I'm Single Mom
ASM 17's

After a journey of about seven hours we finally arrived at the bus terminal. Need an ojek to get to the alley of our house.

I took a moment to buy some souvenirs. I can't wait to see the faces I miss laughing at our arrival.

" Sir, it's here." Mr. Ojek stopped us in a house that seemed to be starting to change.

" Is this the truth sir?" Manya worry.

" Yes, yeah."

I finally got down and paid for the motorcycle we used.

" Bun, where are we?" El whispered to me. It seems El knows what I feel right now.

I still hesitate to walk into the courtyard of this house. This house has changed a lot since I left nine years ago.

" Bun, when are we standing here? El tired bun. El's feet are sore." Rengek princess is my puppet.

Bismilbornrahmanirrahim's...

Tok.tok..

I knocked on the door repeatedly. My chest is pounding waiting for the host to come out.

El's already playing the swing that's located on the terrace.

" Assalamu'alaikum..." I say hi.

" Waalaikum salam..." The voice of a woman. But the voice was a little different, not the mother's. Or it's Zaskia siara.

Uh. Not yet my tears have been vying to come down.

El played the iron swing with a joyful face. I looked at El full of happiness. " Patience El, soon the good time will come.

" Who are you looking for?"

I was surprised to hear the voice of the owner of this house, because my position was turning to the door.

I immediately turned around, wanting to immediately hug the owner of the house.

Heh. Who her? Why are you at mom and dad's? Did you marry again? Then where are mom and Zaskia? Questions swirling around in the head.

" Who are you looking for?" Ask again.

" Whose mom?" Instead of answering, I asked back to make the young woman in front of me confused.

" I'm the owner of this house." The answer is short and a little bit short.

I was trying to see the living room, trying to see a photo of you on the wall. But there are no more pictures of us there.

" This house was sold about eight years ago." This woman mura.

I was surprised, my chest was like a big godam, it was as tight as it felt.

" If you can know where the owner of this beautiful house, mbak?"

" I'm sorry, but I don't know. Is there anyone else to ask again? I'm busy."

I shook my head, "no-no mbak. Thanks for the time."

Without letting us in, the young woman closed the door.

I'm still stuck in front of this house full of memories. Now where do I go to find mom, dad Zaskia

" Bun, El is hungry and thirsty." El whined again.

I returned with the bag containing our clothes. My hand held El out of the courtyard of this house. We walked under the dim sunlight that indicated the time of night would soon arrive.

Alu looking for a nearby stall to just rest. If I don't find a clue, tonight I'll go to the village to meet Grandma Aminah, maybe my place is there.

We found a stall of rice vendors who had just opened. I immediately ordered two nasi uduk with fried chicken side dishes and a glass of hot sweet tea. Only El seemed happy because today he could eat fried chicken thighs exactly like the cast of his favorite cartoon, two twin bald brothers.

When I was almost desperate, whether strength or courage from where, I asked the rice vendor, "sir, sir know Mr. Herman whose house is at the end of the road?"

" The house that has been sold is yes, neng?"

" When I move, I don't know where. Poor Mr. Herman, his wife is dead, his first child pregnant out of wedlock, he said he ran away with his boy. But I know less. Try asking my wife later, come soon." Said this salesman while serving our order.

Heart beating fast, I hope this news is not true. There's no way mom died eight years ago. My eyes began to condense, my chest felt tight because of the cry I was intentionally holding back.

" Allah strengthen this servant of yours..." I said many times in my heart.

El was enjoying his food. While I'm like losing my appetite.

From afar I saw a mother walking towards us.

" Neng, that's my wife. Try it later on directly." Said the seller kindly.

Fortunately, he did not notice my face that was already watering.

" Buck a puck!" The rice seller sat like he could not wait for his wife's arrival.

" What's up, sir?" Wife astonished.

" This Neng is looking for Herman's house."

" Mister Herman whose house is for sale? Who's the ring, Herman?" Ask the mother curious.

I raised my face, though,

" Oh Allah... You're Salsa?"

" Yes buk." Answer me sad.

The mother hugged me tightly, "where are you going? Your mother is dead. Huuo..." Now we cry while hugging.

This is the worst news I've ever heard. Now I understand what it means to be present in a dream sbilan years ago. It turns out that my mother wanted to tell me that she is now in a different world.

" Look at you, you just stay at mom's house. Tomorrow morning we make a pilgrimage to your mother's grave."

I received good advice from the rice seller's mother. And this mapam I decided to stay for the sake of visiting mother's new home

*

My tears broke when I read the gravestone that read Sinta bint Abdullah. I hugged my mother's headstone, even I hugged the tomb filled with this weed. My mother's grave is far from clean. Even the ground is starting to flatten.

El and I began to pluck the weeds that grew around Mom's grave.

" Mom, salsa's coming. Salsa came with her mother's granddaughter, Elmeera. Sorry Salsa for visiting this house. Sorry Salsa for not being next to my mom at my last minute. I'm sorry Salsa hasn't been devoted to you."

" Mother, whose grave is this?"

" This is Grandma's grave, El. Doain grandma yes let grandmother placed in the paradise of God."

After being satisfied at the grave of my mother, I decided to return to the village. Living with nek Aminah.

" Mom, Salsa said goodbye. God willing, Salsa will come again. Twrthank you for taking Salsa to a very good place."

*

The bus took us back to our home.

Carrying the anger of El for not meeting his father. Even throughout the journey he did not want to eat and did not want to talk to me.

" El, forgive mom!" It was the only thing I always said to El, until he felt remorseful.

Until we got home, my tears weren't dry.

"El, how come you're home?" Nek Aminah was surprised to see us who had returned.

I cried in the arms of the old body belonging to Grandma Aminah, "what's up, Sa?"

" Mother... Mother is dead. Huuu..."

" The patient, Sa. Everyone will die. Patience Sa." Nek Aminah tried to strengthen me.

Allahs... Am I willing to accept all the trials you give me?