Pilgrims
Bye, Opium

Seeing the rise of people who use drugs, have an affair or play virtual games all day, I am almost sure most people have an escape from their respective lives that moan and eventually become opium. I said almost sure, 'cause I can't be completely sure of what other people think, right? Oh, but there's definitely research out there that can confirm this.

***

Today started off sad. Rain falls on the city of Bandung. Living in this city with a paycheck is very expensive. Fortunately, it was a luxury for me not to spend a lot of money. Reading a book or watching a movie at boarding house after work has made my heart happy.

While preparing to leave for work, I thought about what series came out today. Every night and even until the morning I watch foreign film series, and my room feels like heaven. Every time out of this room as if to leave the sacred kiln.

That's canduku. Canduku is being a passive audience and audience, enjoying the work of others. Every day. Every time there is a chance.

I looked once again at the mirror in the room, checking my makeup so as not to be too menor.

"You need to exercise!" knock a sound.

Hm. Don't be surprised. My room is not haunted. Well, at least as far as I know. That was Cain, the voice in my own head. He's been my best friend for ten years, when he suddenly talked to me on a bus.

"There's no time, Cain. From next week it's ready" I replied, picking up my bag and opening the door on my way out.

"Even, last week also said that. You are not moving, if now told to run must be boring," Cain began to lecture. I listened in passing.

By the way, I gave him Cain's name, taken from that Cain, Cain & Abel. The original Cain killed his own brother Abel, making him the first murderer in human history (or legend). Her name was good, so I gave her that name.

All this time he was the one who kept me sane (or quite the opposite). When faced with difficult choices, or when faced with unpleasant circumstances with others, Cain seemed to be a barometer of whether I did the right thing. It's not impulsive to me before. Her hobby is criticizing and nagging me whenever the opportunity arises.

"Well, Cain, I don't have to be athletic. People work in the office also while sitting, continue in the boarding also lying down," I replied Cain without making a sound because it was outside.

The rain has turned into a drizzle. I don't have to open an umbrella. The distance from my room to the office is about a 10-minute walk. My office around the Asian African street area so it is quite pleasant to walk because the pavement is wide and the layout of the city in this area is quite pampering to the eye.

"It's a sudden earthquake, or this city is attacked by aliens, you just have to run, you're left for sure" Cain continued to grumble at me.

I was just shaking my head with an amused smile, because I thought it was ridiculous. I don't not want my body healthy and fit, but the sluggishness is loh, plus the aches afterwards.

It doesn't feel like it's getting to the last turn. Before I get to the office, I usually stop by the warteg to buy fried foods. My breakfast is usually 2 spicy gehu and 1 lontong. But today I'm too late. I passed the warteg without stopping.

My head is a little dizzy from lack of sleep. It's another bad habit I haven't managed to change even though the words in motivational books mention getting enough sleep and waking up early is the key to a productive day. I agree with that statement but still, it's hard to implement.

Just a few more steps until the office, suddenly my head is dizzy, which is natural in my opinion due to lack of sleep and not breakfast. I was so scared, I squatted. The asphalt road I stepped on seemed to shake. Uh, or does it vibrate really?

"What is this earthquake?" ask rhetorical.

"Tell me what, too" Cain muttered.

I closed my eyes. I couldn't run because my head was so light. It felt much longer and larger than a regular earthquake. I crouched down with my hands holding the wet asphalt from the rain, hoping that the road would not crack or split, and also that no trees would fall on me.

I realized there was an awkwardness due to the absence of panicked voices and no one was scattering out of the building.

Suddenly I gasped like hands were pulling me back. My neck is choking and making me cramped. As if there was a large vacuum cleaner that sucked me and my body felt squeezed and compressed.

After all that stopped, I opened my eyes. My breath was still severed when I saw I was somewhere.

"Cain, you saw this too, right?" mummify slowly.

"Cain?"

Silent.

Okay. I'm alone. Breathe in. Dispose.

Everything I saw made no sense. I was like in the middle of a vast field, or rather a vast field surrounded by hills. As far as the eye could see there was no one but me in this place. It's daytime, but in the sky it looks like the moon. The moon looks big and like it can be reached like a cloud. After I looked more closely there was another month that was farther away and looked smaller behind the big moon.

"Oh, I've seen this place. But where is it?" mumbling again.

I'm almost sure this isn't a dream, because it all feels so real. But what explanation could explain this? And where's Cain? It is not usual for him to disappear in a crucial moment.

In confusion, I checked around. What can I do here? Obviously, this is not on Earth. Dreaming or not, doing something is better than being quiet and panicking.

I walked towards the hills, which looked far away. My soul was torn apart. This unusual foot walking this far away thrashed. But I have to go there. For the sake of my canduku who is waiting at home.

"Hello," someone greeted me from behind, almost making my heart drop.

I looked back and kept my distance.

"Hi" I replied. What I want to say is: Who are you? What's the matter? Where's us? Bring me back!

"Do you speak English, or Spanish maybe?" he asked again. His voice trembled a bit but he tried to speak as softly as possible.

How would you describe it? Hm. Perhaps in short, he was a Caucasian father. He wears a suit, tie and glasses. Typical of office bosses we usually see in movies.

While still keeping your distance, because, well, common sense. You cannot trust a stranger.

"Yes. Englishmen. A little" I replied. He responded by breathing a sigh of relief.

"Thank God" he said in English. "I was teaching a class, then suddenly there was an earthquake, and now I'm here. Do you know why we're here?"

He immediately knew the answer to that question when he saw my response that looked disappointed and exhaled.

"Nope. I was hoping YOU would tell me what happened," I replied disappointedly.

I concluded he was a teacher or lecturer. Like he was facing his students, he stood up and said, "At least we're not alone. Don't worry. We'll figure it out."

"I am Jack Brown. From the U.S. The state of Indiana to be exact," his voice trembled again.

Seeing her trying to assert herself, I became more sympathetic. He seemed more scared and panicked than me.

"I'm Maya. Hello to you."

Then from a distance a very loud bang was heard.

***