Sprouting a deep yawn, Aaradhya dragged themselves out of their bed and turned towards the bathroom to grab their glass of water. Grasping the glass Aaradhya gulped down the warm water and leaned against the bathroom counter. Turning back, Aaradhya made eye contact with something other than themself.

Immediately they screamed, fear curdling their system in a moment. Only muffling it by throwing a hand over their mouth after a second. They stared into white eyes that covered their own umber ones.

Their father’s concerned voice penetrated the door, he was yelling from downstairs, “Aaradhya! You okay?”

“Yep…yep..yeah! I just have a really bad cowlick!” Aaradhya yelled back. Staring down and away from the mirror, Aaradhya was still in their flannel pyjamas and hand-me-down t-shirt. Confusion began.

Poking a finger into their chest, Aaradhya felt it press into their chest but in the reflection of the mirror it stopped against ivory armour. It clanged like archaic metal with a couple taps. Turning their head, Aaradhya focused on their white eyes, bright like the Heavens, they swallowed light and illuminated it. A snow coloured crown rested atop their black hair. Like rolling hills the crown curved and dipped, showing brilliant jewels catching the fluorescent light. Attached at their hip was a longsword,  like the one they’d seen in the dream. The details were more exhaustive, each ornate curve on the sheath. Like a knight of the Heavens.

“Who…what am I?”

Once Aaradhya had concluded that no one could see their armour and eyes, they joined their father for the weekly grocery. Dropping their bag of pop tabs in the collection bin, Aaradhya grabbed the plastic carrying bin.

The paper grocery list fluttered as their father grabbed it from his pocket. His neat writing filled one side of the thin paper.

“So…how was the date?” Aaradhya’s father grabbed a carton of milk and yoghurt, placing them in the cart.

Aaradhya’s eyes went wide making them whisper-yell in the World Mart, “Appā!”

“What? I’m old, not blind. He’s a good boy, his cross is nice and polished. I just want to make sure my kid is happy, is that too much to ask?”

Aaradhya shrugged and read the ingredients on a box like it was the most interesting piece of literature known to man, “It was good. You’re right, he’s nice.”

They continued up and down the five aisles, crossing off the area categorised list as they went. “Mornin’ Linda.” Aaradhya and their father unpacked the basket, placing their items down on the black conveyor belt.

Mrs. Simmons’ cheery voice greeted them back, “Good morning Reverend, is this all?” She was chewing some gum as she scanned their items. Each beep of the register was suddenly loud in the silent grocery store.

Aaradhya helped back the groceries into the bags. Each one put together like a successful game of tetris, uniform and neat.

The bell rang above them as Aaradhya pushed the door open. The air became colder while they were inside World Mart, “Morning Mrs. Williamsons, how are you this fine morning?” Mrs. Williamsons’ was hunched over in front of World Mart, her ornate cane holding her up. Her black skin was decorated with deep wrinkles and grey coiled hair.

Upon making eye contact with Mrs. Williamsons Aaradhya smiled. Her eyes flickered like a flash of light ran over them. Suddenly overcome with strength, Mrs. Williamsons’ yelled with the strength of God. “Aheyar walks again!” Breaking into a loud cackle that cracked the sky above Aaradhya stopped in their step.

Mrs. Williamsons raucous cackles stopped suddenly, leaving a heavy silence behind. It turned into a rambling of words no one else understood. Her voice was thick and heavy, like each enunciated word was from a sermon she’d practised a million times. And despite that, the words made no sense, not to the other citizens of Gamal at least.

Their father placed the grocery bags at Aaradhya’s feet and walked up to the old woman. He touched her blanketed shoulder lightly, concern filling his eyes.

She stalked off, the rubber end of her cane pressing into the sidewalk. Her slippers sliding with each new step.

“Wow, Mrs’ Williamsons’ dementia is getting quite bad. I’ll have to talk to the Jones’ about what we can do. Maybe a potluck…”

“Aaradhya?” Talking loud and profound breaths, Aaradhya’s focus was on the rambles of the old woman. “Aw, I know that it can get quite scary to see things like that, but Mrs. Williamsons’ is the same person who used to babysit you after Church. Remember; we must always treat others with compassion.”

Aaradhya whispered, “Aheyar?” as their father pulled them into a warm hug. Playing once again like a broken record in their mind the phrase of old Mrs. Williamsons began. The words already translated in their mind, “As winter thaws, break through the fog, Aheyar. Reassemble what once was.”

Behind them, in the small grassy space between the layer of gravel a rose bush sprouted. Red roses like Mars. And alongside the thick flowers, a small buzzing bee curled between the petals. It too had sprouted so miraculously.

When they returned home and unpacked the groceries, Aaradhya retreated to their bedroom. The bed was unmade.

Breaking open a notebook, Aaradhya began to write. Their feelings about today overflowing like soaring waves and crashing rocks.

I knew the words Mrs. Williamson said. I didn’t even give it a second thought to what she said, not until appā thought she was only rambling nonsense. Perhaps she knows what’s going on? Maybe she’s an angel sent to show me my mission from God?

If it was him, wouldn’t He tell me? If it wasn’t, wouldn’t He also? It seems that despite all the time in worship I have given, He remained mum to my many prayers. Perhaps it is the Devil, though I always imagined him to have more flare than this, where are the incubbi or succubi? Where are the flames born of the depths of Hell?

I tried to make a cat, like Kai had. I tried to imagine it, the shadows peeling from its small steps in my small room. I wanted to feel the warm purr of it again, perhaps it was a dumb idea.

For a moment nothing happened. Sprouting and curling from the ground like a heaving plant, my attempt at a cat stared back at me with black beady eyes. It was ugly since I’m bad at whatever this is. Magic? God-given abilities? I’m not sure why I tried, I’m not even sure if I want this. The cat-or whatever it was was ugly. It had an upturned jaw and black teeth that passed its mouth. It looked more like a boar than a cat.

This time its crunching footsteps were not shadow but mud, tracking pristine and crisp pawprints over my floor. It almost looked real, like a breathing creature as it sniffed through my room and explored it with a consciousness I didn’t know I could create. Though in the end I had to get a wet rag to clean up after the creature disintegrated into the floor at Appā's crashing footsteps.

Perhaps I will pray again. Or perhaps I will ask Kai, maybe science can figure this out? Or is this above science? Above God?