THE FALLEN ANGEL

The candlelight slowly dimmed, allowing darkness to fill the room like the thick velvet curtains of a theater. It felt as though the day had been just one act of a play, with the night serving as an intermission before the next scene. The darkness turned the room into a timeless space, a refuge where one could rest without the burden of responsibility. For Tom, this darkness was a sanctuary, a place to escape from the demands of the world. It wasn’t that he was unwilling or unable to meet those demands, but he needed a moment to step away from the chaos. In the darkness that obscured even his own form, Tom found contentment, letting the night pass until daylight streamed in with its bold confidence. This was a battle between spirit and flesh, light and darkness, love and l**t, shame and confidence. Tom felt wretched and hopeless, questioning what had come over him to defy his master by not adhering to the sacred teachings of the holy book. Faith had become meaningless to him. Everyone, including Devo, would soon witness the fall of the most faithful man on earth. I first met Tom in high school, where he was a year ahead of me. He was tall, with a medium build and an irresistible charm. His round eyes sparkled with a smile as bright as the sun, reflecting love, kindness, and innocence. His crew-cut hair made him stand out at school. He had a broad face that exuded confidence and a spirit of service—a man who knew his purpose and was committed to his work. Anyone who looked at him would agree that he seemed sent from above to instill moral virtues in his generation. When Tom preached at school assemblies and Scripture Union meetings, his words carried power and authority, sharper than a sword, piercing the hearts of many and bringing about spiritual transformation. He was so spirit-filled that when he led prayers, students possessed by demonic spirits would fall and roll on the ground. This made him popular throughout the school, earning him the respect of even the teachers, who regarded him as though he were part of the administration. Tom’s discipline and respect for authority were well-known. He was often cited by teachers as a model of good behavior, respect, and obedience. It was also said that Tom could discern people’s thoughts, an ability granted by God. I believe this was true because I once witnessed him reveal exactly what my friend was thinking, leading my friend to immediately convert and accept Christ as his personal Savior. Tom devoted most of his time to reading the Bible and praying, leaving little time for his academic studies. This worried many of his teachers and even his parents, who repeatedly advised him to focus more on his studies. But Tom dismissed them as worldly, considering the things of this world to be mere dust. He believed in life after death and frequently emphasized this in his teachings and sermons. Despite Tom’s popularity and virtuous nature, he faced criticism from some students, particularly Devo. I don’t know why he was called Devo, but that was the name everyone used. Devo was a tall, light-skinned boy full of swagger but known for his rebellious behavior. He frequently smuggled illicit drugs like m*******a and opium into school and often snuck out at night by jumping over the school fence. Despite being suspended three times, Devo remained defiant. The school couldn’t expel him because he was exceptionally bright, consistently outperforming even the most well-behaved students. Unlike Tom, who barely touched his textbooks, Devo always made time for his studies, which contributed to his academic success. He was also quite popular with the girls. Tom and Devo were never on good terms, each viewing the other as an “enemy of progress.” However, Tom seemed to have the upper hand, as he kept converting many of Devo’s friends to Christianity. Tom preached against immorality, drunkenness, d**g a***e, and obscenities, which deeply unsettled Devo and his clique. They mocked Tom, calling him names like “Young Devil,” “Mr. Religion,” and “Small God.” They hurled insults at him, which irritated Tom, but his faith and love for God helped him control his emotions. He never reported them to the school authorities, choosing instead to emulate Christ by not retaliating against evil. He always prayed for their transformation, believing that vengeance belonged to God, not man. Sometimes, his friends would report the incidents, but Tom would discourage them, reminding them that recompense was God’s domain. One day, Devo was enraged. “Ouch! Chaa!” he exclaimed, clenching his fist. “Nooo…no…no!” he shouted, punching the air and kicking a ten-liter jerry can behind the dormitory. His face was hard and serious, his eyes turning red and cold like a hungry, angry lion ready to devour its prey. “I knew it. And now it’s happened,” Devo said. “That religious fool has finally convinced my girl to believe his lies. I’m going to teach him a lesson he’ll never forget.” He continued, “That i***t with a face like a monkey is gonna know who I am.” He spat on the ground, looked up, spat again while glancing at his three friends, and then swore to deal with Tom, no matter the cost. Bella, nicknamed the “rocking girl,” was Devo’s girlfriend, whom he loved deeply and would do anything to keep. She was a beautiful, light-skinned girl who had even attracted the attention of a couple of teachers. Her eyes were as white as milk, slightly slanted, and seemed to follow the curve between her cheekbone and temple. Her mouth curled up beautifully at the corners. Tired of Devo’s ways and her own unsettling behavior, Bella decided to turn to Christianity. Tom had often preached to her about the consequences of sin, eternal damnation, and life after death, but she hadn’t been receptive. However, as their final exams approached, she secretly approached Tom, confessing that she needed Christ in her life and was tired of her sinful ways. She also wanted to distance herself from Devo and his friends, who had made her life difficult. Tom was overjoyed when he heard this, knowing the time had come to reap the harvest. A Bible verse echoed in his mind: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He also remembered the words of the prophet Daniel: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Tom was now more determined than ever to take the gospel to new heights. He focused solely on the Kingdom of God, urging his peers to seek it first, believing that everything else would follow. Devo, consumed with rage, wished he could kill Tom with his thoughts alone. He desperately sought an opportunity to beat up Tom, but his plans were always thwarted. Tom had become aware of Devo’s conspiracy and was careful, especially at night. Moreover, the school administration had learned of Devo’s threats and issued strict warnings to those plotting against Tom, threatening expulsion for any harm done to him. This fear kept Devo and his g**g from acting on their intentions. Devo repeatedly tried to win Bella back but failed. Over time, his feelings for her waned as he found another girlfriend. He often referred to Bella as a fallen angel who had made the worst decision of her life by embracing Christianity. To him, true entertainment and life were found in the world, not in religion, which he saw as a prison depriving people of their rights and pleasures.