Clipping The Wings

The North and South City of Radhan is connected by a magically suspended bridge, known for its beauty, elegance, and great looking vistas. Just by paying a meager two Koens, civilians could pass through the bridge while distracted by the view of the clouds hanging above the city’s skyline. The air is cold and clear, rays of light penetrates the gaps between the buildings, casting soft shadows unto each cars. Whoever made this bridge knew that a photo shoot spot is needed, near the midpoint of the bridge. It was made to look like a round balcony, with safety iron fences erected around its edge. Even at a shoulder’s high, a determined man can easily climb over and step into a small ledge beyond. Dare devils have stood over it, with some slipping then falling into the abyss below. The void is indifferent to a man’s life, not even a body can be found after falling into it. A large sign hastily stamped to the fence tries to discourage these men-children, with a large fine printed in bold, “Five Million Koens and Ten Years of Prison” it said.

Despite the warnings, most people are not deterred by its presence. Families, men, women, couples, they all still visit this spot, capturing poses of candid and even funny pictures to feed the algorithms of social media. There was even a series of commercials being shot overlooking the horizon. The power of aesthetics, even if there is a grim reminder written in large fonts.

A man in his fifties ignored the warnings, his feet is firmly placed on the edge. His name is Jax Fergusson a husband and a father of three. He’s facing the abyss in a state of panic, anxiety, and relief at the same time. He’s dressed up, wearing a suit for professionals and were freshly cleaned, not a wrinkle on it. Behind him is a pair of shoes and a piece of paper below it, neatly put together. Not a human being will see this mess, not until it’s already too late. Today is Lernen, the first day of the week, and its right after lunch time so everyone is already back into their offices. The road is nearly empty, one can be forgiven not to notice a tiny specs of a man behind a tall fence.

Jax thought no one will notice, but that’s not true. A pair of men is watching from the sideline, they are sitting nearby unbeknownst to him. Their names are Lux and Bran, two angels sent from the headquarters to deal with the situation.

“How much are we going to get again? Saving this guy wouldn’t net us much, right?” Lux is pondering, his chin is resting on his fist.

“I think we’ll get at least ten, fifteen tops. For you, that is more than enough.” Bran replied, his back rested on the bench.

“Yeah but we’ve been staking this guy for three days, that’s like 5 per day which is way below average. Don’t we have a union solving sich like these?”

“We were made to live and serve, not create an office drama. Only Satan unionized against God.” Bran continues to watch for their target. Jax is still unmoved by the wind, or his own volition.

“Creating a union is evil?”

“Only if its against God, dude. Now stop slacking and deal with it. I’m getting a munch after this.” Bran said it while rubbing his belly, its large but definitely not obese.

Lux reluctantly walked towards his target, his feet drags across the pavement like a sulking child. The air behind him glistens by a fine and clear dust coming out of his wing. It’s white, soft, and can spread to five meters when fully extended. His body can selectively pass through objects, though its easier when its thin like the fence. He moves freely in the air, as if he’s walking on a solid surface. His wings supported him automatically, like riding a bike, but effortless.

“What are you doing Jax?”

The poor man is shocked by Lux sudden presence, from his perspective the angel is appearing in front of him out of thin air. This is his first time conversing with an angel, which means he is nearing the rock bottom. He shook his head around, Jax thought his eyes might be playing a trick on him. Maybe it’s the blinding effect of the afternoon sky.

“Nope, I’m real as one can be Jax. A real angel, in the flesh. Or more like, in the light. Again, tell me what you’re doing here, cause I’m starting to not like it.” Lux stood in the air with his back straight and hands in his pockets.

“I don’t want to die, Mister Angel, but I must. I’ve done bad things, bad, bad, things. I need to die, but I don’t want to. But I need to. Yet, I don’t want to.” Jax rambles on, unsure of his own fate.

“Your lady will miss you, she won’t ever see her husband ever again. The abyss is cold and no one will be able to help you down there. Well, no one beside God could, your fate after death is way beyond my salary.”

“There’s an after-life?” Jax is not a religious man, so this is a revelation for him.

“You’re looking at one man, I was a human too. Not everyone became an angel, the lucky ones goes straight to heaven. But I got unfinished business down here.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But can you please not disturb me, I’m trying to kill myself here.”

“No, you’re still doubting yourself. If not, we wouldn’t be talking in the first place.”

“Are you trying to kill me, Mister Angel?”

“I’m making sure you won’t do anything you’ll regret.” Lux said it like he meant it.

Jax slowly looked down from the horizon, he only sees a vague blue nothingness below. His life flashes between his eyes, the time he graduated, his first job, his first girlfriend, his second, third, and so on. He realizes he’s not willing to summarize everything he had done in life with a simple jump. Today might not be his day, but it should also not be his last. He went back from the fence towards the balcony. Lux cracked a smile, his wings flapped to help Jax away from the edge. Meanwhile, Bran is sitting still and out of the gaze of mortals, trying his hardest not to steal the spotlight.

The poor man walked away from the fence, his face is looks defeated and lost. He nonchalantly wore his shoes again, his hand is clutching to a supposed “last letter”. He slumped down on the floor, his limbs are stretched outwards, his belly is staring at the sky above. Jax knew not to care of the dirty floor, his mind is wandering far, thousands of kilometers away. He can see himself buying a house on a remote island, playing with his children, making love to his wife, and tending the field of fruits and veggies which he will eat when its ripe. A cycle of life of serenity, he thought.

“Can I read your letter?” Asked Lux.

Jax gave the letter to him without a second thought, while Lux tear the top apart cleanly with his index nail. The paper is white, written with a black ink and stamped with his official signature. Apart from being handwritten, one could argue that this looks as professional as it comes. It opens with a single paragraph of introduction, like a cover letter.

[TODO: cover letter for last letter]

“I felt like, someone was talking to me. Maybe it’s just my imagination.”