For a Freedom
JENNIFER: FOR FREEDOM (37)

"I don't know about that, but I do know about this news. Uh it's getting late! I'll find some firewood first huh." said Kiel in a hurry.

"Wait.., it's still daytime and very hot. You all right?" said worried Vallene.

"It's okay, it's been my daily life Vallene.., because it's so hot outside you're here with Derren, under the tree it'll feel cooler. Well, see you guys." Kiel said.

Kiel went across the river to go to the forest in search of firewood. Vallene was worried about Kiel actually, but he couldn't do anything. Vallene carefully looked at Kiel who was walking further away, passing through the river and the rough ground barefoot.

He does that every day? His face showed that he was having a hard time, but why was he still so brave, was he not afraid to go against the stream and be alone on the edge of the dark and silent forest unaccompanied.

Seeing the worried Vallene, Derren regained his senses and approached Vallene. Then Derren finally dared to say something.

"Don't worry brother, my brother. He was a bit stubborn, I don't know why he always forbade me to help him" Derren said shyly.

"I'm glad you finally want to talk to me, hmm? By the way, did Kiel ever complain even if only once" said Vallene.

"That's.., I don't know. It doesn't seem like he's a cheerful person, he always seems to look fine" Derren said.

"Haha, it's good for Kiel to hide his complaints. Why are you looking for firewood here? This is a deserted area.., are you not afraid?" Vallene.

"No brother, it's very safe here for us. It's quiet, nobody, nobody bothers us" Derren said.

"Where do you live? Your house is near here?" Vallene.

Hearing Vallene's question, made Derren pause for a moment. It made Vallene feel confused until Derren started crying.

"What's wrong? You why?" said worried Vallene.

"I don't have a home" Derren said in a poignant tone.

Then Vallene tried to approach Derren, Derren felt alert and took a step back. Vallene then tried to understand his situation.

"Or maybe you have? The house is not always about the building that protects you from the heat of the sun and the raindrops. It could also be that the house itself is someone or some other place that makes us feel protected and happy.

It is free if we have a magnificent building if we do not feel happy and safe, then..., you need a real home when you need time to go home to rest because you're tired or time to come home with happy news" said Vallene.

Vallene's speech made Derren more and more tears, Derren who initially away from Vallene finally walked forward and slowly approached Vallene.

"Can I have my own house...? Should I get.... that...?" derren.

"Why not? We all need a home, including you, no matter who you are. You also deserve to be happy as long as you live." said Vallene.

Derren's cry grew more and more and she then hugged Vallene tightly. Crying as hard as possible, releasing the emotions that he had been holding onto all this time.

"Is this your first time crying...?" Vallene.

"Yes.., I. But I can't hold this cry for now, I'm sorry." Derren said.

"It's okay, it's natural... If we have eyes why shouldn't we let out the water? The wrong thing is not when you cry, but the wrong thing is when you can't cry because you hold back too much" Vallene said.

"Just this time I feel comfortable around people, why are you so nice?" derren said with a sobbing cry.

"Because you need it, I'm not good. I can only understand your feelings." said Vallene.

"Little sister..., what problems have you gone through in the past...? Why are you so sad like this.., your eyes are so swollen, your voice becomes hoarse and your face is very red..., stop for a moment this cry okay?

I know you've been letting out your pent-up emotions and feelings all along. But this will not heal if only this, let's heal together, let someone enter your heart that is feeling pain. Let someone listen to his voice, let someone caress him." - Vallene.

"I've never once told you the sad things that happened in my life, is it okay if I tell you.., will you not be like them later, right?" derren.

"I'm willing, I'll teach you how to recover from locked-in problems" Vallene said.

Vallene smiled warmly at Derren, making Derren melt down and continue to cling to Vallene, as Vallene made Derren feel safe and comfortable.

***

My brother and I lived in the city as poor people because there was no treasure and no food.

My parents were just laborers, my father was a drunk and he had a lot of debt. My mother was just a sad woman who every day only took drugs and drunk.

We have no home, no place to sleep comfortably, no place to play and shelter from the weather. Every day just looking for used cardboard that is still suitable for us to use to sleep for a while.

Father and mother constantly blame us both, blame us.

What I really want to say is..., you say me and my brother are just burdens, but have you ever given you a decent life? The proper food? A decent outfit? Just once, you never. The selfish are you, why are we to blame?

Do they not see how two children, aged 12 and 8 years, live a day, doing anything to survive, without the guidance of both parents, and willing to not have a life like other children.

In addition, the pressure of a more 'punya' society also.., why you rich people, people who do not need to feel how hard life..., why do you always humble someone like me and my brother.

That's why we chose to leave the city, my brother doesn't want me to take the pressure any more. This is where I live now, sometimes my heart hurts somehow when I see someone coming back home, welcomed by his family.

But I'm still so grateful to have a sister like my brother, she's so great to be able to survive with all this. I really wanted to be like her figure who was always cheerful and smiling, but I could not.

Home.., my brother is my home, my brother, my friend. Everything, but what I can understand myself is.

I'm.

***

"Sometimes a person who looks okay is a very smart person hiding the problem" Vallene said.