Ethereal

Chapter 28

"I remember the last time I was here." My mother said, looking around herself fondly. I had brought her to the shopping centre in the city, thinking it would be nice for us to have a day out now that she was home – I'd managed to spare the cash for us to get the bus up. It had been easier to save money when I was only having to buy food for myself. Besides, hopefully we'd have more money soon – Lori was telling me how she planned to get a job in town now that she's better. "Shopping for you... what was it we were looking for? Ah, yes! Those little stud earrings you wanted so badly!"

I looked up at her, a little surprised. She seemed so proud of herself for remembering. "Right, I loved them. Wore them every day but..." I frowned.

"But what?" She asked, still smiling. "Are you wearing them now?"

"Mum..." I wasn't sure how to say it. "I had to sell them, we needed money. My job doesn't pay that well. Besides, that was years ago. And I've brought you here quite a few times since."

"Oh." She paused. "I'm so sorry, Emilia. The past few years have been such a blur... it's been very difficult trying to remember it all."

"That's alright." I did my best to smile reassuringly. "You were ill, that's not your fault."

She nodded. "Perhaps, but you could argue it was my fault that I got ill."

I was confused. How could it be her fault? "What do you mean?"

She sighed and pushed her long hair back behind her shoulder. "Emilia... I have to tell you..."

"Free samples?" A man interjected, shoving a tray covered in tiny donuts in front of us. "Go on, try one!"

"That's alright, thanks." I turned back to my mother. "What were you saying?"

"Nothing, just that I'm glad to be back." She took my arm and started to drag me away from the crowds. "I saw a shop down here I wanted to look in..."

I followed her as she turned a corner, leading us to one of the more isolated parts of the shopping centre. There wasn't anywhere near as many people here. This part of the centre was particularly old looking, and it didn't help that it wasn't well-lit.

Lori was looking around with narrowed eyes, it was mainly independent businesses down here – I wondered which one had caught her eye.

"Oh! Here it is!" She exclaimed. In front of us was an old-looking bookstore, even the books in the window looked dusty and unkempt.

As we moved towards it, I eyed up the sign that hung above the door cautiously. It appeared to be made of slate and hung down from two pieces of rope that were old and fraying. I hurried my mother through the doorway quickly, worried about how stable it was.

I hung awkwardly by the door as she went in first, heading straight to the back of the store. There was no one else here, not even someone to stand behind the till. That wasn't what struck me as odd though, inside, hung up on the walls above the bookshelves was a collection of art.

All of which, were in some way depicting an angel. There was one in particular that captured my attention, I found myself gravitating towards it. It was fairly simple, a girl in a silvery gown, a crown of light surrounding her head. I recognised it as a halo, though none of the angels I had met had such a clear ring floating above them – I guessed that a halo was just the human interpretation of the light that shone within an angel. I had seen the light many times while being in Heaven, but somehow, I thought that it might look a little different here on Earth – where it would stand out more.

"What's that?" Lori said, coming up behind me. I turned away, not wanting to look at the painting anymore. I wasn't so bothered by the reminder of angels, it was this angel in particular. An angel who looked almost exactly like Jasmine.