My name is Jonah. I am an angel. An angel of death. No, no, a lot of people will say now. Angel and death, that doesn't fit. Demon and death, yes, but no angel. Angels don't bring the death. That's right. And wrong at the same time. Right is, I am an angel of death, wrong is, I don't bring the death. I'm with people when they're dying and sometimes – when they know that they'll die – I join them on their way to death.

I am an angel of death, the angel, who joins people when they're dying.

Let me explain that to you with an example. Let's take little Julian. He was six years old, went to school in summer. Everybody was sure, he'll have a wonderful long life. That changed when Julian went out for a swim on a sunny hot weekend. Wearing his new red swim trunks, he ran into the water, ready to play with his friends. His parents were on the shore, watching as their only child played with a beach ball in the water, having fun and simply being a kid. How he played in the water with friends, threw balls and simply was a child. Everything was all right. But after only letting him out of their sight for a few minutes, something bad happened. His limp form was floating, drifting away. Lifeguards jumped into the water to pull him out and save him

Now it's my time. Julian hadn't left his body, parts of him were still trying to stay. I sat next to him while the ambulance was taking him down to the hospital. His parents, the paramedics and me. Among the ones there, of course, I was the only one who could talk to him.

"I'm afraid", he said to me.

"You don't have to be afraid, I'm with you. I will take care of you."

"Are you an angel?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you have wings?"

"There're many kinds of angels, some of us have wings, some don't."

"What kind of angel are you?"

"I am an angel of death."

"Do you take care of people who are dying?" he asked innocently. One of the good things about children is that they don't doubt things that don't make sense to adults

"I'll be with you so you won't be alone. Nothing bad will happen to you."

"Mum and dad are crying. It's not good when people die. It makes people sad."

"It isn't easy for people to accept the fact that the people they love are dead. It's difficult to let go of things which are important to you."

"Do mum and dad have an angel who takes care of them as well? Who will calm them?"

"Yes, they have."

"So why do they cry?"

"They don't hear him. They're too sad. People need time before they can hear the voice of their angels. They'll cry and be sad for a long time. Then they'll start to listen to their angel and the pain will leave them."

"Why do people have to die?"

"Everything that lives, dies. If nobody dies, the world would be filled with too many people. Everything needs to grow old. People die and new ones are born. Nothing is forever.."

"Why?"

"If nothing would change, there would be nothing new. Your parents would never have gotten you and your grandparents would never have given birth to your parents. We should welcome new life on Earth and at the same time learn to let go of the old ones."

"It's like with toys. You have to give away old stuff to get new ones."

"Exactly." I couldn't help but smile because he understood. It's strange that adults don't talk about things like death with children. They think it will be hard for children to understand. But the truth is, children are more open-minded than anyone else. They ask only simple questions for difficult things and yet they easily comprehend.

"I've got a teddy, which I own since I was born. I never want to give it away. I don't want to have another one."

"It's because it's your favorite toy. But one day you will have to let go of it. You may end up putting him away somewhere, only having a look at him from time to time until you finally replace him.."

"Will my parents replace me?"

"No, they won't replace you. Nobody can take your place. They'll always love you. But soon enough they'll learn to be happy again. They'll be able to give the love they gave to you to someone else. Sure, it won't be exactly the same but still a bit similar."

"How is it being an angel? Do you have to die with many people?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you sad because of that?"

"I'm sad when the people are sad. That's why I'm with them. To take some of their sorrow. To calm them, take care of them."

"How can you become an angel?"

"You'll get born as an angel."

"How is it to be dead?"

"It will be like you imagine it."

"Mum says, when you die and you were a good human, you go to heaven. God opens the gate of heaven and you meet Jesus and all his friends."

"People have different ideas about death. There are people who think people who die are resurrected. Meaning, they can be born again and become either human, animal or plan."

"That means, I can go back to my parents?"

"They may not notice it but just because you lose you body doesn't mean you lose your soul too.."

"Can I tell my parents, they don't have to be sad anymore, because I'm there."

"No."

"I won't resurrect?"

"I don't know."

"But aren't you the angel of death?"

"Yes, I am the angel of death. Still, all I can do is accompany the people who die. I can't tell how it will be when you cross over. You'll leave before me.."

"Am I alone then?"

"You'll never be alone. There'll always be someone, who will take care of you."

"Like you?"

"Like I do." And the little boy took my hand and smiled.

The paramedics turned of the hooter, there was no need to hurry anymore. At the moment, the boy took my hand, he died. he wires connecting the boy and the machine showed his vitals. He was dead and there was nothing else they could do. The last steps, Julian took them with me.

I am Jonah, the angel of death.