I have a very special angel. My younger brother (age 10) passed away three years ago when I was thirteen. I was absolutely crushed. I had no clue what to do with myself. I spent the entire day away from everyone else, crying and praying.

At 1:28 in the afternoon, I felt my papasan chair, which I was using as a bed at the time, change. It felt like a very large pair of arms. And I heard voices telling me that everything was fine. One stood out in particular. It said, "Why are you crying? Don't cry - you'll make me cry! Sis, everything is okay. God's got me - he's got you too. Take care of Mama and Daddy. They need you now. Don't worry about Brother. Everything is okay with him."

That was the day I started seeing the numbers 1, 2 and 8 everywhere. Whenever I glanced at clocks, it would be 1:28 or 12:08 or 11:28. In math classes, three out of four times the problems I did on the board had a solution of 128.

A few months later, I had another breakdown, missing my brother so much. I don't remember how long it lasted, I just remember being so remorseful and hating myself for it, because I wasn't there for him. And very suddenly, I stopped. I had been sobbing my heart out, and it was like someone pressed "pause." At 1:28 in the morning. Everything was very calm, and then, completely out of my control, I began to laugh. I had never felt so joyful in my entire life, but I had the feeling it was not me myself laughing.

Very recently, I started babysitting a boy who rode my brother's bus to school. He has such a resemblance to him, and we have such a good time together. To get to his house, I have to cross the yard of house 218. And his favorite TV show is on channel 128. I've been followed for the past two years by my angel - he's keeping watch over me!

Name withheld
Please respond to john@beyondreligion.com

Posted 7/27/07