EMBRACE YOU: Presence & Poison
Episode 221

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“Dimas is Camila's husband. He's a friend in my office.” My whisper to Bayu who was still standing next to me, both looking at the situation in front of us.

Then I immediately continued my delayed steps and immediately stood behind Camila.

“Mila.” Call me as gently as possible, as if my voice could break her heart.

This woman looked back and immediately got up to hit me with her embrace. Then she started crying on my shoulder.

“She's dead. This morning he told me not to forget breakfast. Though this afternoon he still invited me to lunch together but I don't want to because te— is too far away. Even though this afternoon he still asked what he wanted to bring. Hu hu.” I nodded and rubbed his back, I myself did not know what to say to calm him down. His body trembled and my eyes were already blurry because of the tears held in my eyes.

“How is it, Cha? How can I live without him? Why would I lose him so soon?”

“You calm down first. Tell me what happened?” Ask slowly.

Camila let go of her embrace, rubbed her wet cheek with the back of her hand but for nothing, I could see that cheek was wet again because of the tears that kept dripping.

“D—dia accident while coming home from her office. The person who hit him is drunk and—dia-.” I nodded, not having the heart if he continued his story and hugged her again. Mumbled all the words that could calm him down.

I can't remember how long I accompanied the crying Camila as she finally fell asleep on my shoulder. We were both sitting in the front seat of the ER room while Dimas' body was taken care of by three of his family who had come with Bayu, leaving us both here.

Camila's cheeks were still puffy and she also occasionally still sobbed in her sleep. Her face and hair were tight and I saw her feet, she was wearing different sandals.

This is a hard ordeal for him, since I also imagined what if this happened to me? Bayu whose work is clearly always challenging danger.

My negative thoughts came to a halt as Camila suddenly got up to sit down. I glanced at her and saw this woman had woken up from her sleep with puffy eyes and red cheeks.

“Icha, are you still here?” Her question looks confused.

I smiled widely and nodded. “How are you doing?”

He shook his head as his eyes rolled back in tears. I hugged him again and patted his back. “I'm sorry, never thought I'd see you cry like this.”

Camila nodded, from the look in her eyes I looked back at the light of her life, a part of her seemed to have let Dimas go.

“Sorry I called you suddenly. Am I interrupting?”

“No no! I'm glad you called me. What can I help you with? Want me to stay with you tonight?” I asked seriously but my friend shook his head.

“I don't want to disturb the newlyweds.” He answered with a small smile, teasing me.

“If you don't have to think too much.”

“I'm really fine. Tomorrow can't work.”

“Of course. Tomorrow you don't need to work.”

“How so? You're here with the husband?” Camila's still teasing me. I smiled and nodded, relieved to see that he was better.

“I didn't see it. Where is he?”

“She helped take care of something with your family.”

“Ah right, thank you.”

I looked at her, Camila's smile was so stiff. “You can tell me your sorrow.”

For a moment, he looked at me deeply and let out a long breath then replied. “There is someone who once said that being left by someone we love suddenly is more painful than slowly.”

I shook my head hard. “No! I think that his name left behind by our loved ones either suddenly or slowly is just as painful because separation is never pleasant.”

Her tears rolled down her cheeks and Camila cried out again. I patted her on the shoulder and an understanding suddenly flashed through my mind.

“Life is like a book, some sad chapters, some happy and some interesting. But if you never turn the page, you'll never know what's in the next chapter. I can't make you better, but I'm here to encourage you. Don't think you're alone because there are people who still love you, including me, okay?”

“Love you here.” Camila answered, leading me into her arms. I hugged her back and smiled a little.

“Let's catch up with the others.” Take me while releasing our embrace.

Camila nodded and we immediately stood up and started to step away from the ER.

***

“It's okay right?”

“Take it easy. I'll follow you from behind.” Bayu replied when he was ready on his motor sport, while I was beside the taxi that took me with Camila.

Dimas' body has been raised above the ambulance accompanied by three members of his family who participated in the car. I intended to drive Camila home and go home soon after, considering that time has shown almost midnight.

Before this, Bayu and Camila had already introduced themselves to each other on the seasoning with Camila who was embarrassed because her face was messed up.

“Thank you. Careful.” I answered holding her hand for a moment, Bayu nodded, despite wearing a full helmet

face but from her eyes I know she's smiling a little.

As soon as the taxi door closed, I once again stared outside through the window, the man was preparing to turn on his motorbike to follow us.

“Sorry to trouble you.”

“Huushh! Don't think shit. You have to rest.” I said to Camila. Then, the taxi we were riding started to drive away from the hospital parking lot.

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Five minutes into our trip we were both silent, staring out the window with each other's thoughts. I don't want to bother her, I know she must be thinking a lot about life without her husband. Although they do not have children but anyone certainly does not want to be left behind by the people he loves.

Thinking that, I immediately remembered Bayu.

My head turned back, making sure the man was indeed following us and it was true, he was right behind us. The wind hit his body and shook his black jacket.

“It looks like tomorrow I'll take permission too.” Those words just came out without me thinking. The idea of Bayu asking me for permission to take a day off tomorrow to accompany him has been decided to agree.

“Why? Are you sick, Cha?” Camila's voice sounded worried.

I glanced at him and shook my head. “No. I have a need with Bayu. He's taking a day off tomorrow too before duty.”

This woman nodded and looked at me more thoroughly then for the first time since, I saw her smiling widely with eyes filled with twinkle of curiosity, she said, like the Camila I know in the office whenever anyone gives me chocolate. “He's a lucky guy, eh? I can see clearly you like it so much.”

“Hehehe. I love him so much—“

“ASTAGA!!”

BRAAAKKK

The sound of a taxi driver screaming in the following sound of another collision from the front of the car made me and Camila both glanced forward.

The taxi stopped suddenly and a few meters in front of us an ash car stopped in the opposite direction, besides, white smoke covered the view for a moment.

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