Don't mess it up

The last job had annoyed me really a lot because the guy hadn't jumped and my boss was definitely going to give me the fault for that.

So I was kinda glad that the next one wouldn't be able to change their fate but I also knew that it was going to be way harder in a different aspect because it was one of those cases that I hated the most.

Collecting the soul of a kid was never an easy task and you definitely couldn't get used to it but I knew that if I don't do it then the consequences could be way worse for the poor Child.

With my head hanging low I walked towards the hospital room where the little girl had been staying in for the last few months.

Her parents were luckily outside, talking with a doctor, so I could just walk in through the door and turn myself visible.

The little girl was sleeping in the hospital bed and was hooked up with multiple machines.

She looked really pale and fragile. Her illness was definitely taking a big toll on her.

With a deep breath I checked the name on her bed to make sure I don't make any mistakes.

The heart monitor beeped a little bit faster indicating that the girl was slowly waking up.

She blinked a few times to adjust her tired looking eyes.

Then she looked at me and asked in a still sleepy voice who I was.

I put on a gentle smile in order not to scare her and stepped just a little bit closer to the bed.

"I'm David but my friends call me Dave."

She gave me a little smile and then said "I'm Annabelle but you can call me Annie."

I was lost for words and just nodded.

After a few moments of silence Annie cleared her throat and asked "Are you here to bring me to my Granny?"

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Well my Granny was also really sick and one day an angel came and took her to heaven. So you must be my angel because you don't look like a doctor or a nurse."

I was baffled by her conclusion that I was an angel but I also couldn't bring myself to telling her that I was not one so I just said yes.

"But Mommy said I'm going to be healthy soon. Do I really need to go?"

I took a deep breath and set down on the chair next to her bed.

"You see sometimes people lie about things so we don't get sad about the truth."

She gave me a confused look and then asked "But isn't it bad to lie?"

With a slight chuckle I told her that in some cases it's okay and that her mother had only done it to protect her.

She thought about it for a moment and then opened her mouth to say something else, she started to cough heavily and the heart monitor started beeping really loudly.

Her time is running out. I thought grimly.

When she stopped coughing for a brief moment she looked at me with a tired smile and asked "Can I say goodbye to mommy and daddy?"

"Yes ofcourse Annie. I will wait outside."

She started coughing again and I could see the parents and a doctor running into the room while I steeped outside to give them some space.

If I dont do it she will be suffering even longer.

When I heard her parents telling her again that everything is going to be alright I walked in again, not wanting to give them time to give Annie any false hope.

The doctor was trying his best to help her breath normally again but even he knew that there wasn't actual anything that could help her at that point.

"Are you ready?" I ask gently.

When she managed to give me a slight nod, I stepped closer to her bed and put my hand above her heart.

Only five seconds later I could feel how she took her last breath and her soul leaving her body.

When her ghost started to form itself next to me, I took her hand and pulled her out of the room, so she wouldn't have to see her own body.

"How do you feel now?" I asked her.

She gave me a huge smile in return and said that she was feeling great and that the pain was gone but then she paused for a moment while different emotions washed over her face. In the end it settled on a surprised look.

"I can hear Granny. She is calling me!" She said while bouncing up and down.

"Well then you better hurry and go to her."

Worry passed her face for a moment and she seemed unsure.

"Don't worry Annie. It's going to be fine. Just follow her voice." I said while ruffling her hair.

Her smile was even bigger than before when she gave me a hug. "Thank you mister angel."

Then she darted down one of the corridors and disappeared out of my sight.

I stood there a little moment longer trying to blink away the tears that had formed in my eyes.