A Hidden Seraph

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT GET INSPIRED BY THE THOUGHTS OR ACTIONS OF ANY CHARACTER IN THIS STORY. RESEMBLANCE TO ANY PROPER NOUN IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL, AND THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE CHARACTERS RATHER THAN THE WRITER.

It’s a perfect day, a perfect evening. It’s my brother’s wedding day.

The soothing hymn ‘god of all living’ was being played. I am here, on the first gingerbread brown colored, wooden pew trapped in the heavenly tan brown walls and picturesque stained glass windows of the church around me. The church was quite vacant, my brother Cassair wanted a tranquil wedding and so did Ada.

Ada entered the church in her elegant white bridal gown, the smile on Cassair’s face widened as he stood at the altar. The church wasn’t as gloomily, rather red and blue with some light getting through the glass stained windows on this overcast day. My dad was at the Altar already, grabbing a white wine glass.

Just then, my mobile phone rang, ear-splitting. I abruptly yanked it out of the right pocket of my navy trousers. I shut my phone’s mouth ahead of perceiving that it was a call from ‘Jason,’ one of my friends.

“Sorry,” I apologized for disrupting the halcyon wedding and swiftly ran out of the church prior to answering the call.

“Luke,” he was panting.

“Hey, is everything alright,” I questioned with a sense of dismay in my voice.

“Rush to springmid bridge, right now, just get here without a question,” he said in a menacing voice.

“Hey, wha-” I heard the beep of the call ending before I could even finish.

His anxious voice let me get gripped with curiosity and of course it did leave my feet cold. My heart is racing twice as fast now as I was getting into my red veteran Honda Civic. I jolted down the handbrake and hit the gas. The civic speeding away from the cityside faster than my heart.

The tires screeched as I deftly drifted to a halt, ahead of the bridge. The sky was joyless yet.

Jacob was gloomily on the earth, his back resting on the parapet, somewhat rusted. On the contrary stood Jason surveilling Jacob vigilantly. I timidly walked on the drenched road that was thinner than a strand of my hair, toward the core of the bridge, where Jacob and Jason rested. I glanced momentarily at Jacob’s dejected face, his eyes gazing at the wet cement road in a brown study, before I gazed at Jason.

“What’s happened?” I asked, edgy.

Jason left the parapet strolling towards me blandly.

“He tried to find a shortcut to a better place”

“Jacob,” I let a moment of serenity pass, “what’s happened today?”

Jacob has given up on quite a few things, but it’s the first time he has decided to give up on life, so it must be something more to deal with than the world wars. He wasn’t lucky enough even though he’s always been ready for the grind since eternity.

Jacob pivoted to look me in the eye prior to saying, “You see a broad smile on my face every day, a plastic smile. I’ve not been glad since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I’ve tried all that I could in quite a few things.

And I’m just

A bad boy,

A bad student,

A bad lawyer,

A bad son, to an amazing mother

And now …

A bad footballer.

I’m sure there’s nothing good I’m going to do being alive on this planet but jolt a million grams of food into my mouth. I’d rather be having a chat with Satan,” his voice was all frustrated and resentful by now.

I went to him and swung my arm faster than the wind, striking the side of his face, sending his face away. He pivoted around in a jiffy, his fiery eyes burning into mine.

“Jacob, stop beating around the bush, talking about your suicidal thoughts and merely tell us what’s happened today,” Jason demanded impolitely.

“I haven’t been chosen at the Juxton Brigade scouting,” he said glumly, looking at Jason.

“How did that happen?” I questioned, bewildered.

“Did you try your best?” Jason asked.

“He’d still get scouted even if he went casual,” I said, meaning it.

“Tell us what happened,” I demanded, good-natured now, but only until his actions could keep me.

“Do you remember Patrick Atkinson?” Jacob asked, facing me eventually.

“Who can ever forget that legend?” it wasn’t a question, “he’s the best player with unparalleled dribbling skills, shooting as well” I added after a moment.

“You know his son?” he asked questioningly. His face lingered on with the dejected expression.

I shook my head once.

“Well,” he paused fleetingly, “I do.”

I was left astounded straightaway. Did they lock horns or something?

“Where did he come from now?” Jason interrogated.

“He was the only one scouted even though we were paralleled. I’M A FRIGGING LOSER,” he screamed his lungs out.

“SHUT UP,” I commanded, “let me tell you a story, let me tell you the story of the best footballer the world hasn’t seen yet, let me tell you the god’s honest truth, the story of a hidden seraph.”