"I think one of the most poignant things is unrequited love and loneliness"
- Wilber Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~

There's a popping sound and he's storming down the hallway towards me.

"No lights and music this time Harry?"

"What in the name of all that's holy are you playing at?!"

His face is twisted in anger but he's still far more beautiful than any mortal.

I notice that he's wearing black skinny jeans and a t-shirt.

"What's with the outfit? Where's the dress?" I smirk.

He frowns, momentarily distracted.

"I was doing some undercover work-"

"What? What do you mean?"

"It's none of your business! There I am, causally going about my work, when I get the message to say that not only have you revealed yourself to the girl, oh no, that's not enough for you, you've risked blowing the whole BLOODY thing by displaying your little talents to an entire roomful of humans!"

He's pacing and pushing his fingers through his hair.

"I'm quitting. I'll just hand my caseload over to Gabriel and head off to that spa in the garden of Eden... I'll just take a few millennium off to relax, get my head together, then I'll be fresh as a daisy and ready to get back into it. Maybe the lost souls squad are still hiring, maybe I could join them..." He carries on muttering to himself and I try not to laugh.

"C'mon Harry, it's not that bad! She knew I was here anyway!"

"Not that bad?! Are you insane?!" He shrieks.

I roll my eyes and lean back against the wall.

"Why are you so concerned? You've never bothered before."

"Because you only spoke to children and animals before!"

"Yeah, because adults couldn't see me!"

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair.

"This is a real mess Louis, I'm not joking. Every single little thing is planned out, you're messing with the scheme of things."

"Surely if it's planned out then this is part of it?" I say excitedly "Maybe I'm meant to talk to. Adele, maybe-"

"No. Stop getting your hopes up Louis. They wouldn't be getting so concerned if this was all supposed to be happening."

Them. He always talks about them, the other divine beings I guess.

I don't really know much about it. It seems like he's in charge of me, and whatever else he does. He's like a caseworker, he seems to report back to them. He's my link to them and they're his link to the big guy.

"Well, maybe They don't know everything." I say petulantly.

"Of course They know everything. Everything that ever was or will be. Just every now and then we get one like you that goes against the system."

"But people have seen ghosts since the beginning of time, that's not so different to me and Adele!"

"Louis. Listen to me... I shouldn't even be bloody telling you this... It's like this. Some souls get attached to earth. They don't want to move on, they're rogues. Half of the poor buggers don't even realise that they're dead, but somewhere in their consciousness they've made the decision to stay on earth. They don't get an angel, like you've got. We can't stop them revealing themselves occasionally, that's what the lost souls squad is for, they go and find them and try to persuade them to move to the other side."

"But I didn't chose to stay here... I wanted to move on."

"Exactly! You didn't choose... You were chosen."

"For what?"

"I can't tell you that."

I sigh in frustration.

"Fine. I want to be one of those rogue ones."

"You don't get to just choose that Louis."

"Yes I do, They can't stop me interacting with Adele. They'll just have to find a way to fit it in to their plan."

He shakes his head sadly.

"They can stop you. They're already checking to see if you can be replaced."

My mouth falls open.

"What? They can take me away from the house? And Adele?" I ask in panic.

"Yes, they can move you on to the other side if they can find a suitable replacement. They don't want to do it, they want you to be happy too, but one day you'll see how important it is, the reason that you're here."

I'm scared now. If there is one thing I know it's that I want to stay here. Adele needs me.

"That's why I came Louis. I've always wanted what's best for you... You have to listen to me. Don't get too attached to the girl... And please, for the love of god... Stop trying to talk to her. It's not safe right now. I'm doing everything I can to keep you here but you've got to work with me."

He turns to walk away.

As he reaches the end of the hall he looks back a me, a small smile on his lovely face.

"Were you listening Louis?"

"Yes." I hang my head, everything seems flat and grey now.

"I said it's not safe right now." I can hear amusement in his tone.

"What?" I whisper. "So at some point I'll be allowed to talk to Adele?"

"I didn't tell you that." He winks again.

"But how will I know when?"

"You know Louis, you'll know."

And then he's gone.