An Angel in My Pocket

Some eight plus years ago, when my husband and I started out to begin our family, we found it very easy to get pregnant. The hard part was staying that way. After one particularly painful miscarriage, my mother sent me a little coin. An angel, for me to keep in my pocket. To comfort me in my (our) pain, and to remind me to keep faith.

I kept that coin in my pocket as often as I could. It saw me through one more miscarriage, and then the pregnancies and births of our three beautiful blonde, blue-eyed angels here on earth. Having done its job, I put the coin away for safekeeping.

Several months after my best friend was diagnosed with cervical cancer, I came upon that coin in my jewelry box. Holding it in my hands, I knew that I needed to send the angel to her. To stay with her during the pain and fear of her treatments, to comfort her when needed. To help her keep her faith.

And that she did. That angel stayed in her pocket everyday, or in her car, her purse, somewhere where she could feel its presence. We rejoiced together in happiness when she received good news, and cried together when we learned the prognosis was then grim.

Two months ago, she sent the angel back to me. I knew then that my friend was dying. The angel, she said, had fulfilled its job for her, keeping her comforted during her trials. As I was then (and still am) going through some trials of my own, she sent the angel back to me, to comfort me, and help me keep my faith. The angel has stayed in my pocket for the last 2 months.

One year and one day ago, we celebrated with my friend and her family at a "celebration of life" party. It seemed then that she had beaten her cancer, and life was wonderful. Today, she is being buried.

Our faith has been a common bond between us, especially the last two years. I will keep that angel with me now, as I continue to fight through my trials and look forward to a most happiest of endings. The angel will help me keep that bond of our friendship with me day by day.

Kristie, I love you and I miss you. Be one of my angels, always.