Fallen Angel

There – my work complete. I will be forgiven and the Master will take me back.

See how the moon’s pale glow falls onto your wings? How wonderfully translucent is the indigo of the night sky, as it hangs between your spreading feathers.

How could such a sight not melt the Master’s heart?

He will forgive me when he examines each crafted etch: know the angle of my chisel; the rhythm of my mallet – know that his teachings had not fallen on deaf ears. And when he smiles upon me, I will know atonement.

But look, the sky grows pale.

The hour draws near.

Now your shielding wings are picking up stronger shades, throwing your crouched figure into shadow: limbs covering your nudity, eyes cast down in shame – head bowed – fallen from grace.

But look my Angel, the city stirs and dawn is upon us. Can I hear the Master’s approach? See how I sweat. Is it fear that grips me? Why does Pride have to be a sin?

Oh let me see your sorrowful face. Magnificent.

And when the Master looks upon you, he will hold me to his bosom – forgive my arrogance.

But what’s this? You cry tears for me? Oh my fallen Angel, here, let me dry them.

So many. Floods of tears.

Ugh! Melting.

Damn you – damn you, Rising Sun.

“Fallen Angel” is a haunting monologue that explores themes of pride, redemption, and artistic creation. The narrator, presumably a sculptor, has crafted an angel statue in hopes of gaining forgiveness from their Master. As dawn approaches, the artist admires their work with increasing desperation, noting the interplay of moonlight on the angel’s wings and its pose of shame and fallen grace. The story takes a dramatic turn when the angel begins weeping real tears as the sun rises, leading to its destruction as it melts away. This masterfully crafted piece blends elements of Gothic horror with religious allegory, using the deterioration of art as a metaphor for the impermanence of pride and the futility of seeking redemption through human creation alone.

Pat Barnett, born in post-war Gorton, Manchester, brings her diverse life experiences to her writing. After careers spanning from punch-card computing to childcare, she found her true calling as a writer in Australia with the Noosa Scribes. Her journey from Manchester to North Yorkshire, via Wales and Australia, has enriched her storytelling with a unique blend of gritty realism and supernatural elements. Now based in Pickering, she draws inspiration from local legends and Yorkshire’s ancient buildings to craft her distinctive tales.

“Fallen Angel” appears in Pat Barnett’s collection “Creatures,” where it serves as a powerful closing piece. The anthology explores the boundaries between the natural and supernatural, examining how ordinary moments can transform into extraordinary encounters. This particular story exemplifies the collection’s themes of transformation, redemption, and the often blurred line between creation and destruction. Like many pieces in the book, it demonstrates Barnett’s talent for finding the uncanny in everyday situations.

Explore “Creatures” by Pat Barnett