(magic realism story)

Crowley and Aziraphale are the main characters of ‘Good Omens’ by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

SShe raised her head in silence and looked at the endless line of stairs that disappeared somewhere far above. Why is this damn day getting worse by every minute?

WWhen she finally got to the 12th floor and entered her apartment, cursing all the gods that existed and didn’t exist at all, the angel on her shoulder seemed ready to faint from the number of obscene words in her head.

SShe just needs coffee and some silence. However, the electric kettle decided that today was a great day to break down, so the appliance smashed into the wall and plunged into oblivion forever. The girl angrily blew a strand of hair out of her eyes and turned to the window.

“Bad day, darling?” a mocking voice came from behind her.

“Shut up, Crowley, be a good boy,” she turned and looked straight into the sunglasses behind which the demon hid his yellow snake eyes.

“Oh, someone’s boiling with anger, you need to relax, baby,” the demon suddenly held a glass of amber liquid in his hands and handed it to the girl, smiling.

The brunette took the glass and held it up to her eyes: the sun’s rays shimmered in the honey liquid, creating hundreds of strange reflections.

A chubby angel suddenly appeared on the girl’s other side with a cup of chocolate drink, “Crowley! Your methods will drive her to alcoholism! Better have some warm cocoa.”

“I don’t know about your methods, but you two,” the girl poked her fingers into the chests of the magical creatures, “you will definitely bring me to a psychologist!”

The demon put his hand on the girl’s waist and smiled slyly, “Why do you need a psychologist when you have me and ‘Jack Daniels’?”

“Leave her alone, Crowley,” the angel’s chubby hand rested on the girl’s shoulder. “My dear, if you need to talk, the doors of my bookshop are always open for you.”

The girl looked at each of her not-quite-real friends and suddenly smiled. She raised her left eyebrow questioningly.

“The bar, the bookshop… But now you’re both here, in my apartment, and obviously, you want something from me, right?”

The angel and the demon looked at each other.

“I could give you a few options,” said the demon in a long voice. “But then Aziraphale would pour holy water on me, so let’s just stick with those delicious pancakes in your fridge!”

All three laughed, and the girl didn’t even notice that the broken kettle was back in place, immediately heating the water for aromatic coffee…