The grand cathedral stood as a testament to faith, its towering spires reaching toward the heavens, bathed in the glow of the evening sun. Stained glass windows shimmered with divine colors, casting ethereal patterns upon the polished marble floor. The scent of burning incense lingered in the air, mingling with the soft fragrance of fresh lilies adorning the altar. The choir’s hymn, delicate yet powerful, reverberated through the sacred halls, filling the space with an air of solemnity and grace. br br At the heart of the cathedral, before the great altar adorned with golden candelabras and an ornate crucifix, an angel stood. Her silver wings stretched behind her, glowing faintly in the dim candlelight. Clad in robes that seemed woven from the very light of heaven, she exuded a presence both serene and sorrowful. The flickering flames reflected in her radiant eyes, betraying the weight of the moment—this was her farewell. br br She had watched over this sacred place for centuries, whispering prayers into the ears of the faithful, comforting the broken-hearted, and guiding lost souls back to the path of light. Each carved pew, each solemn hymn, each hushed prayer had been a part of her existence. But now, the time had come to leave. br br A soft rustling of fabric echoed through the cavernous space as a young girl approached, her small hands clutching a worn leather-bound Bible to her chest. Her eyes, wide with innocence and sorrow, reflected the angel’s glow as she stepped closer. br br “Are you leaving?” the girl’s voice quivered, barely louder than the whispering flames. br br The angel inclined her head gently. “Yes, little one. My time here is ending.” br br Tears welled in the girl’s eyes, shimmering like the sacred candlelight around them. “But why? We need you.” br br Kneeling before the child, the angel reached out, brushing a tender hand over her hair. “Faith does not vanish when I depart. It lives in your heart, in the hearts of all who come seeking solace within these walls.” br br The girl swallowed hard, glancing around at the stained-glass saints who seemed to watch over them. “But who will guide us?” br br The angel smiled, an expression filled with a wisdom beyond mortal years. “The bells will ring with my echo. The prayers will carry my voice. The light filtering through the windows will remind you of my presence. I am not truly gone.” br br A single tear slipped down the child’s cheek. The angel caught it with the tip of her glowing finger, then raised it toward the heavens. In that moment, the great chandelier above them flickered, and a warm, celestial glow filled the cathedral, illuminating the nave with a radiance unseen before. br br The girl gasped, clutching her Bible tighter. “Is that… you?” br br The angel nodded. “A part of me. Just as I am now a part of every soul who has ever prayed here.” br br The great organ hummed a deep, reverent note as the angel’s form began to shimmer, her presence dissolving into golden motes of light.