It is a cold and sunny afternoon that is the setting for the funeral of Achille Barosi, the young man who died following the fire that broke out in the “Constellation” club in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Eve. In the churchyard of the Milanese basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, crowded with people, holding back tears is an arduous task, even though the rays that pierce the skyby illuminating the brick walls of the temple, leave a glimmer of optimism on a day marked by pain. For the children of the San Carlo high school, attended by Achille, as well as for all the other institutes in the Lombardy capital, the return to school from the Christmas holidays was not like other years: a minute of silence, in fact, marked the lesson time, during which, inevitably, thoughts and words returned to what should have been a dream night and, instead, turned into a nightmare.
In front of the gate of the basilica, four signature books filled up in a very short time: all those present at the funeral, but also people passing by, wanted to express their condolences by leaving a simple signature, or a dedication. “Now you are an angel,” we read between the lines. «Hello Achi, I didn’t dare take the golf ball because I know you would have come back here to get it». “Dear brother, I don’t know you, but I am a parent: I pray for you and your family.”
Whoever wrote these words is not the only one who, even without having had a connection with Achilles, decided to be present for a final farewell. «We are from the Tito Livio institute, a few steps from here», explains 18-year-old Nicolò, close to graduating, in the company of his friends Edoardo, Arianna and Matteo. «We didn’t know him, but we were struck by his story. He was celebrating the start of the new year and never returned home. It’s something that gives you chills. After the exams we will go on the traditional post-maturity journey and thinking that what happened to Achilles could happen to us too, in a moment of celebration, makes us reflect and understand how precious life is.”
«We were passing through», continues Edoardo, «and we felt it was right to pay homage to him. I have read many comments on this tragedy, starting with those who blamed the kids for staying to film the start of the fire. I find it so stupid: it’s easy to talk from the sofa at home, in hindsight… In your opinion, alcohol wasn’t served to minors that evening? It seems to me to be just as serious as the lack of adequate security measures. But the judiciary will take care of investigating, now we just want to rally around Achille and those who knew him.”
His grandfather was an architect and he too had chosen to take that path. As the parish priest, Don Alberto Rivolta, recalled in his homily, Achille was a “strong, capable, determined but kind” boy. He loved Pasolini and nativity scenes. A boy capable of listening, even of reproaches. A rare gift today, which perhaps we should all treasure. It teaches us how to live life, listening and in depth. Through him we are relearning to love each other. I turn to you, Achille: accompany us, continue to smile and love us.”
Then it was the turn of the mother, Erica, who wanted to greet her beloved son one last time with these words: «I had the privilege and fortune of being your mother. I am so proud of you and your soul is here with me. I’ve always recognized you as an old soul, crazy as I like it. At night, dad and I sleep with your backpacks from when you were two years old. To take flight you have chosen your place in the heart, my angel, your mountains. After all, the earthly place closest to God. You are free, fly my love, you have very bright wings and I will be able to see you.”
When the coffin came out, accompanied by long applause, after placing the photo of Achille on the coffin, she and her husband Nicola wanted their closest family members around them, protected by a police security cordon, to sing together one of their son’s most loved songs: Perdutamente by Achille Lauro. «I saw a man die for others / While the sun caresses the buildings». The incipit is enough to understand that in those verses there is all Achilles, a boy who sacrificed his life to save that of a friend. In fact, he had already left the club, but he threw himself into the flames so as not to abandon that girl who now seems to be out of danger. “We don’t know her name, or whether she is still hospitalized or not, but they told us she’s fine,” two school friends, Matilde and Margherita, explain to us. «We have heard a lot of criticism, even from parents. “They shouldn’t have sent them there,” they wrote. Crazy stuff. When we read the email the school sent us, we were stunned and still are. It’s really unfair to die like this, but he died a hero.” Maybe it was the last thing they would have wanted to experience, but today all their family members, friends and classmates, just as Achille Lauro sings, they can say they saw a man – not just a little boy – sacrifice his life for someone else. His name is Achille Barosi.
