Are You My Brother ?
Grief News
At that time, when I was 14 years old, which means I was in 9th grade Junior High. There came a very unpleasant incident right when I came home from school that afternoon. Yellow flag, that's a sign of death. The most surprising thing was, it was in my house. My reflexes ran into the house feeling very anxious.
And what I saw, the old body was lying limp on the bed. Cry at that time. The inspiration, the protector, the guard and many more that I cannot name have left me for so long. At the age of 80 years, he never once complained of pain when in front of his family. The strong figure who always taught me about life may have a disease that was unknown to all my family members. According to the doctor's diagnosis at the time of his death, he suffered from pneumonia. Unexpectedly, I was still crying before my father whispered something into my ear.
" Tell your sister !" His whisper.
Sure enough, I haven't seen my brother. Understandably, he came home later than I did. Without a second thought, I called my sister who might still be at school.
" Sister, where is brother now ?" My toot.
" Well, still in school, why ?" Ask back.
" Grandfather........"
" Grandpa why ?" Cut it with a very anxious tone.
" Grandfather, he died" I answered. Back again tears flowed from my 2 eyeballs.
" Huh....." He was shocked and maybe he was scrambling his hair. Because if he hears unpleasant news, which can make him confused, he always ruffles his hair. Maybe that's his way of venting his anxiety.
My phone is also closed. Maybe he went straight home. With such circumstances I am afraid of what happens - what is the same with my brother, because he also brought his own motorbike. The rush might make my brother drive his bike at a very high speed. Whose heart is not broken when he hears his loved ones leaving him for long. What's more, my grandfather was our guardian and protector back in childhood.
A few moments later, there was a loud motorbike. Obviously it was my brother's motor. I am grateful that nothing happened to my sister. He immediately parked his motorbike and rushed to the body of the grandfather. The covering of the corpse was opened and immediately her tears were dripping. Never before have I seen him shed his tears. It turns out that true, no matter how strong and great a person is, he will definitely cry when people he loves leave him for a long time. Seeing her tears continuously - the dripping channel made my heart moved to approach her.
" So, don't cry !" My strong-witted words. I just kept crying.
" Why did you, why did your grandfather die ? What is grandpa sick ?" Ask me while wiping her tears. As if he could not accept the departure of grandfather because there was no sign - any sign before grandfather died.
" Doctor said..... Grandpa has pneumonia" I replied sadly.
"There was no answer after that. The crying continued until some people came to carry the body of grandfather because it would be bathed. My father would bathe my grandfather. While waiting for the funeral bath to be completed, we asked Mr. Anto to explain the chronology of the death of grandfather. Because he was the only person who was at home with his grandfather at that time. He was also the first eyewitness to learn of Grandfather's death.
" Oh yeah, one more. This morning he sent a letter to his family . When I asked him why he didn't give it to himself he just replied, "it's okay." and this is Den's letter," he said, handing an envelope to my brother.
***For grandchildren and children
Grandpa, I think grandpa's going home. Go home to the real place, following the grandmother who was calm there. Iqbal, please take care of your sister, don't be too hard on her. Likewise with Candra, grandfather is sure that someday your desire will certainly be achieved, the desire to become a strong human being. But grandpa told you, don't be arrogant with anything you have
And for Sarah and Yono. I hope you can spend more time with your children. Because anyway, no matter how big they are now. They still need you. During this time Anto was the one who took care of the two of them, even though only a maid, he loved them like his own child. Father's message, do not let your children feel lonely, especially you Sarah, do not just cook and leave them. If you need to quit your job***.
Sarah is my mother's name, and Yono is my father's name. That was my grandfather's last message. Perhaps when he wrote the letter, he felt the time was not long.
When the bath was over, the old body was wrapped in a white cloth called a shroud. That was the last dress my grandfather wore. I could barely see when the cloth was wrapped around my grandfather's body, plus a few pieces of rope tied to his. Until the body was carried using a coffin and will be sholatan in the mosque. Me, my brother and the others followed closely behind.
It is getting late, when the funeral prayer is over, now is the time for the inspiration to be buried. In that narrow place that was gathered with the land that my grandfather would stay. When the body of the grandfather was lowered into the burrow, my water dripped back. I don't think I can see it, but I have to see. Even with a broken heart.
" The rope's been removed, right ?" I heard a question from a neighbor to some of the people at the bottom.
" Of course" they answered spontaneously.
That's the belief, if the rope is not removed, it is believed to be a ghost pocong. But I can't believe it, where there's a dead man who's a ghost, even if it's a genie disguised as that person.
Now the headstone has been planted, accompanied by a sprinkling of flowers that smell fragrant. The grandfather is gone, has returned to the land, because it was created from the ground. The residents have also moved home, live my family who still pray for my late grandfather to be calm there.
Shortly after, the once clear sky turned black cloudy which finally fell down a torrential rain.
" Even the heavens and the earth wept for Grandfather's departure" I said.
Sure enough, it was as if heaven and earth were weeping over the departure of the inspiration. Because of the rain that never subsided, we also went from grandfather's grave and headed home.