Angel Love
Title: Angel Love
Rating/Warning: PG
Community: Originally the_dead_muse but now removed.
Word Count: 1466
Prompt: Something about sitting in a taxi
Author's Notes: N/A
Edwin looked to the house on the right. The paint was chipped, one shutter hung crooked and the old architecture gave a foreboding look. The two dark windows, aged black eyes, bore into his soul as deeply as anyone ever had. The door, a putrid green color that didn’t quite fit the dirty white-wash sponging the rest of the house, held so many smiles. It seemed a shame to break its naïveté, to teach the door how ugly it really was. This would not be a smile at all…
“It’s ok, sir,” the cab-driver, Mr. Romel Antonio, said in a Filipino accent. “I turn off the meter.” He reached for the meter and turned it off, then cut the engine and cracked a window. Edwin felt every movement Romel made, tried to second-guess every thought, then cursed the irony of the world; the timing of it all. Above all, he cursed the radio…
…You’re on my mind, livin’ in my soul…
The cabbie reached for the dial.
“No,” Edwin whispered, “let it play.”
…a moment in time, oh we can let it go…
The cabbie looked back to his passenger with a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
…the air we breath, smells like, love…
“Okay, sir.”
“I’ve asked you not to call me sir.”
…your melody, makes me sing a sweeter song…
The first raindrops started to fall on the windshield but Romel didn’t reach for the wipers; he was going to be here awhile and he knew it.
“They will understand, sir,” Romel offered. Edwin glanced at him in the rearview mirror, glanced at the eyes that so much reminded him of Angela’s; the dark brown eyes, almond shaped and always so bright with enthusiasm.
“Did you hear what I said?” Edwin was frustrated, his voice wavered between hurt and anger. “Do you understand what happened?” He closed his eyes, letting a tear escape from the confines of his heart. Romel had done nothing but listen. He had listened when Edwin first made his first several visits to the house he now watched. What luck, Edwin thought, to have had the same cab driver each trip. They’d gotten to know each other. Romel was the only person he could call after what happened…
“I was stupid! I’ve never even had alcohol before…”
…your energy, is heaven…
The two sat silently as the grey sky visibly moved above them. Sometimes a darker cloud drifted underneath a lighter one. Edwin stared at the windows. They knew what happened, those windows could see it inside him. They cried now, together.
• • •
“…and I just can’t believe that you’ve been sent to me from above.” Edwin held Angela close, singing softly, smiling. “…You’re my Angel Love.” Angela smiled and turned away shyly. “…and I can’t wait to feel your sun shine down on me from above, Angel Love.” They were both nervous. It was the first time they’d met in person, despite having chatted and talked on the phone for over a year. His Tagalog was improving but still insufficient, so they communicated in English. The song was their song. When it played, everything disappeared but the two of them. That was so long ago…
• • •
Here with you now, the rhythm that we’ve found…
Romel shifted in his seat. “You need to tell them, sir” he offered. “They already know, but you need to tell them.”
…deep in sound, music is all around…
“Tell them what, exactly?” Edwin’s forehead rested against the car window. His gaze still matched with the window into what used to be Angela’s room. The pink curtains were gone, now, they’d actually made the house look worse, like chewed up bubblegum stuck on the bottom of a shoe. He never voiced his opinion, pink was Angela’s favorite color. “…and stop calling me sir!”
“Yes, sir.”
…the air we breath, smells like, love…
“Tell them what happened.” Romel caught Edwin’s eyes in the rearview again. He nodded slightly. “They will understand.”
…your melody, makes me sing a sweeter song…
They might, Edwin thought.
…your energy, is heaven…
“Maybe.”
“They always loved you,” Romel said nodding again. “Angela was happy. That’s all they wanted.”
It was true…
• • •
“…and I just can’t believe that you’ve been sent to me from above…” Angela’s Filipino voice wasn’t the best suited to the song’s airy and surreal tune, but Edwin didn’t care. “…you’re my Angel Love.” She had a beautiful voice and she sang with an honest heart. Her parents, soon to be his parents, watched from the hallway as Edwin held a fork housing a half-eaten piece of something-or-other she had cooked. He thought that was the surprise, but when she started singing, food didn’t matter. “…and I can’t wait to feel your sun shine down on me from above, Angel Love.” Her parents clapped excitedly, but Angela didn’t hear and Edwin only vaguely saw a blur in his peripheral vision. The ring in his pocket would wait, he was a patient man. For now, however, he was focused on those eyes…
• • •
Romel caught Edwin looking at him again.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Romel’s voice was flat. “But you can’t find her here, not in me. Not yet.”
Ooh…la…la, la…la, la… The light oohs and las always lifted Edwin’s spirit. Now, in perhaps a more literal fashion, they would lift Angela’s. Ooh…la…la, la…la, la…
“What do you mean?”
“Her mother waits for you,” Romel nodded his head towards the house. “Her father waits for you.” Romel paused. What had the police told the family? Edwin looked toward the house, the two windows, as he’d done so many times before. A face appeared, ghostly in the shadow of darkening clouds. “Her sister waits for you,” Romel decided finally. “You are all they have left of her. To them, you are their son. Go to them.”
“They have loved me like a mother and father,” Edwin mused. “…and brother.” The face disappeared as the song hit a key-change…
• • •
“I’ve waited for you all of my life.” It was Edwin’s turn to surprise Angela. “I’ve waited for you all of my life.” The song would repeat this line several times, so would Edwin. It was a rare day that Angela’s family could sit down together as one. Both her parents were seated at the dinner table, along with her sister and brother. Angela had just seated when the song popped on the radio. Edwin wouldn’t let this opportunity pass. He pulled out the ring and everyone went quiet. “I’ve waited for you, Angela. Puwede ba kitang pakasalan?” Angela giggled. It wasn’t the best Tagalog, but to her it was the most perfect thing she’d heard. Everyone was grinning, they all wanted to share in this moment. Angela was speechless.
“Well?” her father asked first. Then her mother. Her sister simply touched her arm, smiling.
“Yes!” She stood and flung herself into Edwin’s arms.
• • •
…the sweetest love…
It was the perfect song. The face returned to the window, along with two others. The older female turned to the male, then back to the taxi. Darker clouds floated in serenely. It was going to be a rough night, but there was a calmness in the movement. The faces disappeared.
…feel your sunshine…
“Ready?” Romel turned to face Edwin. “They know we’re here. It’s time.” Edwin nodded. He couldn’t put it off any longer.
“Let’s go.” He wiped the tears from his eyes and opened the door. He could see the front door opening, three figures bounding out of the house, barefoot. Romel exited the drivers side but made no effort to console his family. It was Edwin who had been in the accident, not him.
“Edwin!” Mrs. Antonio reached him first, feet dirty from the muddy grass. The rain was falling hard now, everyone was wet. “We heard…accident…are you…” She grabbed him, holding tightly. He held fast to her as he looked solemnly to Mr. Antonio and Isah. Both stared blankly, like the windows. They could see the truth like the windows…
“Isah,” Mr. Antonio turned to the young girl, “prepare a bed for your brother.” She walked back into the house, turning several times to try and catch a glimpse of what happened.
“Who did it?” Mrs. Antonio grabbed the front of Edwin’s shirt and shook him. “What happened?” Edwin looked at Romel, who nodded encouragement.
“I…” He started to cry again. “I lost…control.” He looked down at the water at his feet.
“How?” Mrs. Antonio begged. “How did that happen? Did you try to miss something?
“No…” Edwin looked to Mr. Antonio, then the windows before finally looking into Mrs. Antonio’s eyes. He whispered. The words were too quiet to hear through the rain, but she watched his lips move. “I was drinking…”
• • •
Now, he thought, she really is my Angel Love.
Approximately 1466 words
Made by The Prose Formatter
Rating/Warning: PG
Community: Originally the_dead_muse but now removed.
Word Count: 1466
Prompt: Something about sitting in a taxi
Author's Notes: N/A
Edwin looked to the house on the right. The paint was chipped, one shutter hung crooked and the old architecture gave a foreboding look. The two dark windows, aged black eyes, bore into his soul as deeply as anyone ever had. The door, a putrid green color that didn’t quite fit the dirty white-wash sponging the rest of the house, held so many smiles. It seemed a shame to break its naïveté, to teach the door how ugly it really was. This would not be a smile at all…
“It’s ok, sir,” the cab-driver, Mr. Romel Antonio, said in a Filipino accent. “I turn off the meter.” He reached for the meter and turned it off, then cut the engine and cracked a window. Edwin felt every movement Romel made, tried to second-guess every thought, then cursed the irony of the world; the timing of it all. Above all, he cursed the radio…
…You’re on my mind, livin’ in my soul…
The cabbie reached for the dial.
“No,” Edwin whispered, “let it play.”
…a moment in time, oh we can let it go…
The cabbie looked back to his passenger with a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
…the air we breath, smells like, love…
“Okay, sir.”
“I’ve asked you not to call me sir.”
…your melody, makes me sing a sweeter song…
The first raindrops started to fall on the windshield but Romel didn’t reach for the wipers; he was going to be here awhile and he knew it.
“They will understand, sir,” Romel offered. Edwin glanced at him in the rearview mirror, glanced at the eyes that so much reminded him of Angela’s; the dark brown eyes, almond shaped and always so bright with enthusiasm.
“Did you hear what I said?” Edwin was frustrated, his voice wavered between hurt and anger. “Do you understand what happened?” He closed his eyes, letting a tear escape from the confines of his heart. Romel had done nothing but listen. He had listened when Edwin first made his first several visits to the house he now watched. What luck, Edwin thought, to have had the same cab driver each trip. They’d gotten to know each other. Romel was the only person he could call after what happened…
“I was stupid! I’ve never even had alcohol before…”
…your energy, is heaven…
The two sat silently as the grey sky visibly moved above them. Sometimes a darker cloud drifted underneath a lighter one. Edwin stared at the windows. They knew what happened, those windows could see it inside him. They cried now, together.
• • •
“…and I just can’t believe that you’ve been sent to me from above.” Edwin held Angela close, singing softly, smiling. “…You’re my Angel Love.” Angela smiled and turned away shyly. “…and I can’t wait to feel your sun shine down on me from above, Angel Love.” They were both nervous. It was the first time they’d met in person, despite having chatted and talked on the phone for over a year. His Tagalog was improving but still insufficient, so they communicated in English. The song was their song. When it played, everything disappeared but the two of them. That was so long ago…
• • •
Here with you now, the rhythm that we’ve found…
Romel shifted in his seat. “You need to tell them, sir” he offered. “They already know, but you need to tell them.”
…deep in sound, music is all around…
“Tell them what, exactly?” Edwin’s forehead rested against the car window. His gaze still matched with the window into what used to be Angela’s room. The pink curtains were gone, now, they’d actually made the house look worse, like chewed up bubblegum stuck on the bottom of a shoe. He never voiced his opinion, pink was Angela’s favorite color. “…and stop calling me sir!”
“Yes, sir.”
…the air we breath, smells like, love…
“Tell them what happened.” Romel caught Edwin’s eyes in the rearview again. He nodded slightly. “They will understand.”
…your melody, makes me sing a sweeter song…
They might, Edwin thought.
…your energy, is heaven…
“Maybe.”
“They always loved you,” Romel said nodding again. “Angela was happy. That’s all they wanted.”
It was true…
• • •
“…and I just can’t believe that you’ve been sent to me from above…” Angela’s Filipino voice wasn’t the best suited to the song’s airy and surreal tune, but Edwin didn’t care. “…you’re my Angel Love.” She had a beautiful voice and she sang with an honest heart. Her parents, soon to be his parents, watched from the hallway as Edwin held a fork housing a half-eaten piece of something-or-other she had cooked. He thought that was the surprise, but when she started singing, food didn’t matter. “…and I can’t wait to feel your sun shine down on me from above, Angel Love.” Her parents clapped excitedly, but Angela didn’t hear and Edwin only vaguely saw a blur in his peripheral vision. The ring in his pocket would wait, he was a patient man. For now, however, he was focused on those eyes…
• • •
Romel caught Edwin looking at him again.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Romel’s voice was flat. “But you can’t find her here, not in me. Not yet.”
Ooh…la…la, la…la, la… The light oohs and las always lifted Edwin’s spirit. Now, in perhaps a more literal fashion, they would lift Angela’s. Ooh…la…la, la…la, la…
“What do you mean?”
“Her mother waits for you,” Romel nodded his head towards the house. “Her father waits for you.” Romel paused. What had the police told the family? Edwin looked toward the house, the two windows, as he’d done so many times before. A face appeared, ghostly in the shadow of darkening clouds. “Her sister waits for you,” Romel decided finally. “You are all they have left of her. To them, you are their son. Go to them.”
“They have loved me like a mother and father,” Edwin mused. “…and brother.” The face disappeared as the song hit a key-change…
• • •
“I’ve waited for you all of my life.” It was Edwin’s turn to surprise Angela. “I’ve waited for you all of my life.” The song would repeat this line several times, so would Edwin. It was a rare day that Angela’s family could sit down together as one. Both her parents were seated at the dinner table, along with her sister and brother. Angela had just seated when the song popped on the radio. Edwin wouldn’t let this opportunity pass. He pulled out the ring and everyone went quiet. “I’ve waited for you, Angela. Puwede ba kitang pakasalan?” Angela giggled. It wasn’t the best Tagalog, but to her it was the most perfect thing she’d heard. Everyone was grinning, they all wanted to share in this moment. Angela was speechless.
“Well?” her father asked first. Then her mother. Her sister simply touched her arm, smiling.
“Yes!” She stood and flung herself into Edwin’s arms.
• • •
…the sweetest love…
It was the perfect song. The face returned to the window, along with two others. The older female turned to the male, then back to the taxi. Darker clouds floated in serenely. It was going to be a rough night, but there was a calmness in the movement. The faces disappeared.
…feel your sunshine…
“Ready?” Romel turned to face Edwin. “They know we’re here. It’s time.” Edwin nodded. He couldn’t put it off any longer.
“Let’s go.” He wiped the tears from his eyes and opened the door. He could see the front door opening, three figures bounding out of the house, barefoot. Romel exited the drivers side but made no effort to console his family. It was Edwin who had been in the accident, not him.
“Edwin!” Mrs. Antonio reached him first, feet dirty from the muddy grass. The rain was falling hard now, everyone was wet. “We heard…accident…are you…” She grabbed him, holding tightly. He held fast to her as he looked solemnly to Mr. Antonio and Isah. Both stared blankly, like the windows. They could see the truth like the windows…
“Isah,” Mr. Antonio turned to the young girl, “prepare a bed for your brother.” She walked back into the house, turning several times to try and catch a glimpse of what happened.
“Who did it?” Mrs. Antonio grabbed the front of Edwin’s shirt and shook him. “What happened?” Edwin looked at Romel, who nodded encouragement.
“I…” He started to cry again. “I lost…control.” He looked down at the water at his feet.
“How?” Mrs. Antonio begged. “How did that happen? Did you try to miss something?
“No…” Edwin looked to Mr. Antonio, then the windows before finally looking into Mrs. Antonio’s eyes. He whispered. The words were too quiet to hear through the rain, but she watched his lips move. “I was drinking…”
• • •
Now, he thought, she really is my Angel Love.
Approximately 1466 words
Made by The Prose Formatter