ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: A Story That Pushes the Boundaries of the Life Line

***  Story By : Sun & Kevin E.S.P***

Renaldi lay glued to look at the nurse who was trying to talk to him. For some reason it was difficult for him to understand what the woman was saying. Awareness is deflated. He's not sure where he is. Is it noon now? Or night? Where's his mother? His mouth feels dry.

The nurse offered a glass of juice while helping to put the tip of her suction on Renaldi's lips. The young man sipped a little. But he felt nauseous. His tongue is bland. He usually likes melon juice.

Finally the nurse left after helping her change her lying position. Now he lives alone with his confusion. He's getting sleepy. His body is so tired. He closed his eyelids while guessing. When's?

“Four weeks again.”

The young man opened his eyes again. The sound just now was really clear. Unlike the words of the nun that he could not even understand half of. It was as if a voice had just spoken directly into his mind.

Beside him stood a large skull-headed figure wearing a black robe.

“Who?” The young man's mouth did not move, but he asked the question.

“I am the one who will uproot your life, four weeks from now.”

Finally Renaldi remembered. For the past year, he has been battling cancer.

“Are you scared?” ask the angel of death.

Renaldi.

He pondered for a while, then shook his head, “Nggak.”

The face of the angel's skull certainly does not imply anything. While Renaldi, he himself was astonished. He was not afraid at all, but in the past only saw the writing board ‘Kamar Jenazah’ alone had made all his nape goosebumps.

“I understand. In your current position, indeed death is the only way out of pain,” said the angel while nodding his head.

“Entah,” says Renaldi. “I'm just happy to finally have a friend chat.”

“Heh?”

“You remind me of my friend in SD. He's a childish man. He likes to wear a mask to school and then act. Sometimes he wears a Kamen Rider mask while acting like a justice enforcer. Sometimes also wearing a mask of franskentein, sometimes the head of a gorilla.”

The angel was silent for a moment. “But... This is not a mask.”

Renaldi laughed. “I know! No need to take it seriously!”

The angel was silent again, then sat down on the empty sofa.

“Hey, hey, tell me,” Renaldi said again, as if he was afraid the angel would leave if he wasn't spoken to. “What's in heaven... ah, I'm not sure what's going to heaven.. Anyway over there, is there a game? or PS?”

“Uh... that question is beyond my capacity.”

“Why is that?” Renaldi was a bit disappointed.

“My job is just to take away human lives.”

“Wait! Don't tell... You don't even know what a game is?”

The angel did not answer.

“So right? You lived all this time without knowing the game? Just right?!”

“Enough! I know what a gym is! But it has nothing to do—”

“What's your favorite game?”

“Winning Eleven,” said. “Not that I ever played it. I just love watching people play it.”

“Sama!” call Renaldi suddenly. “Since I couldn't play football. Usually I'm an onion, or forced into goalkeeping. Because of that I get bullied often. But it turns out my talent does play ball in the game world, hahahaha.”

“Wow,” response the flat angel. Then he went back to silence.

Time keeps passing.

“Hei,” call Renaldi.

The angel did not answer. The young man was worried.

“Do I bore you?”

The angel clucked, “If you want a story, just a story. I'm listening.”

Renaldi.

Suddenly, a warm mouth flowed from the corner of his eye. The boy's whole life never said much. He thought playing a game was enough to make him happy. He never thought for the past year it was the most painful is not the process of chemotherapy. Except, a sense of loneliness. He wanted to start all over, but his time was up.

“Why even cry?” ask the angel. “Quick story!”

“Ya.. well..” Reply Renaldi as you please. Then he smiled widely. “I often imagine how if there was a national level Winning Eleven tournament! Must be exciting, right. First is a match at the school level, then its representatives against other schools, until finally the representatives of each province compete to determine the title of champion.”

Renaldi continued to tell stories, and the angel listened. They did this for four weeks, until the appointed time came.

So that morning, at four and twenty, Renaldi was getting weaker. The doctor has resigned. His parents waited by his bedside. The young man could not help his own crying, but only tears could he shed. His throat was no longer able to speak.

“Ready?” ask the angel of death.

Renaldi made his final smile, then nodded.

The angel grabbed his crown, and took out his soul.

The young man closed his eyes. He felt a unique, unexplained sensation that he had never felt in his life. As the sensation disappeared, he opened his eyes.

The paradise? Or hell?

But it turns out he is still on earth. He stood beside the angel of death, above the hospital building.

“But to leave?” tanyakanya.

“Ah... I thought.. I want to hear more of your story,” replied the angel of death without looking at him. The creature was staring at the night. “Ya... You obviously deserve to see reality more deeply... “ Mumbles. “In this world, you live with limited stories because of the pain you suffer. But, because of that pain, you grow up to be very strong. So, now I'm going to take you there to a world full of wonders. Because I'm sure, a strong boy like you, can definitely find more stories there.“

Renaldi also realized he was no longer wearing patient clothes. His entire body was now wrapped in the same black robe that the angel had used.

“Aready for your first task?”

The young man who was still amazed also replied, “Of course!”

“Give all the opportunities that exist, whether it looks good or evil. And remember, in the end, it all depends on you.” said the angel as he walked away.