specter ghost?

A dark shape floated nearby, turning slowly. I recognized it as Quell’s funeral suit.
“Quell!”

I reached out and seized the suit, and turning it, found it empty. I spoke to empty space. “No, just the chaff, the husk. My good friend gone. Oh, Quell.”

I embraced the empty suit and the lost funeral music of Quell’s ancestors sounded once again in my ears.

Alone, I floated with the memory of good Quell, who had gone to be with comets and their gods. I drifted so, aimlessly, holding on to the suit, a strange life-raft, knowing the air in my life-suit would soon be gone. How long? I wondered. A day, maybe two…until…?

Above, I see a light, and hear a voice through static.

“Starship Rachel, this is starship Rachel…”

A ship, passing, investigating the wreckage, comes to pick me up at last. The Rachel, who, in her long search for her missing children finds but another orphan. I let the coffin go. I let the memory of Quell go to his light-year burial ground.

The drama’s done. Only one remains. I, Ishmael, alone, am here to tell you this.

“Starship Rachel standing by. We see you. Come aboard. Come aboard.”

The end