Stepmom Cold Bed
The repeated pain

After returning from the victim's house, Maureen chose to stay in the back garden, while looking at the ripples of pool water that she had used to swim. In his hand, there was still a cigarette that he had smoked several times to relieve his shock.

Given the grief of a woman named Nani, Maureen had to feel back old wounds and hardships that were so difficult to heal. No matter how long it took him to forget the incident, as long as his heart could not accept it, then the pain would always be there.

Nani's empty and sad eyes reminded Maureen of the last look she saw from her late mother, Renita.

“Well, who do we want to see? How to come to the hospital?” asked the little Maureen who was forcibly pulled by her mother who was walking fast in the hospital hallway. It was not usual for the gentle Renita to be rude to her daughter. But this time he acted as if there was something more important than Maureen's whining.

Maureen asked, Renita chose not to answer. He just wiped his tears that dripped continuously without being able to be stopped.

“Mah, I'm scared to the hospital. We go home,” whine Maureen while stopping her steps and holding on to the mast of the building.

“Cute mom Maureen! You should see your papah! She's alone!” exclaim the woman while forcibly pulling Maureen's hand. His emotions began to get out of control.

"Well where is Mah? Why not the one that is our nyamperin? You know I'm afraid of the hospital." Maureen continued to speak, even so she again followed Renita's footsteps.

"Well, where's Papah? Why is the room dark?" Maureen grew increasingly frightened as Renita led her into one dark passageway, no windows at all and there was only one light on at the other end. Maureen closed her eyes, hiding behind Renita's back.

His steps only stopped when they were already in front of a room. The cold air was felt as the room slowly opened.

"Your father, inside." Renita's voice sounded stammered. Hardly heard by Maureen.

Maureen opened her eyes slowly and faintly saw the name of the room that was in front of them. A few strands of Renita's hair blocked her view, but the room's name could still be read by Maureen.

"Corpse Space." as written on the door of the room. Maureen read it over and over again and the writing remained the same.

"You don't joke, it's not funny Mah." Maureen said softly, her reasoning still could not accept.

He chose to release his grip from Renita's arm, then chose to leave with a limp step.

"The morgue, Papah can't be there." Maureen's voice was so weak with a trembling body.

"Maureen! Mom didn't lie. Papah is inside." Renita repeated her sentence with a broken cry.

"MAUREEN!! PAPAH YOU ARE DEAD!!" yelled Renita who then cried.

 Maureen's step stopped, that second her heart was broken and the sky was like a collapse on her. He hoped he heard wrong. She hopes Renita lies.

But looking at Renita who was crying like that in front of the morgue, it seemed like the woman was telling the truth.

Renita approached Maureen, reaching for her hand that had covered her ears. Her tears were unraveling and her trembling lips said,

"You're not lying, son, papah, nothing."

Renita's voice was cut off. Like his hope that this is just a joke. It hurt so much when his broken heart seemed to tear his heart.  Renita falls in front of Maureen. His two trembling hands covered his face which had already been wet with tears.

Maureen's legs are weakening. He crouched down before Renita and grabbed the mother's hand that covered his own face.

“Mah, mamah lied right?” Again Maureen asked with a trembling voice. He still can't believe it. His breath was almost choked holding tightness in his chest.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Maureen's answer, but rather a rough hand-pull from her mother who carried Maureen into her arms.

“They killed your papah son and they don't want to take responsibility!! Papahmu no Maureen, papahmu already gone forever.” Renita's voice stammered with her cry that she could not bear.

Little Maureen could not say anything. The entire joint in his body was soft without any support He collapsed in Renita's arms. He hugged Renita tightly his tears trickled along without being able to stand it.

Is Malik really gone forever? Didn't his beloved father make a call last night and tell him he was going home today? What kind of home does he mean? Go home without life?

“Papah,..” The small sigh filled with sadness was then heard from Maureen's small mouth.

She wept in embrace with the mother who roared calling her husband's name. Sometimes Renita screams hysterically, calling out Malik's name and denying her husband's departure. He also cusses those he considers irresponsible and does not dare to meet him to give any explanation.

They do not care if they are currently a spectacle of some people in the hospital, they really do not care.

****