Garden Benches
Baras Dewanti

DEWANTI BARREL

When the time comes, no one will be able to escape. The same is true when the leaves dry and fall greets the earth.

*****

The door opened, a nurse came in carrying a tube containing a blood sample.

"Mas, she needs a blood transfusion right away!"

"What?"

"Well, how many sisters are needed?"

Ardi looked at the nurse with his sturdy body. The sister's face was doubtful. He rushed in and came back with a piece of paper.

"Quick work, Mom. Blood Bank supplies in the hospital are empty for this class,"

"Yes, Sister!"

Ardi passed quickly through the hallway leading to the exit. I stared at his back at a glance, the intended PMI, only a kilometer away from the Hospital.

"Suster, please ... May I enter..."

My whine is good, the sister's face looks clumsy. You'd think the same thing.

"You sure?"

I'm nodding. The nurse thought for a while, then went back inside the room for a few minutes. Before finally getting back out.

"But Mas must not panic, if panic forced we can not allow Mas to enter."

The nurse stared intently at me. No need to think long enough to nod, to meet you.

Deg

Pyarrr

My heart broke right then and there, when I saw your condition. Ventilator attached, heart rate recorder on gives sign.

All sorts of tools I don't know one name attached to your body. I came closer, didn't I promise not to panic?

"Maafan ..."

Of course you're silent. Curse your hands, while sitting down. When the sound arrived it made my heartbeat seem to stop.

*

Be prepared here to see your name written there. LARAS DEWANTI bint Harjo Sukendro. The full rose covered the red earth mound.

The events of a few hours ago I no longer remember. All I know is that you're no longer by my side.

The sounds were milling from earlier, filling the eardrum.

"Oh Allah, ... That's too bad,"

"Why to Mom,"

"Bloody said ..."

Sobs I heard filled the room.

"Gie, be patient ..."

"You must be strong,"

"Follow grieving, Gie, may Allah accept all the charities of Laras worship,"

"Gi ..."

"O Allah, the beauty of her grandfather,"

"Gi ..."

"Gi ..."

"Gie!"

I felt my body shake. I feel, too, my cheek patted, pat.

"Let's go home, Gie."

Seraut a curly haired face that was paled, looking at me with full eyes.

"Gye..."

"Maustus ..."

"Larass, it's gone, Gie ..."

"Who said it?"

The curly-haired man hugged me.

"Gie, it's me, Ardi. Come home with me, buddy."

I exhale, you're here, why do I have to go?

"Why?"

"Gie, remember, you have Ghifa, your son needs you,"

"Ghypha?"

"Gie, let's go home,"

I stared at the young man with the nose of the bangir. What was his name? Remember you?

"Gie listen, tomorrow we're here again yeah, now we're home, yokk,"

I looked around, many silent gravestones were glued. You know this is gonna happen? Then what am I supposed to do without you?

"Relange ...."

A female voice was heard infiltrating. I looked towards the direction the sound came from. A middle-aged, dark brown-brown woman with a light brown veil approached me.

"Rome yo, Le, .. awaited Ghifa at home, go home ..."

I looked at the mother, the face I knew so well, her eyes looking so hard at me. Gently stroked my head, which was sulking like a child who had lost a toy.

Nature is getting dark, I don't know how many hours I've been here. Since the sun stepped from a point above the head, until now no longer visible.

"Yook, tomorrow we can come here again, as often as you like,"

This time the gondrong said while, taking me to my feet. Knees vibrate.

"We're meeting Laras at home, yeah, Gie..."

"Without?"

I got a mound full of roses in the dim. But the mother in front of me rubbed my head to look away.

"I'm Mom, Le ..., the same figure you forgot?"

His voice trembled, stroked the elus of my back, gently. My head feels dizzy, my path staggers, my body feels weak. The gondrong chopped my body up, by sticking my hand to his neck.

"We're going home now."

My legs were slightly dragged, it felt heavy stepping between the gravestones.

Remang blocked, I did not have the power to let myself be swept away. There was the sound of the adhan magrib, as our feet stepped out of the final footprint of the tomb door.

**

18.07

The car enters the yard of a house with a tent widened, attached. The burial area, which we left behind was only a 5-minute trip. The Dutch model house looks crowded. Mothers are still seen sitting around on the patio carpet and the living room. Under the tent, the chairs are arranged neatly facing the table.

Some people seemed to be blowing us up. Some stood waiting. I saw them turn their faces away and rub their eyelids.

"Mr Gielang ..."

A middle-aged mother approached. Then Mother whispered something to him, until he rushed back into the house. While the gondrong and Mother were still accompanying my slow pace.

I'm stopping. I took my embrace off the shoulder of the Gondrong who grabbed me.

"Come, Le. Rest inside yeah..."

I let out a long sigh, inhaling the fragrant fresh roses that were blooming in the side courtyard. In the dim Kj the color lights sway in the stalk blown by the wind.

"Maafan ..."

"Yes ... Le, come on in, clean yourself up first... "

Take Mom, take my doubtful steps.

"Come, Gie! Come back with us."

Pat the gondrong. I stepped on the sidewalk, heading up the stairs to the terrace.

"Mas Gie ..."

"Oh Allah, Mas Gie ..."

I heard their sobs, when Mom took me into the living room. Those who were there were only stunned did not dare to approach. Clustered in the corners of the space, giving way to us. Among them turn their faces and and hold a sob.

"Bring first yeah, Le ..."

Mother's orders while opening the room. I know this is our room, a room with a bed in the middle of the room, with a nightstand on the left-right side. Three-door ivory white cupboards are on one side. It looks like a change of clothes has been prepared by a person called Bik Nah by Mother.

Mom drove me to the bathroom door, next to the cupboard. Hand me the purple towel. I saw Mom's shadow standing waiting for me until I finished washing all my body and changing clothes.

Get out the bathroom, I'll see you prepare a meal and a glass of milk on the nightstand.

"Gi ..."

"Drink first ..."

Still noiseless, I sat on the edge of the bed and I gulped a little. Then I immediately put it down when the voice of a child was heard.

The gondrong held a baby with a smile, then put him to bed.

I was stunned to see him, with all the flashes of events coming back.

"Ghifa ..."

"Alhamdulillah .. You know him, Gie ..."

I nodded, I let my tears under the little guy's feet. I buried my face releasing the tightness that was petrified earlier.

"Maafan ..."

......