Chronicles of a Newborn Angel

prologue: chronicles of a newborn angel

she will never notice i'm here. that i exist. she doesn't even know my name, for crying out loud..

sigh.

oh, well.. life goes on, as it should.

i opened my eyes to a bright new morning. crap. i forgot to close the shades again. the otherwise happy sunshine greeted my otherwise bleak mood, as i struggled to sit up on my bed. hmm... i turned to look at the digital alarm clock screaming, clamoring for attention as it trumpeted the fact that i am running a tad late. i slapped down hard on it, maybe a little too hard, to put it out of its misery. it tumbled down to the floor with a gentle thud.

groan.

i reached out for it, and noticed the angel sticker which my little sister put there. hmm. this alarm clock was one of the few gifts which my parents gave me as a housewarming present. i think they doubted that i would be able to get up on my own, without much prodding, mechanical or otherwise, to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as an independent working man in the city. well, they were right about that. hahaha. sleep is one of my few vices, i love to sleep. i don't smoke, i don't drink (the occasional red wine and brandy would do, among other non-alcoholic drinks), and i don't philander. but i do crave sleeping. probably because that's the only time i have to myself, coz most of my time is spent taking care of...

"good morning!" a cheerful voice resonated by my bedroom door.

what the...?

wait. this is my apartment. i don't share it with anyone. did i..? who would be..?

footsteps approached my bed. i quickly turned around to face the intruder. whoa, head rush... vertigo setting in. crap.

"hey, not too fast.. you just woke up."

suddenly, the night's events slowly replayed in my head.

oh.

she's still here.

"yep, i'm still here.. hahaha.." with that, haley plopped next to my feet and sat on the bed, coffee cup in hand and an innocent smile on her face. noticing my eyebrows furrowing closer and closer, and my eyes squinting, more out of curiosity than the sunshine's glare through the window, she explained,

"we finished late, and i really couldn't go home.. so, i, umm.. slept on your couch.."

"you didn't have to, haley.. good morning to you too.." i smiled wanly, sitting more upright. "i'm sorry if i woke up a little startled, i wasn't really expecting you or anyone..."

"i know, charles.. you expect to be there for everyone around you, but when it comes to yourself," haley drew closer and snuggled right next to me, "you really don't have anyone there for you.."

i looked down at her, her brown eyes staring at me.. questioning. i ran my fingers through her tousled hair, kissed her forehead lightly.. and said "that's not true.. i have you, i have vincent.. and.."

"no, charles," she sat up to look me squarely in the eye, "we have you, you don't have us.. though we want to. heaven knows we've tried to be there for you whenever you'd need us, to the point of throwing ourselves at you.. but you keep disappearing on your own every time you encounter a life-changing problem or situation. i've talked to your parents about it, your dad said it has something to do with your messianic syndrome.. you wanting to save everyone around you..."

i looked away from her knowing look..

"no, you look at me charles," haley put her hand to my chin and gently turned my face towards her. "we love you, i love you.. all of us love you. you've been there for us for more times than we could possibly count on our fingers all combined. we just wish.. we just wish that you would come to us." she threw her hands down helplessly, and looked down. "i mean, just like last night.. when i had no one to be there for me, you bailed out