Reminder

The alarm sounded annoyingly close to her head. Arielle groaned and swiped snooze. “I’ll get up in ten minutes.” she told herself. Thirty minutes later, she still hadn’t managed to pry herself from the covers. 

What’s the point? she wondered. I’m not learning anything. Nothing is sticking in my head. I need to get up and shower…

Twelve minutes later she still hadn’t gotten up yet. She reluctantly rolled out of bed. Not really wanting to go, but she had missed too many classes already. She couldn't afford to fail classes that she was paying for. 

No longer having time for a shower, she put her hair up in a top knot and threw on some clothes before heading out the door. I need coffee. Should have gotten up and made it. I’m wasting money.

Thankfully her favorite coffee shop, The Sleepy Bean, was half a block from the campus which put it perfectly between her apartment and the school. Why did I sign up for morning classes the first year?

“Good morning.” the barista greeted her, a strange look crossed her face. 

“Morning.” Arielle ordered her iced coffee. Handing the money to the cashier, she caught her reflection in the large mirror the shop had kindly hung behind the registers. While most girls looked cute in the messy bun, she was sadly not one of them. She looked like she was hungover. She tried to smooth down the frizzy bits of her hair while she waited for the drink.

Once her drink was ready, she left the shop. She then had to hurry across the campus, dodging equally late and sleepy students, trying to make it to class on time.

Stopping to clear traffic, she started to cross the street. Her heart and body froze at the sound of honking. A speeding car had come flying around the corner and was speeding toward her. 

Before she could move, someone slammed into her, yanking her out of the car’s path. 

When her jackhammering heart slowed to a ping, she gasped, “He didn’t even slow down..”

“Are you alright?” a male voice asked.

Arielle was brought back to the moment to realize that she was being held by a strange man. She quickly stepped back, adjusting her book bag. “I think so.” 

He was so average you would forget him in an instant. Dark blond hair and a white button-down shirt. He had a very nice smile. “Good.” 

An awkward moment passed as she felt a tickle of recognition. Had she met him before? She cleared her throat. “I-I need to get to class.” How on earth do you thank someone for saving you? “Thanks…”

“Glad to help.” he moved out of her way.

She hurried on and was only five minutes late for her 8:30 class. 

Once her classes ended for the day, she headed to the library for work-study. On her way across campus, her eye caught a familiar face. The guy who’d helped her earlier. 

When he saw that she’d caught him looking, he didn't move on as most people do, he just smiled at her. It was so warm and friendly, that she couldn't help smile back. 

The rest of the day seemed to pass easier. 

Fridays she didn't have any classes and went straight to work-study. Arielle picked up the clipboard with the reserved list and headed up to shelves. 

She loved being up here. It was quiet and she was usually by herself. There was always time to think. She pulled the cart behind her row by row, occasionally helping a student. An hour later she went back downstairs. 

As she processed the orders, she noticed a now familiar face just outside the library windows. An odd thrill went through her. It was strange seeing him three times in two days when she’d never seen him before. And yet, his smile seemed to calm those worries. 

“Hey Nancy, do you know that guy standing out there?” Arielle motioned to the window. 

“Which guy?” 

“The blond one there…” even as she spoke, she looked up and saw that he was gone. “Never mind.” 

“Got a new crush?” Nancy teased. 

“No.” Arielle blushed and continued on with her work. 

Ah, the weekend. She knew she should be enjoying it more than she was. No work, no classes and plenty of time to catch up on assignments and errands. But as per usual, she was sitting on the couch under a pile of blankets and ignoring everything around her. Even her favorite DIY show wasn’t drawing her attention. 

But after a while, the call of easy food drew her from the house to start the errands. She drove through a nearby burger place and ate in the car to avoid any personal interaction. Leaving the parking lot, she notices a guy waving at her. 

Is that the same guy? Sure enough, same blond hair and white shirt. She awkwardly waved back and went on her way. The next stop was to the dollar store for cleaning supplies. Then the grocery store for some fresh food. As she was putting her soda in the basket, she saw a flash of blond and square jaw. Surely that’s not the same person.

Over the next few days, the guy seemed to pop up over and over again. She was starting to get suspicious. What was going on? Was he a stalker? A creeper? He never came up and talked to her. He would just stand a ways off and stare. It was unsettling.   

One day after work she decided to go to her favorite bookstore to get out of her funk. She had some extra cash this week and was going to treat herself to some new books. 

Arielle browsed the shelves till she found an interesting mystery and a classic that had a pretty cover. When she exited the store, it was dark. She had been browsing longer than she thought. 

Crap. she thought. I shouldn’t have walked.

Even though it was a short walk back to campus and her apartment, it seemed much further in the darkness. 

She had been walking for a few blocks when she heard an engine behind her. She waited for it to pass. It didn’t. If anything, it sounded like it was going slower. Looking behind her, she saw a beat-up looking pickup. 

She started to sweat. Most of the shops around her were closed for the night. Should she try to make it back to the bookstore? Was it that guy? If it was, she didn't want him knowing where she lived. 

As the truck crept closer, she turned and sprinted for the bookstore. 

The engine roared and rattled like it was falling apart as it made a U-turn in the middle of the street. It passed her and swung onto a side street, cutting her off for the bookstore. 

Arielle screamed and stumbled as she reversed direction again. Her thoughts came in staccato bursts. What do I do? Where do I go? Can I get to my phone and run at the same time?

Then she saw him. The blond man she thought was in the truck stepped out of an ally and was standing in front of her. 

Oh perfect. She started to dodge, but he caught her and pulled her back against him. 

He leveled a glare like none other at the driver and the truck sped off into the darkness.

Arielle struggled to free herself. “Let me go!”

“Calm down, I’m not going to hurt you.” he released her. 

“Who are you?” she demanded, fed up with the whole situation. “Why are you following me?”

“I’m not trying to scare you, Arielle.”

When did I tell him my name? She said. “Who are you?”

“I’m your guardian angel.” 

“My what?” This guy is nuts. “An angel? What’s your name? Clarence?”

“My name is whatever you want it to be,” he said simply. He gestured ahead of them. “Let me walk you home.”

She was hesitant to walk with him. But the alternative wasn't much better. 

“I know you don’t believe me.” he continued.

“It’s a lot to wrap my head around,” she admitted. 

“Is it?” He said. “We’ve met before.”

I think I would remember meeting an angel. 

“The fire.” he prompted.

She gasped as a memory came to the forefront of her mind. 

Heat. That was always the first thing she would remember. It was hot and she couldn’t see. She got lost in her house, the smoke was too thick and she couldn’t breathe. She remembered screaming for help. Then she saw a man in front of her. He looked big and strong. He picked her up with no effort, carried her from the house and sat her in the yard. 

The fireman was just arriving and the babysitter was in tears screaming that she couldn’t find me. Everyone kept asking how she got out of the house then wondering who the mysterious man was.

“That was you!” Arielle was incredulous. It all fits now, why he’d looked so familiar. He had pulled her from the house fire when she was six.

He nodded. “I’ve been watching over you for a long time.”

“But why can I see you now?” they were standing in front of her apartment.

“Because sometimes you need a reminder that you are not alone and that He still loves you.”

Tears stung her eyes. She had felt so lonely this semester.

“We are always with you.” then he was gone. 

Arielle entered her apartment feeling lighter than she had in months.