No matter how hard I tried, sleep evaded me.

Tossing and turning, I decided enough was enough and climbed out of bed before creeping across the landing to check on Aria.

She was fast asleep, thumb in her mouth. It was a habit I’d tried to help her break, but nothing worked, and besides, she looked so cute. Other children had a comfort blanket, she had her thumb.

Closing the door quietly, I made my way downstairs, and opened the front door gently, wanting to sit in my rocking chair.

I sat down and rocked, my thoughts crowded once more.

Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to the forest a little way from my house.

Gabriella. I heard the call and stood up.

Suddenly forked lightning split the violet skies.

I made my way to the end of my garden and across the field, before walking through the dense foliage.

Lightning struck a tree a few metres from my current location.

I rushed toward the tree as a blinding light illuminated the forest. I stepped into a clearing, my mouth agape.

“Hello, Gabriella,” the voice said, from within the light. “I am pleased to finally talk with you.”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I have many names, but you probably know me better as God.”

“Oh, my…”

“Exactly,” he said, a hint of humour in his voice.

The light burned brighter, but it didn’t hurt my eyes.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Is talking with me not what you’ve wished for?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Then, I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long.”

“Did Michael speak to you?”

“Everything my children see, I see,” he revealed.

“Can I see you–the real you, that is?”

“I have only ever allowed the highest ranking amongst my angels to witness my true form…” He paused. “But for you, I will make an exception.”

Although it was what I desired, I was still curious. “What’s so special about me?”

“You are the mother of Aria,” he said.

I stood still, excited and a little scared as a figure stepped out of the light.

How was I supposed to greet the creator of the Universe?

As if he’d read my mind, he offered me his hand, which I took without question. “It is nice to meet you, my child.”

I looked up at him in wonderment. Of all the things I’d been expecting, it wasn’t this.

Most of the angels I’d met stood a little over seven feet tall, but he was taller than the rest.

“You are so beautiful,” I said, bowing in deference.

It seemed disrespectful to look directly at him.

“Why, thank you, that is most kind of you.” He placed his hand under my chin. “You are the mother of Aria and should never bow to anybody.”

I gazed at him.

Humanity was made in his image, I could see that clearly, but he was so much more than we ever could be.

His eyes were like molten gold, and he too, looked like he’d been cast from marble. His hair was golden, longer than his angels’ and flowed behind him.

The creator looked like the perfect creation.

A white shroud covered his body, but from within, he seemed to emit a glow, his skin almost translucent.

He had the most magnificent set of wings–almost twice the width of Michael’s, but as glorious to behold as they were, something about them struck me as odd.

I squinted to take a better look, shocked to realise what was bothering me about them.

His wings seemed to phase in and out of existence, there one second, gone the next.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine you to look like you do.”

“Well now you know,” he said, bowing his head. “But if you please, keep what you have seen to yourself–I prefer the mystery.” He smiled benevolently.

I bowed my head.

“May I speak to you about Aria?”

“It is the reason I am here.”

“Oh?”

“You want me to explain how she came to be, but more important than that, you want Angelo to be a part of her life.”

“Yes,” I said, almost too eager. “To both.”

“Then we shall deal with the matter of how Aria came to be first, but once again, I must ask you to keep a secret for me.”

“Of course,” I said, even if I didn’t have the faintest idea of what secret I would be keeping.

“You must never reveal what I say to you.” His eyes glowed brightly. “To do so would cause untold panic.”

“I won’t speak a word.”

“Michael is my closest confidante and is the only other being aware of what I am to say to you.” He took my hand. “Do I have your promise?”

“Of course.”

He closed his eyes, his wings fluttering in and out of existence once again. “I’m dying.”