An Angel descended

Li Zhi An disappeared few days after reporting back to the Chief He Qiu Ye. Chief He was disappointed that Li Zhi An didn't say goodbye to him. None of his other team mates and friends knew where he was. They couldn't reach him either.

"Where do you think he went, Xiao Xia?" Zhao Yuqi, one of Li Zhi An's friends, asked her partner.

"Why do you care so much about him? He killed his own team mates and failed to capture the criminal." Xiao Xia said while she scrolled down her phone.

"Cuz he's still our commander." Yuqi said while sipping on her iced coffee.

"Commander? More like he's a loser who's a coward." Xiao Xia was upset because one of her friends was killed during the Cambodia mission.

Yuqi understood why Xiao Xia was upset because she was still in grieving stage. She sighed and stayed silent.

Some of Li Zhi An's buddies were drinking beer and partying after their long day of training. None of them asked about Li Zhi An. Some didn't even want to mention him. It got to the point where everyone's minding their own businesses. They didn't even care about Zhi An. After hearing about everything he did during Cambodia mission, they were all disappointed in him and wanting him to step down.

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It's been almost two years since Li Zhi An went back to his hometown, Shenzhen. He rented an apartment with the money he saved. In order to earn more money, he worked in a cafe that was close to his apartment. The area he lives in can be loud at times due to police and ambulance siren but mostly, it's calming. People going to and fro, students going to school, and people going to work.

Li Zhi An was feeling numb psychologically after coming back from the Cambodia mission a year ago. He wasn't as talkative as before. Ever since he was diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) he struggles to find someone whom he can comfortably talk with.

Zhang Yue Yue was a regular customer of Li Zhi An even though they barely talked to each other throughout her visit. Li Zhi An overheard that she works at a hospital.

"Yue Yue, when is your next surgery? Who will be your new assistant?" Yue Yue's best-friend asked and she said, "Next one is in a few hours, Director Wang will let me know soon. I don't know yet."

As Yue Yue lined up to get her daily coffee, an old lady approached her.

"Miss. Are you Dr. Zhang?" She asked. Yue Yue nodded but she was a bit confused.

"Thank you for operating on my husband, he's been released from the hospital for a few days already. It's all thanks to you and your team of doctors that you can save my husband." The old lady grabbed Yue Yue's hand and handed her a money cheque. Yue Yue immediately pulled the lady aside and explained that she cannot accept the money. She gave the cheque back to the old lady and said, "I'm happy that your husband is healthy now. Thank you for the gift but I'll accept your thanks. You should keep the money and save it." Yue Yue gently held onto the old lady's hand and smiled. The old lady understood and bowed, "Thank you so much."

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Few days after an 8 hours surgery- Zhang Yue Yue was heading to the café after finishing with her errands when she witnessed an accident between a motorist and a car. She immediately went to the scene and asked people to call 119( emergency number). She checked their physical condition and used whatever is available to stop the bleeding.

Since the accident occurred right outside the cafe, Li Zhi An came out after hearing all of the ruckus. Then, he saw a man lying still with blood flowing out in large amount. At that moment, Zhi An started to feel breathless again. He started to feel tight in his chest and the flashbacks came back again. Zhang Yue Yue was about to leave the scene after paramedics arrived when she saw a young man on the ground with his both hands on the side of the head, trembling in fear. Other people also saw him but they didn't help him at all.

She carefully approached him and told him her name. She slowly extended her right hand and told him to hold onto it. She comforted him and stayed with him until everything subsided.

After a while, Li Zhi An could breathe normally again. He felt tired each time after the attack occurred.

"Are you feeling better now?" Zhang Yue Yue asked, "Do you want some water?"

Even though she saw him several times in the cafe, she didn't know him too well. But after today, she wanted to learn more about him because when she first saw him, she did have a small crush on him.

Li Zhi An looked at the young and beautiful woman in front of him thinking she looked familiar. It was the first time that someone took the initiative to talk to him. She was the angel who took his hand in midst of his own darkness.

"Thank you." He replied.

After they exchanged contact info, Zhi An went back to work since he was feeling a bit better. He smiled a bit. Zhang Yue Yue was still outside the cafe looking at him with a smile while holding onto his contact info.

"I'll see you later." She whispered to herself.

______

After a week or so, Zhi An and Zhang Yue Yue started to hang out a bit more in the cafe after work. They introduced themselves again and asked each other some questions just like normal friends would do.

"What did you do before working here?" Yue Yue asked curiously, "I remembered you were new since I've been a regular customer at this cafe for a long time."

Li Zhi An stayed silent while looking down on the table for quite a long time and Yue Yue waited for him to answer patiently.

"I was a SWAT commander." He replied.