After a long day of work, Raphie and I got ready to leave the grocery store.

I took off my name tag and put it in my pocket. I followed any instructions that my manager Rick told me. The evening shift was about to begin. I left everything as it was for the evening shift to deal with. Not my problem anymore.

“Hey David, would you like to come to the church with me? It won’t take long.” Raphie asked me after a long work shift.

“Sure. I don’t mind.”

By the time we left, the sky was already a dark orange.

We then walked into the church after a quick walk. The church was next to the park we visited the other day so it wasn’t far off from the grocery store where we worked. Between the grocery store and the park was an old funeral home, a deli, and the church.

The church wasn’t anything special but it was still amazing to look at from the distance. The steps at the entrance as already a wonder itself. The church was higher than where the street was. It was empty and quiet inside once we entered. Any small sound echoed throughout the building. Every cough, breath or footstep could be heard. The church was tall so there was a huge empty space between the floor and the ceiling. It was at least thirty feet high. The ceiling itself was circular and plain except for the center painting. Looking down from the entrance I could see many rows of long benches. At the end of the church was an altar. It was an extravagant altar with many decorations on the wall of the back.

It was a bit too much in my opinion but the church looked beautiful overall.

There were some people sitting on the wide benches. Many were spread out and there was still plenty of space to sit in.

“I’m going to pray, do you mind?” Raphie asked.

“Not at all. Go ahead.”

I sat down in the pew in the back. The door was open since it was really warm. The air conditioning was on but even I could tell it wasn’t enough. It was beautiful but the church was so old that the ventilation didn’t work properly. The open door let in an orange light. It reflected off the floor giving a warm atmosphere. I could see the reflections of the decorations by the altar. People had to block the sunlight as they left the church.

By the time we left, the sky was already a dark orange.

I sat all by myself. I didn’t want to go up and sit next to Raphie. It would’ve been awkward trying to entertain myself while I wait till she finished praying. I wished I brought a book. Maybe I could go on my phone. But

there was something about sitting in the silence that made me calm.

“Hello,” Someone whispered to me as they tapped on my shoulder.

I turned around and finally noticed a nun standing behind me. The sunlight was shining right behind her so it was hard to see her clearly. She notices that I had a hard time seeing her so she moved to the side where the sun didn’t get into my eyes. The nun appeared to be an older woman. She didn’t seem to be too old. If I were to guess, she was in her thirties or forties.

“I see… Do you mind if I sit here?”

“No, not at all.”

I moved to the side of the bench, making room for the nun.

“My name is Phoebe,” The nun said.

“I’m David,” I answered as I whispered.

“Nice to meet you. You’re not here to pray are you?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“It’s nice to just sit here in the silence. Plus I’m waiting for a friend,” I pointed towards the front of the church.

“I agree.”

“What?”

“With what you said earlier. It’s nice to sit here in the silence.”

“Yeah, silence is golden.”

“But sometimes it is nice to be among others in prayer.”

“Even if they’re talking to themselves?”

Oops. I didn’t mean to let that out of my mouth.

I kind of forgot that angels existed for a moment. Even if I have never seen a god at all. Wouldn’t the existence of angels disprove that otherwise? I continue to play along anyway.

“I see. So you’re like that.”

“Like what?”

“You and I are talking to each other. Correct?”

“Yeah.”

“Then others talking to their God together is better than silence.”

“But even silence is good once in a while.”

“Of course. But no one wants to stay silent forever.”

“We all have something to say. Might as well as say it.”

“See what I mean?”

We sat there for a while. I know Phoebe was enjoying the silence as much as I was. Maybe she was praying herself. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. I had an itch to just take out my phone or just stand up and leave. But as much as the silence was bothering me, it calmed me down.

While we sat there, I got a better look at Phoebe. Her nun outfit was worn out so I could tell that she’s been a nun for most her life. Phoebe tightly held a large rosary in her hands. Around her neck was a necklace with a cross hanging. I could tell she was a good person not only by her appearance but the way we talked to each other. I feel like I could talk to her about anything.

I stared at Raphie kneeling in the front row. It was interesting to find an angel praying at a church. Usually, humans pray to their god. And sometimes people pray to angels too. But then again, don’t people pray to their deceased loved ones too? What the hell is prayer supposed to be about?

What do angels pray for?

Was prayer like a one-way radio to God? Do angels get a special channel so they can hear the big man? Or maybe prayer worked the same way humanity used prayer. Just a way to talk to someone who doesn’t talk back so they can feel better about wishing someone well.

The only thing I could think who Raphie was praying for was Lucy. Except for the fact that she’s annoying, wouldn’t she need to be prayed for? With whatever knowledge this world has about the existence of the fallen angel Lucifer that I have, it’s not pretty good.

With that in mind, something was bothering me. It wasn’t the silence or the random group of people praying together one random Wednesday afternoon. It was something that had been bothering me the other day.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked.

“Sure.”

“It’s some advice. It’s about a friend of mine. Or rather two. They’re sisters. I haven’t got to know them long, but I know them well enough to know that there was something wrong with them. They’re not average. I wouldn’t say they’re great either. I now realize that they don’t talk much. Even though they are sisters.”

“That’s their problem, isn’t it? Like you said, you haven’t known them for long.”

I’d hate to admit it but…

“It just bothered me.”

“Or are you just curious.”

“I guess so.”

“Curiosity isn’t bad.”

Of course, it wasn’t bad. But it was something that had been building up for a long time. I didn’t care so much for Lucy. She was an annoying brat. For someone who had lived for so long, she has no manners. And yet. Yet I feel this curiosity ever since I met Raphie. The way they interact. Rather, I haven’t seen them interact at all. They talk as if they’re great siblings but something was off.

“Do you think angels ever have siblings?”

“What a question David. I guess they would.”

“What if Lucifer had siblings before sh- uh he fell.”

“Then what?”

“Wouldn’t there be a rift between siblings?”

“Is that how it feels like between your friends?”

“Uh yeah. It’s exactly how it feels.”

“Then why not do something. Talk to them. It’s the least you can do.”

I thought to myself once more. Meddling wasn’t the usual thing I’d do. Maybe my curiosity would drive me to do so. I barely knew Lucy or Raphie. But I wanted to do something about them.

We both sat there in silence. It was a peaceful lull that calmed me down. It made me forget I had a long day at work. It made me forget about having the devil at home. It made me forget about dying in the first place.

If there was a God maybe I’ll find out in the future.