A month passed, and Leonor's efforts to try to help her were futile, because Smarald had not changed her attitude; on the contrary, she seemed to be increasingly distant, as if her thoughts were elsewhere. There were times when her gaze seemed lost, as if she had memories of

past times. Indeed, Leonor's perception was not misguided, Smarald kept thinking about Michael and, through her thoughts, remembered certain unforgettable moments, when they almost kissed in the pool, the first kiss, when they took the first walk alone, when he bandaged her hand and when she was resurrected through the powers of her beloved and finally when she learned of the sad reality that her love was an Archangel.

     Whenever Smarald reflected on this, it was as if gradually her immortality was being consumed. She was totally distressed, not knowing what to do; she felt helpless in the face of such a situa