The angel he lost

An act of kindness

third pov

"Governor" - Liam said with a solemn voice, approaching the table, where the two would be dining, shaking his hand, with a forced smile 

"Liam, what a pleasure seeing you again. Or should I say, Mr. Anderson?" - governor Wellington greeted him with an exaggerated ceremony, Liam felt disgusted by his servility, even though he kept a straight face. 

"You can call me filthy beggar or fraud, for the old-time sake" - Liam replied looking straight at his eyes, with a cynical look, making the governor very uncomfortable. 

"Maybe we should leave the past behind us, and see towards a brighter, more ... fruitful future. For both of our business's sake" - the governor tried to ease the conversation, but he was moving awkwardly in the chair, which was too narrow for his fat body.

The small pause of Liam made the governor sweat like a pig, he desperately needed his help, with the upcoming election and the new changes on the markets. 

"For the future" - Liam said raising his glass of champagne 

"For the money and power" - the governor replied smiling with relief. 

"I suppose you have a proposal to make. Why don't we discuss it after we have ordered?" - with a minor gesture of Liam's hand, the waiters came rushing to serve their table. 

"Yes, brilliant" - Wellington replied, nodding and smiling like a schoolboy. His little eyes, filled with envy saw Liam as if they wanted to examine him. He still could not believe that the poor boy he had met a few years ago had turned into the all-powerful man who was sitting in front of him.

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third pov 

"Sophia" - Ana Maria called her friend, at the school hallway, speeding the rhythm of her steps to reach out to her.  For a moment Sophia stopped, but then she continued to walk even faster, not waiting for Ana Maria. 

"Soph... Sophia" - Ana Maria was almost out of her breath when she finally reached her. 

"Hey" - Sophia gave her an awkward smile, but her look was fixed on the ground, avoiding eye contact. 

"Is there something wrong? I came calling for you this morning, but your mother told me that you had left earlier. You have been avoiding me all day during classes" - Maria sounded genuinely worried, and that made Sophia feel guilty 

'No, no... It's just that... It has been a difficult phase" - she sighed and sat down on a bench, throwing her back to the side. "I am sorry" - she mumbled, all while keeping her head down

"It's okay. You don't have to feel bad about it, please... I understand... with all that had been going on in your home, the pressure for college and everything" - Ana Maria replied with compassion. 

"I don't think I am going to college..." 

"What? Why not? - Sophia asked surprised

"I am not as bright as you, my grades are terrible and I don't think I have much hope" 

"I thought you wanted to pursue fashion, you love it so much" 

"Oh, Ana let's just admit it, with my monstrous face the only place I can make in my career, is the circus. So, no thank you. I'll spare myself the humiliations and the failure. 

"You don't know what God has planned for you...you should have faith. You have so many gifts, Sophia" 

"I am not in the mood to hear one of your speeches"- Sophia replied annoyed "We both know that there is no future for me, those dreams I have confessed you, are just dreams, nothing more" 

"Don't speak like that'  - Ana Maria felt incredibly sorry to see her friend giving up on her dreams, due to her low self-esteem. 

"It's the truth, Ana. I'll be lucky if someone would want to marry me. Maybe my brother would buy me a husband now that he is rich, to compensate for what he has done to me" - Sophia felt a knot behind her throat, but after a long sleepless night, had come to the conclusion that her mother was right. 

"Soph..." - Ana Maria tried to say something, but Sophia cut her off, when she got on her feet, taking her bag with her, and walked away almost running. 

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Sophia pov 

"I feel so... angry. I know that Ana Maria is not guilty of anything that is happening to me, but... every time I look at her flawless face, I feel so hideous. I feel trapped inside my own body, I can never escape... 

The last thing I wanted to hear was her motivational speeches and preaches about faith in God. Why? Why me? It's easy for her to speak, she looks like an angel. Soon she will escape that horrendous family of her when she marries someone who will give her the world. Any man would fall in love with her, heck all the boys in this stupid school have a crush on her. While no one stops to give a second look at me. 

It's burning me... The fire that once destroyed my face now is incinerating my soul. I feel so much rage, anger, helplessness, and pity toward myself. I haven't felt like that for a long time, since Ana Maria entered my life.. but now it's all back. 

And it's his fault. Alan Bakers... the first boy I felled in love with... obviously, I am invisible to him. Alan is only nice to me because he has a major crush on Ana Maria... And I understand why, she is so... perfect, but it still hurts so much. 

I threw fists of water on my face trying to calm down and erase the traces of tears. 

"I thought I heard someone crying from inside, should have figured it out it was you" - at the bathroom's mirror, I saw Adele, standing just a couple of feet away from. I felt mortified, the last person I wanted to see right now was my biggest bully at school. 

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third pov 

"Hey, where are you going" - Adele hold Sophia's arm, as she tried to walk out fast, without even saying a word back. 

"Would you just leave me alone?" - Sophia almost yelled feeling extremely frustrated 

"Okay, okay, Jezz... " - Adele let her go "Can I please talk to you" - she asked in a polite way, which caught Sophia totally off guard. She looked at her surprise, feeling suspicious 

"Haven't you said enough, already? I don't think there is an insult or a humiliation from the dictionary, you have forgotten to say at me" - Sophia replied with a hard face, which left Adele stunned for a moment. Usually, she wasn't the type to defend herself, Sophia was too shy and scared so she always took every cruel comment they throw at her, it was Ana Maria who would speak up and defend her always. Therefore Adele had waited for the perfect moment, to find her alone so she could speak with her, but apparently, this conversation would be much more difficult than she imagined. 

Adele felt her palm-sweating, as Sophia was already at the door leaving. 

"I am sorry! "- Adele screamed at her, making Sophia freeze in her place "For everything" - she added, as Sophia turned around slowly, looking at her in disbelief and shock. 

"What did you say?" - Sophia asked again, not sure if she had heard her right, the first time

"I said, I am sorry" - Adele approached her and took her hands over her, in a friendly manner "I am sorry for all the mean and hurtful things I have said to you. You don't deserve any of this, and I was wrong... so please forgive me" 

"Are you... are you sick? Are you dying?" - Sophia said, looking at her with wide eyes like she had grown another head all of the sudden

"No, Sophia. I am serious. I want us to reconcile and to become friends" 

"Friends? You and I? Have Ana Maria finally gotten in your head, with all of her speeches about kindness and selflessness? "

"This has nothing to do with Ana Maria" - Adele replied annoyed, but she soon changed her tone of voice, trying to sound soft and sweet "Can we speak elsewhere? Let me invite you over for lunch? I think we have plenty to discuss over" - she smiled, throwing her hand over her shoulders and leading the way. 

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Ana Maria pov

"Father, I am sorry I am late.  I had something important, on my way to the church" - I apologized to the priest, as I rushed inside the small building. I was in charge of the annual spring children's festival and as the day was coming close, we still had so many things to do. 

I had too much on my plate this year, with school, my part-time job, and all, but when Father Andrew insisted, I just could not say no. No one else was willing to take it upon themselves, and I would just hate myself seeing the disappointed faces of the children, who looked forward to the festival. 

"It's okay, Maria. Just don't run or you may slip and break a leg" - as always father Andrew welcomed me with a smile. Even though he was too old now,  and was suffering from many health problems, he always was the first to show up, trying to help me. 

"We need to finish the stage preparations. before the final rehearsal " - I  was trying to work as quickly as she could, feeling like I was already far behind. 

"I have something I want to share with you " - Father Andrew said to me, gesturing me to take a seat next to the bench he was sitting at. 

"Is everything okay?" - I asked worried if something would come up. I don't like surprises, usually, for me, a piece of unexpected news was bad news. 

"We already have all the sum, that we intended from the festival. Our charity program is safe, at least for a year or two. I thought this would make you happy" - he said as a big warm smile brighten up his wrinkly face 

"Oh, father Andrew. That's a miracle. Oh, thank God! But how? When?" 

"A generous donation arrived at my desk this morning" 

"Oh bless this person's soul! May Almighty God gives everything he or she wants in life" - I prayed wholeheartedly, feeling incredibly grateful. This winter the orphanage would have all their needs covered: 

"It's a he. And you may know him, actually. Is your friend Sophia's brother. Liam Anderson. Apparently, he has become a very successful and wealthy businessman. Helena, who God forbids to mind her own business for once, told me that he had just purchased "The Grand Farm", and is renovating. 

"Well, he must be such a kind soul, like Sophia is. His donation will improve so many things around here, and maybe this year, with the money from the festival, we can use it for the hospital. The conditions are so poor and it needs our help, don't you think Father? 

"I am sure we can do something" - he replied smiling at me kindly "You know Ana Maria? You are at a perfect age to start considering marriage. Helena said that Mr. Anderson is a handsome man, and she was looking forward to introducing her daughter to him. The rest of the ladies of the church as well, but in my humble opinion, I think that a generous man as he, needs by his side a selfless woman... as you" - I felt the heat on my face, I knew I was blushing hard right now, the embarrassment was killing me. 

"Maybe you should ask your friend, Sophia, to introduce you first. You would be sisters- in - law" - he added chuckling 

"No, father... I could never... I don't intend anything, I swear... I have never thought for such a thing" -  I mumbled, not being able to even form sentences 

"Well, maybe you should consider it, Ana Maria. You deserve to be happy, if not Sophia's brother, someone else will make you..."

"Father, you know that I can't.... I can't think of a future" -I felt streams of tears burning in my eyes

"Yes, you can! You deserve it. Have faith" - he said patting my knee gently.