Chapter 1

My name is Angela, and I'm five years old.

Mom told me I was a little angel sent to Earth on a mission.

There was a bad little monster living inside me.

Every time I got a shot or take bitter medicine, it was like fighting the monster.

If I were brave and didn't cry, I could earn a sparkly star sticker.

My star sticker album was already half full.

Mom said once I collect a hundred star stickers, my mission would be complete.

Then I'd grow wings and fly away to my true home up in the sky.

But Dad didn't seem to be into this game.

Every time I showed him my new star sticker, he always turned away.

How weird—didn't he want me to finish my mission and go back home?

*****

There was a naughty little monster living inside me.

I couldn't see him, but I could feel him.

When he got angry, my tummy hurt like a bunch of tiny needles were poking me, and all I wanted to do was curl up into a little ball.

At first, I was super scared.

I was especially freaked out by the doctor guy in the white coat at the hospital.

He always had this long, skinny thing—said it would poke me to help fight the monster living inside me.

But man, it hurt so much.

That day, I cried so loud my voice went hoarse.

I grabbed onto Mom's clothes, begging her to take me home. I didn't want to fight the monster anymore.

Mom was crying too, and her hot tears dripped onto my face, warm and real.

She hugged me close, leaned in by my ear, and whispered a secret so big it felt like the whole world had changed.

She said, "Angela, you're not just an ordinary little girl. You're a special angel sent here from a distant star.

"Your mission is to collect a hundred stars for being brave here on Earth. Every time you face the monster and don't cry, you earn one more."

I just stood there, stunned, my tears still hanging on my lashes.

"Really?" I whispered, my voice hardly more than a breath.

"Really," Mom promised, eyes shining with red, nodding more firmly than ever.

"When you gather a hundred stars, you'll finally grow those wings and fly back to your true home in the sky," she said softly.

She took out a small notebook with a blue cover and a dazzling gold star sticker.

"See? This is your star sticker album. If you're brave today, this first star is all yours," she said, her voice gentle and full of hope.

I gazed at that sparkling sticker—it was even prettier than the stars up in the sky.

The promise of finally going home beat out the fear of pain.

I lifted my head from Mom's arms and looked at the nurse. "Ma'am, I'm not gonna cry. You can do it now."

When the needle pierced my arm, I clamped my teeth down on my lip.

Burying my face in Mom's arms, I imagined myself sprouting wings like a real angel.

I didn't cry—not even a single tear fell.

As soon as the nurse pulled out the needle, Mom pressed that golden star sticker carefully onto the very first page of my star sticker album.

She stroked my head, her voice wavering with emotion. "Angela, you're the bravest little angel."

I stared at that first star sticker shining in my album—it sparkled like it was smiling just at me.

And... my belly wasn't hurting so much anymore.

From that day on, I didn't flinch at needles or gag at those yucky medicines anymore.

Because it wasn't just about the hurt—it was all about collecting new stars.

I kept wishing my sticker album would fill up faster.

I just wanted to go home so badly.