5 Chapter 5: Clouds

-Arrow-

I approached Mae's home and saw her in the kitchen preparing her nightly dose of tea. "Mae, Liz was in an accident" I spoke softly not to scare her. "She was rushed to the hospital not too long ago", I said looking at her shocked and worried expression. Her eyes were in panic, "Micah performed CPR on her until the medics arrived, she has a lot of cuts and bruises, but I assure you she will recover with time" I assured her. She took a small breath of relief. "Aren't you going call her parents?" I asked. "Oh, yes! I'm sorry I'm just so worried about her. I can't sound like I know what happened to Liz before her parents do. They will ask me how I know so I will have to do a simple house call to make it sound casual", she said with a shaken voice. She grabbed her home phone and dialed the number. She hung up the phone and returned to her tea. I furrowed my eyebrows at how calm and collected she suddenly became. "Aren't you going to check up on her?" I asked. She nodded, "I will but not right now. I will give her parents' some time with her before I go to see her myself". She proceeded to walk towards her favorite chair in the living room. I sat with her until she no longer wanted my company and dismissed me.

-Micah-

I flew to the hospital with only her purse, her collection of shopping bags scattered all over the inside of her car and it will take me too long to recollect all her belongings. I walked into the hospital, "I am here to see Liz", I requested. The receptionist raised an eyebrow at me, "Liz…what is her last name?" she asked. I scratched my head shyly, I never cared to remember her real name, "Um I do not know her last name, but she was involved in car accident. The ambulance brought her in probably ten minutes ago? I have her belongings", I asserted showing the receptionist Liz's purse. The receptionist gave me a meek grin and gave me a guest pass with her room number on it. I thanked her and walked to Liz's room.

I slowly turned the doorknob and peaked inside her room. Her breathing is normal and the blood was carefully cleaned up. I can clearly see her cuts and bruises on her face, she was sleeping on her back soundly as I approached her bedside. She turned to sleep on her side with her back to me. Her hospital gown was undone at the top revealing her smooth delicate back. I set her purse down on the table to free my hands to tie her gown. "Thank you" Liz tirelessly murmured. I blushed from the shock and embarrassment I thought she was sleeping. I cleared my throat, "No, no problem" I stuttered, "I brought your purse, I figured you had important things in there that you will need". With her back still turned to me, "I heard some guy saved me. Someone with brown hair and green eyes who claimed to be my friend". I leaned on the table and crossed my arms, "oh really?" I uttered. She let out a deep sigh and turned to look at me, "it was you, wasn't it? Aside from my aunt the only person I know in this town is you. Thank you, for saving me…and bringing me my purse" she smiled as she gradually closed her eyes again. "It was no problem" I shyly spoke looking away. She didn't respond so I looked back at her, she fell back asleep. I couldn't help but smile while watching her sleep. She had a pretty rough day. I heard the doorknob turn and cloaked myself to be invisible in a panic. It was just her parents; I exhale in relief. They rushed to Liz's bedside and her mom brushed her thumb across Liz's cheek. "My dear baby. Look at you", she said on the verge of tears. They must have been really worried about her. I walked around them to avoid any contact with them and stood at the other side of the bed watching her parents care for her.

A few hours later Liz convinced her parents to go home for the night since they rushed to the hospital with no personal care items. She deeply exhaled and slumped into her bed blankly staring at the ceiling. I'm curious to know what she is thinking about. "I wonder if that deer is okay. I think I broke its hip." She said to herself. With her injuries she still worries about the animal that caused her accident. Most humans would wonder about the condition of their car. She's an interesting girl. Liz lifted her left arm up to the ceiling open and closing her hand. She had numerous small cuts from the broken glass on her hand and big one on her arm that was bandaged up. After a few seconds of staring at her cuts she retracted her hand and went for her neck. "Where is my necklace?" She frantically panicked feeling for her necklace. Necklace? Was she wearing a necklace earlier? I looked around the room to see if there was a necklace anywhere. Still in distress she clicked the button to call for a nurse. "Do you know where my clothes went? And my necklace?" She asked the nurse. "Oh, I will go look for your belongings for you. Wait one moment", the nurse reassured her. Liz fixed her posture and anxiously bit her bottom lip. Is the necklace important to her? After a few moments the nurse came back with a big bag of all her belongings. Liz thanked the nurse and frantically searched the bag for the piece of jewelry. The moment she found her necklace she exhaled in relief and smiled with teeth. She hurriedly put the necklace on and admired the gem in her hand. It was beautiful and it matched her perfectly I thought. It complimented her caramel brown eyes. I looked out the window and wondered why Mae didn't come to visit her tonight. I watched over with Liz until morning and dismissed myself when I noticed Mae outside the hospital. I flew back to my apartment to clean myself up before work.

-Aunt Mae-

I spent the whole night making herbal ointment for Liz's cuts and bruises hoping it will help with the healing. I looked up to the room where Liz is staying in and I saw Micah leaning on the window looking out at me. I owe him a lot for watching over Liz in replacement of Arrow. Without him she could have died as a mere human yesterday. Micah is a relatively young angel, only about a hundred years old but he doesn't seem to enjoy his job as an angel like most do. I offered him his own house with amenities, but he chose to live in a scruffy one-bedroom apartment above a cafe. He also chose to work with cars and grease instead of a high salary job like a doctor. Most angels sent to Earth for missions usually choose to live leisurely. He is unlike any angel I have ever come across.

I walked into the hospital and asked followed hospital procedures before heading up to Liz. I slowly opened the door and crept inside trying not to wake Liz up. My dear Liz, I cannot believe that she had to go through such a traumatic accident after only being in town for a few days. On the bright side, I know this accident was not supernatural because if it were, the necklace would have sensed it and protected her. I held her hand and firmly squeezed it, "Aunt Mae, hi", she said sleepily. I gave her a warm smile, "hi dear, I made some ointment for your injuries. Can I put it on you?" I asked her as I pulled out the tub of ointment. She nodded and lifted her arm for me. As I applied the ointment on her injuries she looked out the window, her gaze lost in the clouds. "Did the doctor tell you how long you will have to stay here?", I made conversation. "He said another three days to make sure my internal bruising is healing well", she spoke keeping her eyes on the clouds. "Aunt Mae?", she called out my name. "Yes, my dear?", I asked moving onto applying the ointment to her neck. "Is the community college here any good?", she asked me turning to look at me. "Yes, the community college is just as good as the university here. Many people attend the community college for two years before pursuing their degree at the university. It saves them -", I explained but stopped midway. "Are you planning to stay here for college my dear?", I directed the question at her. She sat up to fix her posture, "I'm thinking of deferring my acceptance to Mu University and stay here to do my general education. I don't really know what I want to major in yet", she conveyed. I walked over to the other side of the bed to continue my ointment application on her other arm. This is a good idea; we can all protect her if she stays in town I thought. "Whatever you decide I will support you", I said pulling the loose strands of hair behind her ear.

I stayed with Liz until visiting hours was almost over. It was lovely catching up with her about the past six months of her life. She grows up more and more every time I see her. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed home. I looked into my rearview mirror and saw a figure in my backseat. I stepped on the brake hard enough for the figure to hit the back of my passenger seat. "Chase", I said with disgust; "It's been a while, Mae".