Letter to Atlanta
28. Accident

The sun wearing a glowing robe is rising up through the sky. The blue sky without clouds, and warm sunshine, encourage creatures named humans to do all activities on holidays.

Dense road vehicles are a common thing that happens on weekends. Exhaust fumes are increasingly penetrating the nasal cavity, a distinctive smell that will be found when dabbling in the middle of the city's density.

As with Atlanta, the foot of the level continues to walk down the sidewalk of the old city building bustling with street vendors, peddling merchandise such as clothes, knick-knacks, snacks typical of the city of Bandung.

The man deliberately walked to his destination. With the reason that the very bright weather supports it to enjoy the atmosphere around the city longer, plus the distance between the housing complex and halfway house is not so far away.

He climbed the bridge across the road, feeling a different atmosphere than before. Breathing out as the breeze gently swept across his black mane.

At the end of the bridge, Atlanta's smile grew, looking at a small house a few meters ahead. He sped up a little down the stairs, then waved his hand when he saw a little girl looking at him with a big smile showing her dated milk teeth.

The boy immediately hugged Atlanta's waist enthusiastically after the man approached him. Atlanta bend her knees, rubbing the curls of a 6-year-old.

The boy moved his hand.

"Where are you going? Mia kangen."

Atlanta smiled widely to the point of making a crescent moon line in both of her eyes.

"Sunday Brother has to work. So you can't visit here. You how are you?"

"Mia's good, brother. Look, Mia's teeth are out."

Mia grinned, showing her toothless pride.

"That means, Mia wants to grow up. Mia was crying when her teeth fell out?"

The boy shook his head quickly.

"Engga dong's. Kan said Kak Ata, Mia can not be whiny. Mia's a strong boy." He raised half his arm, clenched his hand into the air.

Once again the man pulled the arch upwards, pinching the gaunt cheek of the flossy Mia kingpin as he smiled. Staring at the girl who was widening both corners of her lips, made Atlanta feel the happiness.

Here, in a place that is quite easy for people to reach, a small house squeezed by two large buildings, looks like houses in general, it looks like houses in general, a whitewashed house that almost peels off at some point. Here, the place where the street children shelter, from the hot sun and rain. Here, the place of a million stories is written neatly in the minds of Atlanta. Feel how warm the togetherness of abandoned children who do not have the support of life.

There are so many lessons that he has taken from the difficult life of children here. Maybe this is one reason for the man not to give up easily or blame fate. In fact, there are still many people who are far from perfect, there are still many people who may need more than him.

His gaze was distorted on the figure of a 15-year-old boy who had just come out of the house, carrying a large crackle bag made like a sling bag filled with banana chips. With a crutch stick on the right as his body support, the footsteps were slightly limped.

Atlanta stood up, approaching him before the boy became aware of the arrival of Atlanta. He helped the boy who seemed troubled in moving his legs.

"Sir Ata?"

Atlanta simply smiled in response to a slightly surprised boy's remark as Atlanta swept him towards the front porch.

"When are you here?" ask him while confirming the position of the clear crackle bag perched next to his shoulder.

"just now. You want to sell?"

"Yes, Brother. Adin wants to sell first. Sorry yes, Brother, Adin can't keep Brother here for long," he said with a slightly clumsy smile.

Atlanta shook her head. "You know, you can sell, can't you?"

Adin slightly widened his eyeballs, he immediately refused when Atlanta was about to take his merchandise.

"No, Brother. Let Adin sell. Sister here alone, inside there are children too."

Adin sighed, then nodded. After all, no matter how hard he forbids Atlanta, the man he already considers like his own brother will still insist on helping him.

Atlanta smiled broadly, taking over the bag of crackles still faithfully hanging on Adin's shoulder. Then turning to mess with Mia's hair, the girl waved after seeing Atlanta and Adin leave from before her.

On the sidewalk they are on. Enthusiastic, both never tired of offering banana chips with a variety of flavors, expect many pedestrians and riders who want to buy.

When the red light turns on, Adin rejoins the middle of a row of vehicles waiting in line for the turn of the road. The boy was so excited, even though his legs really had to be invited to work together exploring every gap between the vehicle and each other.

For a moment, Atlanta noticed Adin's activities from the sidewalk where he was standing at the time. Adin has never changed in the past, despite being on the side of a paralyzed leg, the boy never complains and keeps trying to make money for his life.

Living in the middle of the city without parental guidance and affection is not easy, especially for children who do not understand anything. They always do any job to connect their lives, at least just to fill their stomachs.

The sun is rising right above the crown, the heat is getting hotter and stinging the skin. The two decided to take a short break, drenching the esophagus with three thousand worth of orange ice that Atlanta had deliberately bought. They sat in iron chairs, looking at the crowded streets smoothly vehicles from the west and east.

"Dhh...." There was a sound ******* small from Adin's mouth as the cold water flowed through her almost dry throat.

The boy turned his head towards his remaining wares slightly, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alhamdulillah yes, Brother. His trade is abis. Hopefully the other children are also selling well," he said.

Atlanta looked at Adin who was widening the corners of his lips.

"Yes, I hope it's all over."

Adin responded with a steady nod. They fell silent again, their eyes fixed forward as before.

"Sister?" Adin paused for a moment. "Where does it feel like having a family?"

Atlanta looked back at Adin who was still staring at the street. The child should not have to ask about family to him, of course Atlanta does not know what it is like to have a family. Even though he lived under one roof, never once did he feel the warmth of the family like everyone else.

"So I want to have a rich family, Ata."

Atlanta lowered her head again, staring at her interlocked fingers, she smiled in horror. How wonderful it would be if Adin's words were a reality.

"Since the past, Adin never knew how the face of Adin's parents. Adin was banished, did Adin's parents not want to have Adin's rich son huh, sister?"

Either way, Atlanta's heart suddenly felt tight, his eyeballs were heating up.

I'm just like you, Din. I am a child that my own family does not want. Inwardly

"Udah yu, brother, sell again, that brother we go home." Adin stood up from his seat, with the help of crutches, he began to walk.

His eyes widened when he saw a group of people across the street, he widened his smile. Atlanta raised its head after seeing Adin who was about to cross the highway.

Atlanta rounded up the vision after a car speeding towards the boy. He ran to pull Adin who was completely unaware of the presence of the car.

Bruk!

His steps came to a halt instantly, his body shaking violently. He was late, Adin was already bouncing, rolling on the asphalt with some merchandise that had been scattered. Atlanta immediately approached Adin who was moaning, holding the boy's head on his thigh.

There was a sound of slamming the car door, the driver of the car approached the two with a face that was too panicked.

"God! Sorry, s—I accidentally. We're taking him to the hospital, okay? Let me help you" said the adult man who wanted to help carry Adin's body.

"Atlanta?"