literature

It will take a Miracle

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Literature Text

[Setting: A dimly-lit bar. There’s a strong smell of tobacco and a faint hint of decay. Classical music plays from somewhere behind the bar. It’s is around midnight, with only four people in the bar: the bartender, a couple sitting by the window, and a man who seems distressed, with around 3 empty glasses surrounding him at the bar. From the rainy night outside, steps in a heavily clothed figure with half of his face mostly covered by a scarf. He is a tall, slender figure who walks like he has springs in his legs. He walks over to the somber man.]


Masked Man: Good evening sir.

[The distressed man jumps a little when he hears the masked man next to him. He still looks surprised after a brief moment of pause.]

Distressed man: Um..can I help you...?

MM: [The masked man tips his hat to his response] That depends on if you need help yourself. [He takes a seat next to the other man, still tense in his seat.] As I was passing by, I noticed you seemed distraught. I wondered if something is deeply on your mind.

DM: [He relaxes at his reply, slouching himself down in his seat.] Oh. Well, I appreciate your concern, but my dilemma is beyond help.

MM: [Raises an eyebrow] Pray tell what this dilemma of yours is.

DM: [Looks at him with growing annoyance] Please, all I need right now is some peace.

[A brief pause follows.]

MM: ...I see. Who was it that left you?

DM: [Looking mildly shocked] How did-?

MM: Well, I find it quite obvious. Don’t you?

DM: [Realizing this man is not ordinary, he lets out a heavy sigh.] Alright. As of yesterday, my former lover has left me.

MM: [He gives a suspicious look.] There’s more.

DM: How...yes, there is. A few years ago, my parents officially disowned me, and told me to never return or call home. They never wanted to talk to me again. Because..well..[He looks to the couple, and then leans in towards the masked man, whispering] they found out I didn’t want to be a Christian.

MM: [After a long pause, the masked man closes his eyes, and looks to be thinking very deeply. The music behind the bar changes its song to Beethoven’s 14th piano sonata, and melancholy music floods the bar. He opens his eyes.] Sir, before I begin, I must know your name.

DM: [Looking vaguely interested] Name’s Alexi.

MM:[Says to himself] Well, isn’t that interesting. [Turns back to Alexi] Alexi, I will tell you a story that will help you on your path through life.

Alexi: [Quickly looks at his watch] Well sir, I don’t have time to hear your story.

MM: [He looks at the man with a patient, yet slightly stern expression.] Do you honestly think I’m going to leave you without helping you? Or do you want to wallow in your own misery, waiting for someone else to fix your problem?

[Alexi looks surprised by his reaction, yet he recovers after a moment.]

Alexi: Why are you persistent about helping me? I’m nothing more than a sad, miserable excuse for what a man should be.

MM: Why am I helping you? [He leans in closer.] Because if I passed by without helping you, I would have left you in a worse state. Unlike others, I always listen to my heart, and my heart controls my decisions. [Leaning back, he lowers his voice and his expression into a face of disgust.] It’s a disgrace that most people would just walk by someone who is struggling with their life, acting as if they don’t exist.

Alexi: [He gives a grateful smile.] Well then..um, about that story?

MM: Gladly.

[The music in the back changes to a slow, peaceful tone. The man turns sits up, and looks out the window.]

MM: Once upon a time, there was a young boy, whose parents were very strict in raising him. They taught him how to talk, how to have manners, how to look down on the minority, the religious. One day, the boy finally had enough. He did not want to learn these things, these habits that he knew in his heart was wrong. He ran as far as he could from home, traveling into the wild, until he collapsed from exhaustion. When he awoke, he was lying in a bed with a thick roof above him. When he looked around at his surroundings, he realized he was inside of a small hut, with a large surrounding forest, and a light spring, connecting to a small, somewhat crystal lake. He could find no one home, but he found a pot filled with soup over a fire in the small hut. Next to a bowl sitting near the pot was a note. It simply read: Do not question who I am. I wish to preserve your pure sight of the world, by allowing you to live your life the way you see fit. You will never meet me, just know that I watch over you, and will help guide you if you ask for it.” Being a child of 7, it was difficult for the boy to understand the meaning of this note. As the days passed, the boy began to notice little notes here and there, giving advice about how to hunt, how to cook, even how to read, and each time the boy found a note, he either tried to learn from it, or he ignored it if he didn’t wish to learn it. Sometimes, he would try to find his way back home, but the forest was too vast, and the journeys became less and less, as he had come to love this life he had. He did however, miss companionship, and longed to see other beings like him. By the time he was 16, he had grown into a bright, young lad, resilient to the cold, unchanged in spirit and mind. He finally felt he was ready to move on, back to the human world. For many days, he trekked on, keeping an eye out for any forms of human life. He eventually made it to a small town who, at first was not used to such a happy and excited individual, eventually pointed him in the direction of his former home. When he arrived, he noticed that much had changed in the world: things like televisions, phones, fast food, neon lights, fashion, all were new to him. He found the joys this new life gave him, and accepted this new path. [The masked man smiles warmly, and shows a content expression] He never questioned himself if he should help someone. He never judged people by anything other then their actions, and even then, was willing to forgive them. He stayed untainted by society, finding the joys in everyday occurrences, and helping others to experience the joy he felt. [He turns his gaze to Alexi, sitting forward in his chair with intense interest.] He found me when I was in a state like yours, when I had lost my mother to leukemia. I had felt completely crushed, and it didn’t help that everyone around me blamed me for being alexithymic. But he found me, and helped me to experience the joy that comes out of every day, the thrill of teaching others how to be the type of person they want to see more of in this world.

[He turns away, finishing his story, with the music in the background finishing its own line of songs. Alexi at this point has an expression of surprise and slight bewilderment.]

Alexi: ..was that story true?

MM: [Still looking away,] Would the lesson be any different if it was?

Alexi: [A pause of thought] No..I guess not. And I think I know what the lesson is. [He looks towards his empty glasses with a shameful look] But that’s not going to help my current status.

MM: [He gently grabs Alexi’s chin and turns his head to gaze into his eyes intensely, a serious look on his face.] Alexi, do you want to live your life the way you want to? The way you think a child would live it, with optimism, innocence, and chosen bliss?

Alexi: [He looks away for a moment, then back after a moment of thought.] Yes, more than anything, I want to be happy.

MM: [He releases his face] Well then, do it. Don’t listen to anyone else about how to live your life, because they don’t know the real you. If they tell you it’s impossible, then make it possible. Now, I must leave you, because my work is complete.

[The masked man walks out the bar, with Alexi calling after him.]

Alexi: Wait, what about your name?!

[The couple from the window are seen right next to him.]

P1: Don’t even bother, lad. He doesn’t have a name.

[Alexi turns to the couple, slightly startled.]

Alexi: Wait, what?

P2: He doesn’t call himself anything. He prefers not to be addressed any certain way.

[Alexi looks at them with a confused expression.]

Alexi: How do you know?

[The couple look at each other, and smiled.]

P2: He’s the reason we are together. He introduced us at a party we were at.

P1: [Looks at P2, poking them.] You were too shy to come talk to me by yourself.

[P1 blushes slightly at the reaction, then looks out the window.]

P1: He’s been doing little acts of kindness like that for a while now, according to the people we come across over the years. We don’t even know for sure if it’s him every time.

[Alexi looks out the window at the beating rain outside, a determined and joyous look on his face.]

Alexi: You know, for what it’s worth, I’ll take his advice. After all, [he readies himself to leave] it’s not everyday you get to hear the advice of an angel.


This was a story I wrote for Language Arts. I wanted to show a message, saying that you don't always need the help of others to be happy. In fact, sometimes, the best thing you can do is be the change you want of the world. There's always something beautiful to admire everyday, even if it seems dark and hopeless.

If you feel this story could be better, feel free to comment on any critique. I'm always open to constructive criticism. Thank you! Clap 
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