The girl was Ariel, also an angel like Anwen. Ariel's duty was to be the gatekeeper of Heaven, welcoming and recording the souls who arrived in the new world.
"Oh, it's you," Anwen said as she stood up, suddenly stumbling over her words. She chuckled, scratched her head, and flew up to where Ariel was.
For some reason, Anwen felt like a sinner caught in the act. Even though… she hadn't really done anything wrong…Or at least, she wasn't entirely sure anymore.
"So you disappeared for days without returning to Heaven," Ariel said. "Turns out you've been freeloading at someone else's house."
"What?! This is not freeloading!" Anwen shouted. But Ariel looked at her with utter disdain.
"You're staying in someone else's house without paying anything, if that's not freeloading, what is? And following him around like that… he's bound to feel uncomfortable."
"That's not true!"
During these days at the young man's house, Anwen felt she had been quite useful certainly not just freeloading. She had turned on the rice cooker when he forgot, shut off the water after he left it running; otherwise it would have flooded the house, wasting water and effort. She had helped with many other things too. All in all, she was not someone who did nothing and ate for free.
Seeing Anwen's expression, Ariel gave her another scornful smile.
"What, too many to list?" Then Ariel frowned and pouted at her."Let me tell you even if I'm not your ancestor, these past few days I've been carrying your burden until my back is bent."
"Huh? I haven't interfered in human affairs at all," Anwen protested.
Ariel glared at her."Do you dare say you haven't?"
Anwen felt a pang of guilt. She laughed awkwardly and patted Ariel on the shoulder.
"It's just trivial little things. I didn't change anyone's fate. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Honestly, you're turning an ant into an elephant."
As she spoke, Anwen wondered if Ariel had come to drag her back for punishment. If that were the case, what would she do? She could argue endlessly with Ariel but if it came to facing God Himself, she truly wouldn't dare.
If she were taken back now, it would be unbearably dull.
Her face instantly wilted like a soaked rice cracker.
Seeing this, Ariel's face flushed with embarrassment."Hey, I haven't done anything to you yet, why do you look like that? Anyone watching would think I'm bullying you."
Anwen shot her a look."Then why are you here?"
"To see whether you've been neglecting your duties. Lately, I haven't seen you guiding any souls to Heaven."
Hearing this, Anwen brightened instantly. Her eyes lit up."Well, it's true, there haven't been any dog or cat souls lately. That's a good thing."
It was a wondrous feeling, one Anwen had never experienced in all the long years of doing this work. She lifted her face to the sky and murmured,
"Ariel… there were times when I truly hated my job."
"What now?" Ariel replied. She had heard many strange things from Anwen before, so this was nothing new. Still, she sat cross-legged and listened seriously.
"Perhaps my greatest pain is helplessness. Heaven is a wonderful place, we both know that. But for beings in the mortal world, living is still the best thing, isn't it? They've never lived in Heaven, how can they be sure it's good, or meant for them? If I were human, and someone told me that dying and going to Heaven would bring happiness, no matter how beautiful the words were, I probably wouldn't want that. Because this life has loved ones, familiar things. No matter how beautiful Heaven is, it still carries loneliness. A life with loved ones is the real life, isn't it? It's the same for dogs and cats. When I see them writhing in pain, do you know how I feel? I feel helpless. I want to save them but can't. It's like binding myself in chains, I just want to shatter them and do what I wish. Heaven is happiness, but the path there is full of suffering. I would rather not lead them there. I wish I weren't an angel tasked with guiding animal souls to Heaven, but someone who could use her power to create miracles for them."
Anwen sighed.
"But now, I've realized that many people are helpless just like me veterinarians, for example. The world was never perfect. Everyone is simply doing their best to fulfill their mission. Missions never truly end; they pass from one person to another until they're complete. I can't use my power to perform miracles for animals but veterinarians can. And when they are truly powerless against fate, that's when I continue my mission: guiding those souls to Heaven."
Ariel tilted her head at Anwen."It seems you've learned a lot this time. But most dogs and cats still die in slaughterhouses, or under cars, or abandoned to death."
"Ariel," Anwen said suddenly, "this time, I found a truly kind heart."
The remark seemed unrelated, but she continued,
"Do you see those dogs and cats? They were all abandoned ones he took in. Some were given away online because their owners couldn't keep them; some were strays. They used to be wary, ready to growl at anyone who approached. But living with him, surrounded by his tolerance and love, they've become this gentle. He can go hungry just to buy back a dog on its way to the slaughterhouse, even when the price is outrageously high. He paints tirelessly and teaches classes just to earn money to support them. He owns fewer clothes than his dogs and cat and he accepts that. There may be many people like him in the world, but my world is small, and he's the only one I've met. His mission and that of people who love animals is like this. They're not gods. Even I can't stop all misfortune. That's why there are still dogs and cats like you mentioned. They can't make every life perfect, but they've done their mission as best they can. And now, I'm simply continuing mine."
"Oh… I see," Ariel lowered her head, her face subdued."The greatest sorrow of humans is separation. Then what's ours, Sister?"
"Invisibility."
Anwen's gaze fixed on the house below, light spilling from the windows. Inside, the silhouette of a young man sat quietly reading. During these days, she had also discovered that besides painting, he loved books. The corners of her lips curved upward.
"Invisibility brings helplessness. It's when you want to help someone in adversity but can't. Like me, standing before a dog or cat drowning in pain, wanting to save it, but unable to do anything but watch it fade away. It's when you want to express your feelings to someone, but can't. Invisibility brings only separation, never reunion because in this vast world, no one notices your existence."
Ariel grimaced."You're giving me chills. You always want to bring miracles into life, so why don't you believe a miracle could happen to you too?"
Anwen turned to Ariel, silent.
Just then, a strange smell cut into the air. Anwen's eyes widened."It's burning!"
In the kitchen, a pot was smoking over the flame, the burnt smell already spreading. Anwen jumped down, rushed in, and turned off the gas. She lifted the lid inside, the food had turned into charcoal, unrecognizable.
At that moment, the young man reading in the next room must have smelled it. He hurried over. Hearing footsteps, Anwen quickly put the lid back on.
He rushed in, then suddenly stopped behind her. She hadn't noticed until he shifted aside before stepping forward to open the lid himself. The action made her hair stand on end.
Anwen spun around, but his gaze passed straight through her. There was no reflection of her in his eyes.
Then why had he avoided her? Coincidence or intention?
She waved her hand before his face. No reaction. Of course, humans couldn't see angels unless permitted. Anwen let out a breath. She had overthought it.
"Burned," he said. "I'll have to go to the convenience store and buy something else."
He turned and left.
Anwen stood there blankly. Of course, he couldn't see her.
At that moment, Ariel sat cross-armed on the fence and remarked casually,"You look just like a married couple."
Then she shouted,"You've found a kind heart, don't let it swallow your own!"
Anwen's face flushed. She rushed over, shouting,"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
But Ariel had already vanished.
Anwen hesitated at the doorway, then touched her face. The heat startled her. Her chest felt strangely lively; she could hear her heartbeat clearly. She thought she must be ill and shook her head hard to scatter the thoughts, then ran outside.
The young man hadn't gone far. Anwen slowed, quietly following him.
After he bought some meat at the convenience store and headed back, she waited outside and followed again. She didn't know why but she liked the peaceful feeling of watching his back.
Streetlights glowed warm and yellow. Night was quiet, insects humming softly. The distance between them seemed to shrink.
Then, a sound pierced the night, a cat's cry.
Near a trash bin ahead, a stray cat searched for food. Its eyes shone like green lanterns. At first, seeing only those floating eyes was startling, then she realized it was just a cat.
The cat became wary at the sight of the young man, letting out hoarse cries, staring at him. Only when he remained still did it resume rummaging, yet found nothing.
Then he took a sausage from his pocket. He had stayed still to ease the cat's fear. Hearing the wrapper, the cat looked up, stepped back into a defensive crouch. He moved even more gently, unwrapped the sausage, placed it on the ground, and stepped back.
It was such a simple act feeding a cat but Anwen felt tense and hopeful. She wondered if the cat would come. She hoped it would.
When he stepped back, she instinctively did too.
Only after they were far enough did the cat relax, leap down, and cautiously approach. Step by careful step ready to flee at any disturbance.
Finally, it reached the sausage. It licked it once, tasted it, then devoured it greedily.
Both Anwen and the young man breathed out in relief.
The cat finished quickly, still hungry, gazing at him. Now more trusting, it seemed bolder. Smiling, he took out more sausages, unwrapped them, and offered them. He sat beside the cat, watched it eat, and gently stroked it. The cat no longer avoided him.
Anwen stepped closer, stopping a short distance away. Under the warm streetlight, his presence made the night warmer still. She smiled, how could she not tire of this? Just as someone who loves paintings can gaze at one all day, or a music lover can linger over an instrument endlessly so was she now. To like someone meant that even watching them sit quietly felt like admiring a painting. Her emotions slowed, and she began to notice the word love.