Skellig

Skellig 
Alternative ending by Franco Valerga

        “Michael,” he started, “she is gone.”

        His voice crumbled while finishing the phrase. Mum could barely stand still. She couldn’t stop crying. And I guess so did I, or at least that’s what I wanted to.

        The drive to the house was nothing but silence. I could only hear Mum’s sobbing.

        “What happened to her?” I broke the silence, “wasn’t she getting better?”

        “She was, but in a blink of an eye machines started peeping, nurses arrived and…”

        And I didn’t want to listen anymore because I knew what was next. It’s happened, she wasn’t with us anymore. And I couldn’t bare it.

        Days still passed. Another day, another day in the darkness of my room. I lost contact with Mina, with my school friends, with Skellig… I don’t really know if he is okay or dead like my baby sister.

        “Michael, get up,” Mum seems better now. At least I don’t hear her crying at night anymore, “Mina is here”

        She is by the door. She hasn’t changed at all, because not much time has passed, it’s just that it has felt like eternity to me.

        We left to Mina’s apartment to look for Skellig. I opened the door and there he was. He looked so much better than last time.

        “I already know about the baby,” he is giving his back to us now, but I think he is crying, “ I am sorry, I couldn’t save her”

        Mina and I exchange looks. I couldn’t save her?  What did he mean by that?

        “I understand if you are confused, just don’t be afraid. I wasn’t in that garage by chance. It was my mission to save her, and I failed,” Mina seems so confused. “I am a kind of angel sent to save lives.”

        “And what happened with the last owner of the house? Ernie Myers, was he?”

        Skellig stopped to think. He returned to us and said,” He wasn’t like you. You saved me when I had done nothing for you, besides I wasn’t kind at all.”

        I remember entering the garage, the bluebottles, the dust. I remember him, lying on the floor, all hungry and dirty. I remember the first time I saw his wings spread, almost magical. “And what is next?”

        “Now I should leave… to my next mission. Saving people is what I do. Just like you two did with me. Someday I will see you again, I promise.”

        Skellig spread his wings and flew through the window. The moon lit his perfect wings. As he disappeared into the night I swore not to ever forget him.

Three years later…

Skellig

        I heard someone coming. It must be the new owner. The dust in this basement is bothering me so much

        “What is this place?” I hear someone says. It is a boy’s voice. I hear his footsteps approaching…

        His face of amusement was beyond description, “ Who are you? Is there anything I could do for you, man?

        “Just one thing, little boy. 27 and 53” I say, remembering one little boy I met years ago…