Touched By An Angel

Paul Bell

Sally had been to bed with a few guys in her time, but she had never been to bed with a guy who had managed to find a lump on her breast. He told her it was probably nothing, but she should get it checked just in case. She made an appointment that day. The doctor was a woman about the same age as Sally, and put her at ease very quickly. She took her time with the examination, and congratulated Sally in finding the lump, as it took her a while to find it herself. Sally confessed it wasn’t herself who found it, but a guy she had slept with. The doctor laughed with the words. Tell your friends about him. An appointment was made that day, and Sally made her way up to the hospital. Things moved quickly after that, a biopsy was taken, which turned out to be cancerous. The surgeon assured her it was in the early stages and the removal would be prompt. He also assured her the scar would be hidden as it was underneath the breast, and would fade away in time. They would bring her back later on in the year just to check it hadn’t returned.

Sally got to thinking after she left the hospital, mostly about herself and her attitude to life. She knew she was a strong, independent woman, and could take most things in her stride, but the lump had really floored her, and a part of her was really annoyed that she hadn't found the lump herself. She knew one thing though. Her one-night stand would have to be thanked, though she wasn’t quite sure how she was going to do this.

Back to the crime scene, Sally girl. The last bar she visited that night. She knew his name was Ricky, and he had piercing blue 

eyes, other than that, he was a mystery. She ordered a drink, and began to chat to the barman. She mentioned it was probably a long shot, but did he know a guy called Ricky with blue, piercing eyes. She was waiting for the laugh, but the barman just pointed to the wall with photographs on it. Check those photos and see if you can pick him out. Sally picked him out right away and showed the photo to the barman. That was easier than I thought, I take it he’s a local then. 

I don’t think it was Ricky you met. The barman explained the night she came in, they were having a celebration for Ricky. Maybe she’d seen people holding Ricky’s photo. He’d been fighting cancer for three years, but had finally lost that fight. He never let the cancer get him down and was always raising money and awareness for the cancer charity. If you had met Ricky, you’d definitely be touched by his presence, he was that sort of guy.

Sally thanked the barman and left. It was outside she realised she was still clutching the photo. Part of her was totally and utterly bewildered, it didn’t make sense, it just didn’t make sense. She went home and opened a bottle of wine, kept staring at the photo, and slowly got drunk. It was after she finished the second bottle, she remembered what the barman had said. (If you had met Ricky, you’d definitely be touched by his presence.) Oh my god, oh my god, it hit her, right smack between the eyes. He had chosen her, how the hell she hadn’t a clue, but he had chosen her. Sally made a promise to herself as she drifted off to sleep, she was going to carry on Ricky’s work.

  • Author: Paul Bell (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: September 10th, 2022 05:56
  • Category: Short story
  • Views: 17
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Comments1

  • Doggerel Dave

    Although I'm no fan of magical realism Paul, you've got a talent for the prose and it kept me engaged to the end - give it more of a go.

    • Paul Bell

      Would, but my brain goes bonkers after ten lines. lol

      • Doggerel Dave

        Don't believe that for one moment; come on - get it together......



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