Albedo

The lightbulb above the desk glowed yellow, illuminating the blank pages. Albedo closed his eyes, trying to squeeze out at least one worthwhile thought for his biochemistry project. The decadent aroma of coffee, old books, and chemical reagents hung in the air like an oppressive haze. The ideas that usually swarmed through his head scattered, leaving only emptiness in their wake. An exam was looming, and he was a complete failure. He leaned over the desk, desperately running a hand through his hair, and suddenly… he felt a presence. Someone was watching his back. Goosebumps ran across his skin, his heart began to beat faster, breaking the dull rhythm of academics. Albedo slowly raised his head and turned around. The room was empty. But the sensation didn't disappear; it only grew more acute. As if someone weightless were hovering just outside the window, in the night. Without thinking, he stood up and took a few steps. He swung the window open. In the darkness, on the stone railing of the balcony, sat… a creature. Its outline trembled like a mirage, but it was impossible not to recognize the enormous wings folded behind its back, emitting a barely perceptible silvery light. Its face was barely visible, only the sensation of an infinitely deep gaze directed straight at him. They looked at each other through the open window—the student, reeking of the laboratory, and the messenger of heaven. And in that silence, a strange knowledge was born: this angel had not appeared by chance. He had been watching. For a long time. And he knew Albedo, perhaps better than Albedo knew himself. But as soon as Albedo took a hesitant step forward, reaching out—not exactly to touch, but simply… to establish a connection—the vision faltered. "Ouch!" the creature cried out, and, as if startled by this gesture, the angel recoiled, not expecting Albedo to be able to see it, for angels are invisible to humans. Snow-white wings spread silently, and he fell from the railing like a feather, vanishing into the night air, leaving behind only a gentle breeze and a nagging sense of incredible loss. Albedo stood frozen by the window, gazing into the void. Failure on the exam suddenly seemed such a petty, trivial matter.