CUTS
LETTER CANS

A piece of paper that made me curious wanted to read it immediately but I did not do it because the place was not right. Finally, the can letter I put in the pocket of a shirt covered with a veil.

The show is over, I can't wait to get home. We also could not linger out the night for fear of unexpected situations. Actually, my village wasn't this tight before the blasting of the base on the hill the other day. We still feel safe and there has never been a murder.

As soon as I got home, I immediately entered the room and the first thing I did was read the letter.

"Don't get in touch with the apparatus if you want to live!!!" A letter that contained a warning.

I showed the letter to Abu and Umi. "This is the cause of Miftah's death." I said with anger.

The show lasted until the seventh night. The sense of unity between the villagers is still very strong. We have never been absent following that takziah. Until the seventh night, after my condolence I tried to talk to Miftah's mother.

I clasped his hand, he just smiled a little with eyes still swollen from crying. "Mak Wa, can Cut know how it happened until Miftah is found dead?" I called Miftah's mother with a debt of Mak Wa, I don't know, I was just following my other friends.

"That afternoon after Eko came home to propose to him, he went straight to teach? And Teungku Zul said he also taught with you. In the afternoon, as usual, he went to the empty land near the irrigation to parade the ox into the stable. Already want magrib, Mak Wa see the cow is already behind the house but he is not there, we look for it everywhere until the villagers find it at the irrigation water gate with such conditions." Sobs were heard again, I hugged Mak Wa, trying to give strength even though I was fragile myself.

We say goodbye to Mak Wa and Abu Wa because the other residents have also returned home. While walking at a glance I stared back at Miftah's house, she always called me from her house. And tonight I saw him waving at me. He smiled, is he happy there? I smiled at him. I know what I see now but there was no fear in me at that time. "May you be happy there." My mind, then looked back to the front down the road to the house.

The deadline that Abu gave us has arrived. The army is very disciplined in time, the proof is that he arrived at exactly 9am.

"Assalamualaik." He said with some of his men who were fully armed.

"Getishalam." Abu and Umi answered from within.

Abu let Rendra in followed by his men. Abu and Umi called me to join the meeting.

For the first time I dared to look at him even at a glance. "Sir Rendra, my wife and I leave all decisions to our daughter. He will live his household so he is also entitled to make decisions for his life. Cut, Mr. Rendra is waiting for your answer." Abu looked at me for a moment.

I looked at her, for the first time our gazes met in such a long duration throughout the answer I was about to give her.

With eyes full of firmness, "Sorry, I can not accept your application. And please, don't ever come here again!" I said firmly.

From the look on his face I could see that Rendra was not surprised by my answer. Maybe he predicted before he came here.

"alright, Sir. I got a direct answer from my daughter. Thank you, I said goodbye. Assalamualaikum."

"Getishalam." Answer Us simultaneously.

He went back to the post and I went back to the room. There is no sadness because I have no taste. My fear is greater than the feeling that either brings happiness or even disaster. I'm afraid I'm gonna end up like Miftah.

Rendra complied with my ban. He never came to my house again. If he wants to buy duck eggs then he will tell my village children to buy them. The letter I no longer received.

Today is a weekday at the market. We and our family chose to go down to kekembatan to shop for basic needs. Usually, Abu himself left but this time Abu asked me and Umi to come along. Abu seemed afraid to leave us both at home.

Here I am now, a traditional market in my subdistrict. All the buyers and sellers are pouring in there. I hugged Umi's arm while following Abu. We buy sea fish that we rarely eat because of the location of the village far from the sea and the market.

We also bought some clothes, cloth and veils as well as clothing for Ashes. While choosing Abu's clothes in a small shop, a man walked into the store and approached us.

I did not know his face clearly because the man had a fairly thick sideburn and beard. His eyes were busy looking around and looked agitated.

"Mother." His call made us all look at the man with a surprised look.

We know who that man is, let alone my parents. The anger of parents in children but their hearts cannot lie. Their love is far too great to be angry.

"Don't meet us!" Abu Seru.

"Mom, you just want to say don't get too close to the apparatus. And you, Cut. Don't get in touch with them!"

"Why? You're afraid I'll die like Miftah? Apparently, you know who did it. I pray that whoever does a heinous deed to Miftah will be rewarded. What you did to my friend could happen to me someday and I hope you'll repent." I answered with restrained emotion.

"Go, we're happy you look. Don't see us again. Abu's son in the pesantren is not in the forest." Abu replied with a disappointed face.

"Sorry Brother, Abu. Cut, Brother didn't kill Miftah. Someone else did it."

"But you know who, right?" My insinuation.

The man left, now I'm getting mad at him. I don't want to see her again. What he did to Miftah really hurt my heart. I hate him!"

By noon we were back in the village. Like when we left, when we returned home we checked including our groceries.

Life begins to go on properly. It didn't feel like a month after Miftah's departure.

"I miss you."

"I miss you too."

***

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