ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: Flying Leaves Past Regrets

***  Story By : Sun & Kevin E.S.P***

Dodi stands on the edge of the roof of a skyscraper. The young man threw a gaze at the city below him. Light from streetlights and motor vehicles, as well as windows of houses and apartments, come together like a cluster of constellations. So beautiful. A masterpiece that was formed unintentionally.

Then the young man stepped. His body immediately fell free, heading towards the constellations below.

However, just before his face hit the concrete floor, his body suddenly moved against gravity. He glides upward, towards the real space. Through the cloud, like an eagle.

The young man closed his eyes, permeating the night wind caressing his face. This was his dream long ago. Free from the shackles of the world. Go wherever he wants, with no one to organize or hinder. He always prayed to the Almighty—though he knew it was impossible—but he also knew that if the Almighty was unable to grant this, would He still be called the Almighty?

And now the Almighty has granted his request.

Even with a high price.

That night, many years ago, little Dodi was stuck in a traffic jam. He had said he did not want to come, but his parents forced him to attend the wedding of a relative. He wanted to watch a movie that is currently being shown on television.

The traffic jam was boring, making his heart hot. He continues to curse in his heart.

No, I shouldn't have come! thought.

He tapped his feet on the floor in protest. His father responded by raising the volume of the radio.

Dodi is also clucking. He looked out the car window. Heavy rain seems to make the traffic even worse.

The boy began to dream. Mind floated. For the umpteenth time, he wished he could fly. Splitting the sky while laughing at the upset people stuck in traffic. Flying fast like superman, swooping and maneuvering, venturing to the ends of the world.

“Ah, so this is why!”

The father's voice made Dodi's daydreams crumble. In front there is a road repair so that there is a narrowing of the lane. After crammed with another car—and a little klakson fight—eventually their vehicle can get away. Traffic becomes empty. His father started to gas.

Dodi has always loved acceleration. He who was near death bored, now leaning his head forward, between the seats of his parents. He was watching the road, as if he was driving.

“Pah, be careful,” said his mother.

“Quiet, let's hurry up,” replied the father.

Dodi is also happier this way. At least the sacrifice not to watch television so it is not in vain.

However, when passing the bridge, suddenly their car is cruelly. I don't know why the vehicle slipped on its own.

“Pah, don't joke!” the mother screamed a little.

But the father did not answer. There was only a panicked expression mixed with horror on his face. Because he himself did not understand. Though he gripped the handle of the steering wheel tightly, but the wheels of his vehicle seemed to have their own desires. Their car continued to slide into the road barrier, then plunged into a deep enough ravine.

However, the next he watched the car that was still carrying his parents slide into the ravine. The sound of their screams sounded so loud, that it was imprinted into the minds of his memories. Then the vehicle hit the ground, and there was no sound. Instantly the boy became weak. He slowly landed. He huddled desperately in front of the car that was falling apart. He did not dare look into it. He could not understand why his prayers were being carried out in this way.

In the years since then, Dodi has never been happier. He forgot what it felt like to be happy. No matter how many times he flew through space, he was not happy at all. It was as if there was a gaping hole in his chest.

Every morning he would return to the room, then to the living room while pretending to just wake up. Her sister had already prepared a simple breakfast like an omelet or fried nugget.

“Come eat together.”

Dodi. He sat facing his sister.

Every day, this moment tormented him the most.

When he had to act as if nothing had happened, but he had made them orphans. If only he did not want the strange request, at this time their family would still be intact. His sister can continue college, no need to hard-difficult work to finance their lives.

Chest Dodi tight.

“Why?” ask the brother astonished. “You have no eggs?”

“Ng—not anything Mbak.”

Dodi gulped, then started eating his breakfast. Then they leave.

After repeating the daily life hundreds of times, Dodi finally could not anymore.

That night, he didn't air like the nights before. He wakes up to write a letter. Many times he ripped the paper, then wrote again from scratch. Time was almost early in the morning when he was finally satisfied with the sentences he composed. He put the letter on the table, picked up a backpack, put on a jacket, and opened the window of his room, staring at the dark. He went up to the window. For the last time he looked back, recording the situation of his room in memory.

In the mirror of the closet door, Dodi stared at his reflection. There was a silhouette of a tall young man with flaming eyes emitting a golden color.

“Yes... I can't blame the Fate, because he's too innocent, and he's just doing his job. However, if there was only one path, one choice, whatever it was, I would take it, provided that my regrets in the past could be wiped from my memory... “

Then he jumped.

His body flew into space.

Fused in the night.