Melissa did not question Irene after that one small conversation. Irene was visibly upset and the last thing Melissa wanted was to let Irene recall her ghastly past.
Planning to cheer Irene up, Melissa came up with a comedy movie and urged Irene to accompany her. Irene readily gave in and the duo watched the movie, keeping aside every anxiety in their hearts.
They finished their dinner early that night. They were chatting on some random topic when they heard the sound of the doorbell. Irene gestured Melissa who had just stood up to sit back while she quickly rushed to open the door.
"Yes?" Having an unfamiliar lady in front of her, Irene waited for her to speak.
Irene found herself smiling a bit awkwardly as the lady in front of her staring at her in a way that felt weird to her.
"Who is it, Irene?" Melissa asked, in a bit louder tone.
"Strange," Melissa muttered to herself on not getting a response.
That was when she decided to check it by herself.
"Katy." Melissa was overjoyed to see her college friend after years. They had not been in touch ever since college ended. Katy was one of the loveliest friends, Melissa had ever had.
"Lisaa," Katy mumbled in a daze as if she was trying to assure herself that it was indeed Melissa in front of her.
"Gosh, so long." Melissa came forward with a wide smile on her face. Holding Katy's hands, she got her in with a quick pull. "How have you been?" Melissa asked after a long hug to compensate for all the years when they missed those hugs.
"I am awesome. Married George." Katy grinned.
"Woah. You finally asked him out?" Melissa teased. Katy had a huge crush on George, their classmate, during their college days but Katy was too shy to confess.
Katy shook her head, grinning from ear to ear. "He asked me out."
"Really? I thought he would never get the hint." Melissa laughed before they sat down.
"Who is she?" Katy looked at Irene who was standing there, adoring the duo.
"I heard about Sam. I am so sorry that I wasn't here when you needed me." Katy reached for Melissa's hand as she sincerely apologized for disappearing when Melissa's boyfriend vanished. "You know I was not here and I had no clue of what was happening here. I returned just a while ago and stumbled on Kevin. He told me everything."
Melissa sighed. "It's okay, Katy. I am all good. And Kevin… I haven't seen him in ages. Like for real."
Katy raised her eyes. "Are you serious? He sounded like he meets you every day."
"Okay, now that's strange." Melissa laughed at that, concealing the questions Katy's observation had planted in her mind.
Katy looked at Irene again. "You didn't tell me... Who is she to you?"
Melissa and Irene exchanged glances.
"Despite being nothing, she is my everything." Melissa gestured with her hand and called Irene closer. "She makes me who I am now. She is Irene. And I love her. Is that introduction enough?"
Overwhelmed, Irene struggled to stand there. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. She excused herself after greeting Katy quickly.
Melissa stared at Irene's retreating back before she shifted her gaze back to Katy who was utterly confused.
"We do not share any blood relation but our bond goes beyond that. I am sorry I can't give out details because I am not sure if Irene would be okay with it. I hope you understand."
Katy nodded. "Of course."
While Katy and Melissa continued to chat about everything that had happened in the years they were not in contact, Irene stood in her balcony, staring at the moon.
'Who is she to you?'
Katy's question had Irene remember how she met Melissa.
<>
"Clean the whole fucking house and if I see dust anywhere… anywhere… you know what is going to happen to you."
Little Irene covered her ears with her palms when a large stick slapped the ground. Then it was ground. A while later, it was going to Irene. In the place of ground. And the stick was going to slap her back or thighs or legs. She did not know.
"N...no… I… I will cl...ean it," she stuttered, terrified of the woman at the front.
The woman continued to hit the ground with the stick, scaring Irene beyond the poor little soul could take.
She stood up, her legs shaking from the fear and started her work.
After the woman left for her room, Irene looked around. Gathering strength, without thinking about the consequences, she just ran out of the home.
She ran as fast as her tiny legs could take her, barefoot. She did not care about anything on the road that was pricking the skin of her leg palms. She ran even when she was tired. She ran until she fell down and her head landed on someone's legs.
She had a hard time raising her head but when she did, she came across a face she would never forget. Those compassionate eyes held absolute shock in them. The last thing she remembered before falling unconscious was that woman assuring her that she would be with her.
<>
The woman had kept her promise. She was still with her. It was Melissa.
From that day, Melissa had made Irene a part of her family.
From that day, Melissa had become Irene's guardian angel. Irene came up with the name Angel for her because she was truly an angel in her life. The angel who had changed everything for her for good.