A month later...
Every time classes ended, Mikael and Mare met in a small suburb. There, they discussed the day's affairs.
"The gondola competition is tomorrow," Mikael said, leaning against the marble wall. "We haven't practiced at all...
" "We know we'll win. There's no need to worry."
Mikael lowered his head. He wasn't so sure. He had no idea how to swing a gondola oar. However, he didn't try to persuade her to practice any further; he decided that he would somehow get out of this situation tonight.
It was a sunny Friday. The sun beat down mercilessly. The angel and the devil watched the passersby. Mare was trying to spot someone with her eagle eyes. She kept her eye on some man. Unfortunately, Mikael had had enough of helping men. For the entire 19 days (they took one person a day), there were only four women, including two children. He shook his head when she pointed at one.
"We'll stand here all day and, what's more, we won't get a single new person. Haven't you noticed we're still mortals? I suspect Ben and that little girl are already at the top of the list."
Mikael nodded without emotion. He had just begun to think very deeply.
"Perhaps you could share what's on your mind right now?" she said, tapping him on the head.
"Haven't you noticed I'm incredibly stupid?"
Mare looked at him in surprise.
"No... and I have no idea what you're getting at.
" "Why didn't you want to go with Ben?
" "Because I chose you, and I don't like Ben.
" "You know he's smarter than me? He's incredibly smart...
" "What are you talking about?!"
The devil was growing increasingly irritated by the angel's statements. She didn't like him playing his riddles.
"Ben chose a 10-year-old angel, why do you think?
" "I have no idea. Enlighten me," she snapped.
"A little girl. She's such a defenseless and innocent creature. It's easy for little children to approach a person, talk to them, and make them laugh whenever they need it. Ben knew that, and that's why he chose her. Besides, "if" he won, he doesn't have to share his wish with her. She's a small and inexperienced creature, which makes her easy to trick. Look, all they have to do is go to a retirement home—they love children—or other institutions, and they'll gather over 300 people... People are easily drawn to little angels..."
Mikael's voice grew louder, then quieter. He had spoken unworthily of the other angel. For a moment, he felt a foolish jealousy and a desire to win in his heart; it drove him to pride. He felt an anger towards Ben that had never been felt before—a terrible hatred.
"Mikael!" she called to him, as he was slowly sinking to the ground. He was losing consciousness.
"You idiot! You could have said it... differently! You asshole, get up! I'm not carrying you home!"
The angel didn't respond. He sat still and closed his eyes. Pain coursed through his entire body. His heart burned mercilessly. A tear rolled down his cheek from beneath his closed eyelids. He tried to control himself, but it wasn't that easy. He couldn't do anything until he did something good.
The devil glared at him with hatred. She couldn't help him right now, because something would happen to her. Despite her anger, her heart ached as she looked at him. She had felt this terrible pain herself, and it was hard for her to extricate herself from it. She had to do something at all costs. She stood up and walked away from him for a moment, leaving him alone.
"He won't move anywhere anyway. He won't be able to, unless he's stupid enough to do good deeds in this state."
Mare ran to a small corner shop that stocked everyday items. With her own money, she bought a sharp kitchen knife. She put it back in its packaging and returned to the "dying angel." He was still lying in the same position. When she approached him, he noticed his breathing was a little labored. He opened his eyes and looked into hers. She cleverly squirmed away from his gaze and pulled out a long, razor-sharp knife. Mikael was surprised.
"Are you trying to kill me?!" he said in a funny, quiet voice. More tears, which he couldn't control, fell onto his shirt.
Mare ignored him and gripped the blade of the knife with her left hand. Then she looked at him, tightened her grip on the object, and pulled it out hard. Drops of blood sprayed out, falling onto her knees and dress. She gritted her teeth.
"Could you help me, please? Don't just sit there, do something, or I'll bleed out."
Mikael regained his composure immediately. Despite the pain, he sat on his knees and took a packet of bandages from his jacket. He always carried them just in case anyone needed help. In his pocket, besides the packet of bandages, were things like plasters, ointment for burns and bites, strengthening tablets, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and glucose powder.
"Give me your hand," he asked.
"Take it yourself..." she replied dryly.
He leaned over her and gently placed her hand on his knee. Her hand was bleeding profusely. He felt great remorse and regret. He knew she had done it for him, but he preferred not to speak on the subject. He sat quietly, his hands gently slipping between her fingers. The sting faded from his heart, and the burden was gone. He was thinking of Mare, and only her. Suddenly, a strange thought struck him. As if this whole situation had happened before.
"Oh yes," he remembered. "It was Mare who once bandaged my hand when I fell out of a tree. How long ago that was. I'm too sentimental about such things," he said, scolding himself for these thoughts.
Images from his childhood began to flash through his mind. He remembered being a small, carefree angel who didn't have to worry about doing good deeds. He had once lived in peace and quiet. Unfortunately, everything changed when he met a little devil. It was the devil Mare, who had come to the angel world without any fear of the guardians. She was intrigued by Mikael's skin color and the strange horns protruding from his shoulders and elbows. From the beginning, she followed him around, asking about everything related to angels. "A curious little soul," he once called her when he wouldn't tell her where he was going. From the beginning, he had been special to her, and she to him. In a way that wasn't indifferent. Despite their long acquaintance, he never knew why she came to him. Sometimes she didn't even have a purpose, and as she grew older, she would make up reasons on the spot. He tried to understand her for years, but eventually gave up. He didn't need to understand her; it was enough that she was there.
He wrapped the last bandage around her wrist and tied it gently, but just enough to hold. The pain in his heart stopped immediately. Mare's wound was open, and in the land of angels, it's called a grievous wound (luckily for Mikael), and is classified as a major deed, which also includes the small, medium, and giant. Thanks to this, the suffering in the angel's heart ceased. He was at peace now, but the devil wasn't feeling well. She felt dizzy, and after a moment, she collapsed heavily onto Mikael's lap.
"Thank you," he said, taking her in his arms. He had to get to the hotel unnoticed.
It wasn't that easy, because passersby could spot his bloody pants and Mare's dress at any moment. After less than an hour of walking, he reached the hotel. The receptionist looked at them strangely and then looked at Mrs. Deed.
"Is something wrong?
" "She fainted," he explained as he left, leading her to her room and leaving her alone on the bed.
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