debbie stared at her.
“My name is Donna.”
The little girl reached for Debbie’s hand.
“I’m your twin sister.”
Debbie’s eyes widened.
Then Donna looked toward Lucy.
“Where’s my mother?”
Debbie pointed toward the grass.
Donna saw her.
Soot-covered.
Injured.
Still beautiful.
“She sure is beautiful.”
Debbie nodded.
“Yes.”
The two little girls hugged.
Together they whispered:
“Yes, she is.”
Paul watched them.
Then another light appeared.
Stronger.
Warmer.
Paul smiled.
“Well, girls…”
He pointed upward.
“I think that’s Mary, your mentor Angel
She's the one you need.”
The twins ran toward the Light.
Toward the angel Mary who was waiting for them.
Paul watched as they disappeared into the glow.
Then he turned back toward Lucy.
And spread his wings over her once more.
Chris slowed the car as they reached the wreck.
Flames crawled through the grass.
Smoke poured across the road.
He could barely see.
Then, through the glow of the fire, Chris spotted a figure in the grass.
Someone was moving.
He threw the car into park.
“I see somebody!”
Chris jumped out.
“Are you hurt?”
He ran toward the silhouette.
“I’m coming!”
Then he heard the voice.
“Chris!”
He stopped.
“Chris, it’s me!”
His heart nearly stopped.
“Kathy?”
“Please help me!”
Chris turned toward the car.
“Mrs. Hunt!”
Susan was already opening her door.
“It’s Kathy!”
Chris ran through the smoke.
“She’s hurt!”
Susan bolted after him.
Chris reached Kathy first.
He dropped to his knees beside her.
“Kathy.”
She looked up at him.
Her face was dirty with soot.
Her hair tangled with grass and debris.
Chris pulled off part of his shirt and gently wiped her face.
Kathy reached for him.
Then she collapsed into his arms.
“I’m so sorry.”
Chris held her tightly.
“Please believe me.”
Kathy began to cry.
“I love you so much.”
Chris closed his eyes.
“I love you too.”
He held her closer.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Around them, the grass continued to burn.
Chris looked toward the wreckage.
Then back at Kathy.
“Can you stand?”
Kathy looked down at herself as though she had only just realized she was alive.
“I think so.”
Chris helped her slowly to her feet.
She wobbled.
He caught her.
Then Chris looked toward the destroyed cars.
His face changed.
“How did you get over here?”
Kathy stared at him.
“What?”
“You were in that crash.”
He pointed toward the wreckage.
“How did you get all the way over here?”
Kathy looked toward the fire.
For one moment, her expression went blank.
Then—
a face flashed through her mind.
Curly hair.
Wings.
Eyes filled with love.
Kathy gasped.
“An angel.”
Chris stared at her.
“I think…”
She touched her cheek.
“I think an angel helped me.”
Her voice trembled.
“I saw his face.”
Kathy looked frightened by her own words.
“Do you think I’m crazy?”
Chris smiled.
He placed both hands gently against her face.
“No.”
Kathy looked at him.
“I think that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
Suddenly Kathy turned toward the wreck.
“Lucy!”
Her panic returned.
“Where’s Lucy?”
Chris shook his head.
“I don’t know yet.”
“What about Steve?”
“I don’t know.”
“And Billy?”
“Kathy, we need to get you away from the smoke.”
Then she remembered.
“My mother.”
Kathy grabbed Chris’s arm.
“Where’s my mother?”
Sirens filled the night.
Police cars.
Fire trucks.
Ambulances.
Red and blue lights flashed through the smoke.
And then Kathy saw her.
Susan.
Walking toward her through the haze.
For once, Susan had no speech.
No questions.
No anger.
No answers.
She only saw her daughter standing there alive.
Susan ran.
Kathy met her halfway.
The three of them collapsed together.
​
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Susan wrapped her arms around Kathy and Chris.
They fell to their knees in the grass.
And cried.
Kathy finally pulled back.
“Momma…”
Susan held her face.
“I saw an angel.”
Susan stared into her daughter’s eyes.
“He saved me.”
Chris nodded.
“She told me the same thing.”
Susan looked from Chris back to Kathy.
Then she pulled her daughter close again.
“I believe you.”
Kathy began to cry harder.
“If you tell me an angel saved you from that wreck…”
Susan looked toward Heaven.
“…who am I to tell you otherwise?”
She hugged Kathy.
“I believe in God.”
Her voice shook.
“I believe in His Son.”
Then she smiled through her tears.
“And I believe in angels.”
Susan touched Kathy’s cheek.
“Now more than ever.”
John and Paul stood beside them.
Unseen.
John suddenly pointed.
“Paul.”
Paul looked.
There.
Deep inside Kathy—
a tiny glow.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
John’s face lit up.
“There it is!”
Paul smiled.
“It sure is.”
The two angels dropped to their knees.
John lifted his hands toward Heaven.
Paul joined him.
“This could be the beginning of something eternal.”
John stared at the little Light inside his mother.
“We’re getting close.”
And together, beside the three people kneeling in the grass, the angels gave thanks.
Kathy, Susan, and Chris started toward the ambulance.
Firefighters moved through the grass, beating back the flames.
The two cars sat blackened and twisted beneath the emergency lights.
Smoke still rose from the wreckage.
As they passed a police officer speaking into his radio, Kathy heard him say:
“Two fatalities.”
She stopped.
The rest of his words seemed to disappear.
“No…”
The officer continued.
“One young woman badly injured. They’re loading her for transport now.”
Kathy grabbed his arm.
“Please.”
The officer turned.
“My friend Lucy.”
Her voice shook.
“Is she okay?”
He pointed toward one of the ambulances.
“She’s over there.”
Kathy ran.
Then she saw them.
Farther away, paramedics and officers stood beside two covered forms.
Kathy slowed.
She knew.
Before anyone said another word—
she knew.
But Lucy didn’t.
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Kathy reached the ambulance as they were lifting Lucy’s stretcher inside.
“Lucy!”
Lucy turned her head.
“Kathy!”
Kathy grabbed her hand.
Lucy’s face tightened with pain.
“Please tell me Steve’s okay.”
Kathy froze.
“Please.”
Lucy squeezed her fingers.
“I know he’s okay.”
Kathy looked toward the wreckage.
Then back at her friend.
“I don’t know yet.”
She forced the words out.
“But I’ll find out.”
Lucy winced.
“My legs…”
Kathy leaned closer.
“My legs hurt so bad.”
Tears rolled down Lucy’s face.
“I think they’re broken.”
She swallowed.
“I’m bleeding.”
Fear filled her eyes.
“Please pray for me.”
Kathy stared at her.
Just days ago, those words might have sounded foreign.
Now they didn’t.
“I will.”
Lucy held tighter.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Kathy leaned close.
“I’ll pray for you.”
The paramedics began moving the stretcher farther into the ambulance.
Lucy called out again.
“Find out about Steve.”
Kathy’s eyes filled.
“You can tell me at the hospital.”
Lucy tried to smile.
“I just know he’s okay.”
The doors began to close.
Kathy stepped backward.
“I love you, Lucy!”
Lucy lifted one hand.
Then the ambulance doors shut.
The siren came alive.
Kathy stood in the roadway as it pulled away.
Inside the ambulance, Lucy never saw the three angels beside her.
Debbie.
Donna.
And the angel who had come to guide them.
They surrounded Lucy with prayer.
Soft golden light filled the back of the ambulance.
John and Paul watched from the roadside as it disappeared into the darkness.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then another car arrived.
And another.
Parents.
Families.
People searching faces.
Looking toward the wreckage.
Asking questions no parent ever wants to ask.
Kathy looked toward the two covered forms.
Steve.
Billy.
Two boys who, only a short time earlier, had been laughing.
Bragging.
Racing.
Certain that nothing could happen to them.
Now the highway was quiet.
Kathy reached for her mother.
Susan took her hand.
Chris stepped beside them.
No one spoke.
There was nothing left to say.
