Your Start is My Ending

Wattys 2022 and 2023 Shortlisted

"'Wag muna," mahina niyang pakiusap habang nakatulala sa harapan. Nakatitig lamang siya sa kawalan. "'Wag muna, please." Umiling-iling siya habang nakikiusap.

Ngunit ang hindi niya alam, may nakaupo sa harapan niya na nakikinig sa mga pakiusap niya.

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If he could kill someone's second chance at life just to touch a human,
he could die for his purpose too.

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A kartigo, soul's guide to Bathala, once knew Glint, who is a troubled soul who wants to fall into nonexistence. But this kartigo changes her mind, which is against the rules, and persuades her to live again. This soul becomes the reason for the kartigo's wanting to touch a human, specifically Glint.

The kartigo's yearning was granted when Glint reincarnated as Sparkle. For him to be a human, he needs to commit a sin by killing someone's second chance at life. But the consequences await, by the time the kartigo finds and serves his only purpose as a human, he will fall into nonexistence.

This is about dreams, fears, yearning, the beauty of being a human, grieving, and how you can magically bring purpose to someone's life just by existing. The only wish Sparkle wants is for the kartigo to stay with her, but can Bathala grant this?

Language: Filipino
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash