They say angels walk among us — invisible most of the time, leaving only a faint whisper of wings in the air or a small stirring of peace in the heart.
But every now and then, they take human form and descend to earth to observe how men live: how they love, how they share, how they treat the stranger.
On one such visit, two angels — one young and curious, the other older and wise as the centuries — traveled across the earth, admiring its landscapes.
During the day, they crossed green mountains, dirt roads, and sun-washed villages. But when night came, even celestial beings felt the weight of fatigue, and both needed a place to rest their human forms.A NIGHT IN THE RICH MAN’S MANSION
That first night, as the sky darkened and the stars appeared like flickering embers, they arrived at the mansion of an extremely wealthy man.
The house was so enormous it looked like a fortress—high walls, iron gates, and windows shining so brightly they reflected the moon.
They knocked gently. The older angel smiled, trusting they would be welcomed, for the mansion was full of light and life.
But after several minutes, a man with a stern face appeared. He wore luxurious clothes, but his expression was hard, as if the whole world owed him something.
“What do you want?” he asked with contemplation.
“We are travelers,” the older angel said humbly. “We only seek a place to spend the night.”
The rich man looked at them up and down with disdain.
Although he had countless rooms, soft beds, embroidered mattresses, and silk blankets, he had no intention of sharing anything with anyone.
“The guest room is occupied,” he lied without hesitation. « If you want a roof, use the basement. Don’t expect more. »
I have closed the door in their faces.
A frightened maid led them down to a dark, damp, cold basement. The floor was so hard that even the stones felt like blades. There were no blankets, no chairs, not even a proper lamp.
The young angel was outraged. “How can he be so cruel?” I have whispered. “He has so much, yet treats us worse than animals.”
The older angel said nothing.
I scanned the room and noticed a hole in the wall. He approached it, examined it, and gently repaired it—the stone slid back into place as if it had never been broken.
The young angel scowled, confused. « Why fix it? If I have treated us badly, let the house fall apart. »
The older angel only smiled — that serene smile of someone who knows deeper truths. “Things are not always what they seem,” he said.
The young angel wanted to ask more, but the elder had already closed his eyes, silent, as if listening to a message from heaven. In the end, both rested on the hard floor without complaint, as only beings of light can do.
THE SECOND NIGHT: A HUMBLE HOUSE FULL OF HEART
The next day, after a bright dawn filled with birdsong, the angels continued their journey across golden wheat fields and streams that danced over stones.
At dusk, they arrived at a small adobe house in the countryside—old tiles on the roof, walls made of clay, and smoke drifting from the chimney.
They knocked softly. This time, the door opened immediately. A humble couple—a farmer and his wife—welcomed them with warm smiles.
“Come in, come in,” the man said. “We don’t have much, but what we have is yours too.”
The woman added: « Come warm yourselves by the fire. You must be tired. »
There were no luxuries in that home, but there was warmth. There was affection. There was humanity.
They shared simple bread, a little milk, and a hot stew—offered freely, without suspicion, without asking who they were. When bedtime came, the couple insisted:
« Take our bed. It’s the only comfortable thing we have. We’ll sleep on blankets by the fire. »
The young angel felt a lump in his throat. This family was giving everything without expecting anything.
“We don’t want to be a burden…” he began.
But the woman interrupted gently: « A burden is someone who comes asking without gratitude. You bring peace in your eyes. That is worth more than any treasure. »
The angels accepted, grateful. That night, the humble home glowed with a soft light the couple could not see—but they felt it like a divine embrace.
DAWN AND TRAGEDY
At dawn, the angels awoke to find the couple crying in the yard. Their only cow—their source of milk, cheese, and income—lay dead on the ground. The young angel was horrified.
« What happened? Why have you lost the only thing you had? »
The farmer, in tears, answered: « We don’t know… yesterday she was fine. This morning we found her like this. She was all our livelihood. We don’t know what we’ll do now. »
Compassion and fury collided in the young angel’s heart. He ran to the older angel, demanding answers.
“I don’t understand anything!” I burst out. « The rich man had everything, treated us terribly, and you helped him by repairing his wall. These people gave us their food, warmth, even their bed—and now they lose the only thing that kept them alive. Where is the justice? »
The older angel looked at him with ancient wisdom.
“I told you—things are not always what they seem.”
The young angel stared, confused, as the elder continued:
« In the rich man’s house, I discovered gold hidden behind that hole in the wall . Enough gold to make him even greedier, more arrogant, more cruel. That is why I repaired the wall—so he would never find what would corrupt him further. »
The young angel’s eyes widened.
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