The Angel at the Window | Teen Ink

The Angel at the Window

April 14, 2010
By AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
4 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I may just a drop in the ocean of mankind, but if I can make its waters sweeter, where else can I such pleasure find?" - Original.


I stare at her for hours…

Her tears have dried away. Only traces of the path they took linger on. She is lying peacefully now. She sleeps without a care in the world. I know because I watch. A gentle tranquility radiates from her face that perplexes me. So brittle, yet so strong.

I watch. It is all I do. I watch as her body shivers from the cold of the night. The night is unforgiving. It batters her with frosty winds. The frail pieces of cloth cannot protect her enough. They cannot keep her warm. I see the sheets lying barely feet away. I know if I extend a hand, I can hold them. But I do nothing. I cannot help, I can watch, only watch.

With the light of dawn I see her bloom like a flower, but this one has lost its scent. Her hazel eyes stutter open. With quivering hands she touches her face where the tears have long dried. I see a silent hush in her eyes. Is she sad that they’re gone?

She looks at the walls of her room. For a moment her eyes linger at the small window in front. They look as if they’ve caught something. Does she know that I am here? I dare to hope. But she turns away meekly. No, her eyes are searching for something else.
Her hands run along her arms and legs. She embeds them deep inside her shallow pockets where they wither around. Her breathing is fast and her eyes are wide. An urgency occupies her as never before. Her hands grab anything that they can and fling it away. Books fall to the floor with a heavy thud. Everything disappears till there is nothing left to throw. She screams like a wounded animal and grips her hair, tugging at it.

She is searching for a picture, the picture she holds close to her heart as she sleeps, the picture of a loved one. She cannot lose it. It is the only one she has. She cuddles her tiny body into a ball. Her eyes squeeze shut and fresh tears erupt as she rocks her body frenziedly. Her lips speak only one word again and again.

“Please…please…”

I hear her voice drowning in pain. She begs and pleads, clasping her hands submissively. Her gaze is fixed at the wooden ceiling as she recites a small prayer. I have heard many prayers before but not this one. This one is her own. The words are from her heart, they are sincere. She waits and waits but the miracle she expects doesn’t come. Her resolve falters and her eyes swell. She shrieks again.

The picture is still where it was, rested below the night lamp, where the wind had placed it in the dead of the night. Something inside me wants to point it out to her. I want to show that it hasn’t left her, only moved…but I do nothing. I cannot help, I can watch, only watch.

The door opens and a man rushes inside. He does not wait, he does not hesitate. He tries to hold her down but she resists. Her arms are flailing wildly. The faintest touch sets her off. He calls her name but she doesn’t respond. She doesn’t know who she is anymore. His eyes are moist. He feels pain. He brings her head to his chest and holds her till she is defeated. Her wails are softer now. Her breath is shallow. They cry. Both of them do. Somewhere inside me, I wish I could too.

So much pain for a body of clay. I cannot help but wonder if it belongs to her, if this melody is embedded inside. If it is love that causes so much hurt then of why does one love at all? There is much that I do not understand. I wonder his ways like I have, always. But I know that they are not mine to judge.

She is asleep again. She is at peace, in the sanctuary of her dreams. She cannot be hurt there. The world and all its sadness cannot reach her.

On the floor I see a book lying open. I see the blue ink scribbled over the paper. The words are bright and full of hope. Hope that has abandoned her now. It is a poem. One of the last she wrote in happier times. I enjoy reading the words. I wish she would write more. But I know she will. I know these times will pass. The flower shall bloom once more. Once more will the scent color the air. The sorrows shall dry up like the tears. She will not be alone for long. Those eyes will beam again, those salted lips shall smile once more. They shall laugh, they shall sing, she will be happy.

And as I look at the quiescent being, I feel the burn of an unfamiliar desire fill me on the inside. I know not why but I want to hold her, share her sorrows, tell her that everything will be bright again, show her the happiness and joys in store of her, make her see how beautiful she is…But I do nothing. I cannot help. I can watch, only watch.

I stare at her for hours…


The author's comments:
Please, if possible, listen to the track "Prophecies" by Plilip Glass while reading this work.
Thank you.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 27 comments.


on May. 22 2011 at 12:37 pm
RChander BRONZE, Barrington, Rhode Island
1 article 0 photos 13 comments
Nice story, and I'm from India too!

on May. 26 2010 at 3:45 pm
AoifeTracey SILVER, Dublin, Other
6 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
'Dont bend facts to suit theories, rather theories to suit facts.' Unknown

Great story. A bit slow to start with , but I love the serenity of youre descriptions! Please add more! Aoifex

Mathew said...
on May. 10 2010 at 8:04 am
Good Job! Liked the story very much.  A little confusing. Is the Angel like a stalker or something? Or is he like a real Angel? But still, great story!

AjitN BRONZE said...
on May. 6 2010 at 4:54 am
AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
4 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I may just a drop in the ocean of mankind, but if I can make its waters sweeter, where else can I such pleasure find?" - Original.

Thanks for the compliment.

As for the questions, warm, an older brother & dad's passed away.

And yeah, I'd love to be in touch.

 

P.S: I really want to know know more about those dreams.


on May. 5 2010 at 9:16 pm
NeverFallTooHard PLATINUM, Hartford, Wisconsin
24 articles 5 photos 98 comments

Favorite Quote:
Reason is powerless in the expression of Love.~ Rumi<br /> Realisim, in painting, is what one wants to see, not what they really see. ~ Janet Fish

Aw... I love it so much! I've had alot of dreams related to that. Where i wake up, throw things around the room, and then a sharp needle is pushed into my neck and when I wake up I am in a white room. I am in a straight jacket. "It is to keep you safe,"  a man says. I start to thrash and scream and then start crying. That's about the time I wake up.

PS, I've never met anyone from India Before.. how's the weather? Do you have siblings? Mom and dad? (Sorry...I'm sorta cursious *Cough-Nosy*. And do u want to be friends?

 


Yuelong GOLD said...
on May. 3 2010 at 11:07 pm
Yuelong GOLD, Bellevue, Washington
17 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
Win the Darwin award already!

you should let me know if you make a book out of this. i see the potential for it.

Parvati said...
on May. 1 2010 at 7:57 pm

wow, this is soo good! at the start I was a bit unsure but then as things settled I was totally captivated.

and hey, loved the thing you did with the lines "I stare at her for hours"


AjitN BRONZE said...
on Apr. 30 2010 at 8:07 pm
AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
4 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I may just a drop in the ocean of mankind, but if I can make its waters sweeter, where else can I such pleasure find?&quot; - Original.

I'm glad you liked it.

AjitN BRONZE said...
on Apr. 30 2010 at 8:06 pm
AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
4 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I may just a drop in the ocean of mankind, but if I can make its waters sweeter, where else can I such pleasure find?&quot; - Original.

Thanks! Please rate!

on Apr. 30 2010 at 11:03 am
Shanaya. SILVER, New Haven, Connecticut
8 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
Never judge a book by its cover.

you were right its a great story; i really like it.

on Apr. 30 2010 at 12:18 am
Sarita15 BRONZE, San Jose, California
2 articles 0 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
Anyone perfect must be lying / Anything easy has its costs / Anyone plain can be lovely / Anyone loved can be lost

I like the POV.  It's unique and sort of voyeuristic.

Yuelong GOLD said...
on Apr. 29 2010 at 11:23 am
Yuelong GOLD, Bellevue, Washington
17 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
Win the Darwin award already!

full of mystery and darkness. but it's moving and meaningful in a good way. love it.

on Apr. 28 2010 at 8:00 pm
SarClark BRONZE, NC, Connecticut
2 articles 0 photos 534 comments
Wow. I really want more. This should be mag. Amazing job.

on Apr. 28 2010 at 7:49 pm
NerdGirlVictoria SILVER, Mena, Arkansas
8 articles 7 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.<br /> - Susan B. Anthony

Oh wow this was a great work

Jolly11 SILVER said...
on Apr. 27 2010 at 10:35 pm
Jolly11 SILVER, Odessa, Washington
7 articles 0 photos 8 comments
Great! It kept me reading and it flowed really smoothly. Really nice visual writing.

AjitN BRONZE said...
on Apr. 27 2010 at 9:46 pm
AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
4 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I may just a drop in the ocean of mankind, but if I can make its waters sweeter, where else can I such pleasure find?&quot; - Original.

I tried searching but seems that your article isn't online yet. Wait a few more days (a week max) and it'll be online. Am waiting to read your work.

on Apr. 27 2010 at 7:24 pm
Wellington BRONZE, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits. <br /> Richard M. Nixon

its great(: 

check out mine?


_NoAir_ BRONZE said...
on Apr. 27 2010 at 4:18 pm
_NoAir_ BRONZE, Toronto, Other
4 articles 1 photo 463 comments

Favorite Quote:
There are as many ways to live as there are people in this world. Each one deserves a closer look.<br /> <br /> <br /> &ndash;Golly (Harriet The Spy)

Oh sorry. Lol! I kind of guesses from your name on Teenink. So embarrasing, haha! By the way, nice job on this!

on Apr. 26 2010 at 11:10 pm
Hi Ajit! Beautifully written. Didn't know you were this talented!

AjitN BRONZE said...
on Apr. 26 2010 at 11:06 pm
AjitN BRONZE, Pune, Other
4 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I may just a drop in the ocean of mankind, but if I can make its waters sweeter, where else can I such pleasure find?&quot; - Original.

Will do! I'm actually writing a novel right now. Not related to this piece but have got in 50,000 words.