Fallen

Chapter 1: Fallen Angel

I looked up into the sky and watched as if there seemed to be a falling star.

I ran in the direction of it, because it seemed very close. I wanted to follow it. I always wondered where falling stars went.

As I approached it, there was a loud sound and I lost my footing. There was so much light. It was pulsating and seemed to be alive.

The light blinded me. I stumbled back and shielded my eyes. There was no way this was a fallen star. Perhaps it was meteor that fell from space? I kept my eyes squeezed shut. There was a small sound of a gasp near me. I quickly opened my eyes.

In front of me, there was a young man in the pulsating light. The light around him was fading. He looked worn. He had wings. Was he an angel?

The young man struggled to stand up, but he seemed weak. He tried to flap his wings but one seemed broken. He had dark black hair that veiled his eyes as his head was lowered. He looked lean, yet strong. I still did not see his face, but he seemed to be an angel...more like an injured angel.

"Excuse me..." I stepped forward. The light around him completely disappeared, "what...who are you? Are you ok?"

The young man lifted his head and I felt my heart jump.

His face was very soft yet strong. His features were smooth and gentle. His eyes looked deep and timeless...yet held a sadness in them. His full lips were twisted in a look of confusion and surprise.

"What am I?" he asked finally. His voice shook a little and was soft. It sounded like sweet notes. It was true this man HAD to be an angel at this point. No human man looked like that or sounded like that.

"Yes...and did you just fall from the sky?"

The young man's eyes narrowed slightly, "You...you saw that?"

I nodded and took a step towards him. He held out a hand to stop me.

"I...I am a fallen angel. I am Jimin..." He said quietly.

I took a step back, surprised.

"Fallen angel?! Does that mean that you...that you are evil and went against god?"

Jimin let out a very dry laugh, "God did not like me. I did not like what was happening in heaven."

I looked very confused.

"I cared too much for human suffering. That was going against god so I was kicked out of heaven."

"Wait...you cared about humans? But why? You are superior and angelic."

Jimin looked down at his torn wings, "If leaving heaven because I love creation and care about their suffering is considered evil...then I am evil."

I paused a moment and looked at him. He did not seem powerful right now. He seemed very weak.

"But why would god throw you out if you care about us?"

"Because...god does not care for human suffering. He enjoys seeing humans choose him or choose to hurt other people. Have you ever wondered about natural disasters, children dying from cancer, and illness, and death? God is powerful enough to stop it all. But he does not. And it hurt me seeing all of this. How depressed humans were."

Jimin was speaking with such a passion. His eyes glistened and he finally looked at me again.

"Please," he said quietly, "I am not evil..."

I stepped closer and held out a hand to him. He looked at my hand and then up at me. Then, he took my hand and stood up slowly. His garments were torn a little bit. He looked tired...but I could smell his scent. He smelled beautiful.

"I live in the countryside with my family," I told Jimin, "you can stay with me."

He looked shocked and appreciative, "Really? You are so kind to me."

I ran a hand along his torn wing and he shuddered.

"Your wings are starting to disappear into the air...." I said as his wings began to materialize into the air after I touched them.

"Because," he whispered, "I am fallen. And a human has touched them."

I quickly withdrew my hand, "I-I am sorry. I didn't know."

Jimin shook his head, a small, grim smile playing on his full lips, "It was happening anyway."

I grabbed his hand and started to lead him towards the farmhouse. The large field loomed before us. The wildflowers blew slightly in the breeze around us. I felt a sense of peace. Perhaps it was because an angel was beside me.

Jimin was looking around, taking in the landscape. His eyes caught sight of a few birds in the sky, and he stopped walking to look up at them and follow them with his eyes. A tear dropped from his eye. His lips shook slightly.

I stopped and squeezed his hand. I could understand he felt that way.

Jimin finally started walking with me again to the house. It was pretty much dusk now, the light in the sky fading. I helped him into the house and got him some water from the kitchen. Jimin was looking around the house.

"Wow," his fingers brushed along a photo of my family on the wall, "is this your family? Where are they?"

I nod and hand him the water. He lifts it to his lips and drinks a sip, "My parents are abroad for work. I look over the ranch for them."

"Angels don't have family..." he sighed softly, setting the glass down on the table.

Jimin stands and steps towards me.

"What should I do now?" he asked.

"Come and let me get you some clothes to change into. I can make some food."

I led Jimin to my parents' room and rummaged through my parents' closet for some shorts and a t-shirt he could wear. I needed to go shopping for him since I did not have male clothing with me except for my dad's.

I gave him a towel and led him to the bathroom.

"Here, you can wash," I turn on the water to show him how it worked. Jimin was watching closely. He learned pretty fast.

I went out to make some dinner and he took a shower. I could hear the sound of his voice in the shower. He was singing. I paused cooking and put my ear to the bathroom door, intrigued.

His voice was soft and strong at the same time. His octave range was incredible. His voice sounded...angelic.

I closed my eyes and just listened. The bath water stopped and I panicked, running back to the kitchen. I took a breath of relief and by the time Jimin left the shower, dinner was done.

He was dressed in the clothes I gave him and drying his hair with the towel.

I couldn't help but giggle a little. He was cute. He really was.

But no...back to reality. He was an angel. Not a human. There was no way I could think of someone as heavenly as him as simply "cute".

Jimin saw the food and immediately smiled.

"That smells so good!" he said, reaching out to touch it.

"Watch out! It is hot!" I laugh, pulling his hand away before he touched the hot dish.

We sat down at the table and started eating. Jimin's eyes widened.

"You are so good at cooking!" he said, eagerly reaching for more, awkwardly holding his fork.

"Well, I am not the best! I will take you to go shopping for clothes tomorrow and then we can have some food in town!"