ENDLESS HALLWAY
CHAPTER 22: THE BURIAL GROUND

Six Years Later...!!!

The cemetery is deserted. One by one the mourners left the place. But in his place, Cindy still rests with a heart of grief. His puffy eyes could not hide how lazy and sad the woman's heart was.

"Mas Rangga.!," he called out softly, and again he cried bitterly. He never imagined that the person he loved and loved would leave so soon.

"Already, Cin. Relieve his departure" whispered Ranti, his close friend who had been by his side since.

"Mas..," exhorted Cindy again with a raucous voice. "Why did you leave us so soon?"

"Already, Cin. Break heart. God has called him back...!" back Ranti whispered softly in her ear.

Enclosed, the woman's body to be invited to stand. With a limp body Cindy tried to stand up straight. She saw once again the mound of earth where her husband's body was buried before Ranti took it away. With a faltering cry followed by Ranti's steps that swept her towards the car. How sad his heart is right now. The death of her husband really hit her heart and made her so fragile.

"Where are the kids, Ti?" the question was then to see that none of her children were there.

"They have brought Sukma home first" said Ranti to calm her heart.

Cindy turned her eyes to the cemetery on her left side. There are only a few people who still live there, it is none other than some funeral guards who are still busy mowing down the grass and cleaning the burial place.

Good bye, Mom. May you be at peace in nature there, whispered his heart ache. With teary eyes she saw the burial ground of her husband who was still full of flowers with the land still red.

Ah, apparently only until here his happy life with Mas Rangga. Now her good and understanding husband has gone to be called God. May the Lord widen his path and give fortitude to those he leaves behind.

As soon as the car Ranti was driving by left the quiet burial ground, Cindy felt that another side of her heart was left there. The side of the heart that is controlling seems unwilling with a separation that feels so heavy.

Cindy swallowed her bitter saliva. Let her tears flow down her cheeks. While both of his shoulders shook withstanding the sadness of his heart.

"You must be stoic, Cin," Ranti's voice again broke the silence between them.

"Felace the departure of Mas Rangga with an airy heart and do not let yourself continue to wallow in sadness. Remember, there are still two of your children who need your attention and affection...." Ranti.

"What would I say if one day they asked me why the papa didn't come home, Ti?" sighing Cindy poignant. "They're too small to explain what happened." Just Cindy again.

Ranti exhaled heavily, she understood what her best friend was currently worried about. The breakup was too painful for Cindy and her children. Rangga, her best friend's husband, left without messages and impressions.

A week ago, Ranti often heard from Cindy when she went to her house, who said that Rangga had just recovered from her illness. After recovering, Rangga returned to work as usual. But who would have thought, if five days later the disease relapsed and disappeared Rangga's life.

"Give them a good understanding that they can accept, Cin. Both of your children are so sweet, I believe they will understand and accept the departure of the papa," said Ranti then after a long moment of grief.

Hearing that remark back Cindy exhaled her heavy breath. Her husband's death was indeed unexpected. Last week the doctor had stated that, Rangga's disease had completely healed. Therefore Cindy did not feel worried so Mas Rangga, her husband who never felt at home sitting still was back to work as usual.

However, who would have thought then, if yesterday afternoon her husband returned from his duties he looked pale and vomited blood several times. In a panic Cindy immediately took her husband to the hospital. But poor cannot be denied. On the way her husband breathed his last on her lap. No message was given. No impression has crossed. And Cindy felt sorry, why God called her husband that stragically. Without even thinking what else to expect before.

Ah, was her husband's departure because he was too tired to work, to make a living for his wife and children? Why did she not immediately respond to let her husband rest for a few days even though the doctor declared her husband was well?

Now it's too late. Nothing could bring her husband back into her lap.

The tears of Cindy flowed back. There are so many sweet memories among them that can never be forgotten. The gentle Rangga, the caring Rangga, the man who loves himself and his children.

So fast time separated them. So quickly the sweet story passed and it will not be possible to repeat again.

Cindy was still sobbing as the car Ranti drove stopped in her yard Sukma who had already arrived immediately came out and broke both Cindy into the house.

Cindy immediately wiped away her tears as soon as she saw her two children coming over.

"Mama... Why does Mamah cry?" asked the youngest Balqis who was only two and a half years old in the voice of her child.

With the promise of the little girl immediately leaned her body into her mama body.

"Don't be sad, Mah..," Farel's voice strengthened his mind not to dissolve in constant sadness.

He looked at his four-year-old eldest son with a look of pity. Innocence radiated in the eyes of Farel who now also hugged himself with haru.

Ah, a child of Farel's age can dive into his current feelings?

It seems that boy looks tough. But, is his heart really strong because he has given up the departure of his beloved papa? or did he not understand what had happened and happened to his family? Does he not know that the Papah he loves who every afternoon, always waiting for his return, has now passed away and will never come back again?

With a broken heart Cindy hugged her two children tightly Ranti and Sukma who looked at them became filled. Unknowingly a speck of tears was also floating in their eye pelup.

"You don't have to be sad,."" again Farel's voice was heard so close to his ears.

"No, my son Mamah will not be sad anymore. After Papah's departure, Mamah will take care of you wholeheartedly" he said. He pressed his heart that increasingly becomes between sadness, haru, and full of thought about the fate of his two children later.

The head of the family who used to make a living for them has now left, what can he do later?

Can she take her husband's place in terms of making a living as well as giving him attention and affection?

If he had to work, who would take care of his two young children?

In Jakarta, he has no brothers. So did her husband.

"Cindy, stop. Get your kids to sleep. Poor thing, they look so tired. Likewise with you," said Ranti then broke the novelty that occurred between them.

"So I told them to sleep, Cin. But they don't want to and want to wait for you to come home" Sukma said, adding that Cindy bit her lip. Farel and Balqis are with him every day, so they may want to sleep with others. If Sukma had managed to take them home, because he could not bear to see his two children hot with a tired face. Fortunately, Sukma managed to bring them back home. Although in the end Sukma was powerless to invite the two children to sleep, because they insisted on waiting for his mother to come home.

"Sleep, Cin," Sukma said later in a soft voice. "Bring your children to sleep. Poor them. Ranti and I will stay here until you wake up." Continue the calming Sukma.

"You ready?" Cindy was stunned to hear that.

"Of course," Ranti and Sukma nodded in unison.

"Thank you" Cindy said. "I'm happy to have friends as good as you...."

"That's it," Ranti quickly brushed aside. Cindy immediately moved and guided her two children to the room. Before entering the room, he looked back at his two friends alternately with hearts moved.

"Thank you in advance" Cindy said. I'm sorry I've been troubling you both."

"Who said it was troublesome, Cin? For a good friend, we will definitely help as much and as hard as we can," Sukma said quickly.

Cindy smiled.

Then closed the door to his room. There was a feeling of relief overshadowing his sad heart. Ranti and Sukma are indeed two good and trustworthy friends. If there were none, I don't know what would happen.

Cindy could not imagine what if at this moment, she did not have two good friends. His father and mother were in Lampung and had not visited him for many years. While her husband's own family was unknown to her, because they married without the consent of her husband's parents.