The 18 Year Bride
He's Not Going

on a cloudy night, after returning home from work, where I was resting in my bed, looking at the birthday gifts I had arranged and gluing them back together. edelweiss image in an old newspaper tear.I was moved again, the meaning back to touch the book. "True and Eternal Love."

I kissed the picture.the longing held within me slowly melted away by his words while giving this to me that was present in the memory, as if I was feeling him talking to me. His voice was floating in the air, and, it shook around my ears as my eyes glared far away, through the darkness of the gray night, with tiny stars strewn like pearls impossible to pick.

a flower in the spring, fall in the winter, leaves its fragrance in my mind.

it seems that tonight I, again can not sleep...

...****************...

I woke up bad luck.

the cold made me want to stay in bed, covering my entire body with a thick blanket while hugging the image made by Elijah, only it was able to make me feel his presence, I need to get ready to meet Donny's invitation, my best friend.

in order to appear polite and a little respectable I wear semi-official clothes but also look relaxed, I equipped my appearance with a thick wool jacket and collar that I purposely stood up so that my neck would be spared from the agonizing cold, it seemed that soon winter was coming.

after feeling quite well, I immediately stepped out of the house. Because this day is off, I can also refresh my mind from the office business and at least, I have other activities to busy myself. Dad goes out of town, as usual, and Rinna breaks in the room due to her vulnerable gestational age.

after the vehicle entered the highway, the view of the city was so crowded by people sightseeing together, in contrast to the lazy and silent atmosphere in the house. I think the atmosphere of my house has always been the same as the state of affairs throughout this city, apparently not.

I lit a cigarette to warm my body which was still cold despite wearing a layer of clothing, probably because the car AC was a bit tight.

in the midst of human traffic and vehicles, in the middle of this bustling city, my feelings were like being attacked by melancholia.in addition to seeing the persistence of my best friend who had struggled to visit me in this faraway place, and her desire to introduce her lover, I was actually a bit confused as to how she responded when I came without Elijah. "I want to let go of the miss with you two, must come. I want a double date!" he confirmed by phone again this morning.

I arrived at The Romantic Garden. The building is quite large, and the parking lot is also wide.As the name implies, almost every corner of this cafe is decorated with flowers of various types.

as soon as I entered, I immediately sat at the corner table, almost the whole seat here was already full of young couples dating.My eyes wandered to the corner of the room, looking around for where Donny was. But, I haven't found him yet.a waiter came up to me. offering orders.

"Capuccino cinnamon?" ask slowly, somewhat squealing and try to remain polite.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Nothing, but there's mineral water or regular milk coffee."

"Mineral only. in addition to any cake or pudding... "

I looked back, as soon as I missed it at the cafe I ordered the food that Elijah often made, in the middle of it all how surprised I was to see Donny arrive in front of me with a woman who, it seems I know him...

"You're here?!" tanyakanya.

I noticed the girl who was holding her friendly hand, she looked timid while looking down to hide her face.

"Do you know each other?" donny.

indeed, I have known Vania quite well, even we had a chance to get into trouble until Finally there was a separation between me and Elijah.but, I will not blame her, because Vania was just like me. she didn't know that I was married. And last I heard, she had canceled our matchmaking because she claimed to love someone else, does that mean that person was Donny? but how do they get to know each other? vania has not been here long.

the atmosphere became a little clumsy and awkward, until we finally opened up to each other.

"Actually we didn't really date, just met on a dating app. I wanted to prove to Amanda that I had risen from loving her. and I want to show people who make fun of me a weathered bachelor, too. I'm ashamed that being ridiculed so often can't forget Amanda."

that's how Donny explained the beginning of his meeting with a former woman who wanted to be betrothed to me, then Vania;

"I agreed to a deal for a pretend courtship with him so that dad would be sure of my wishes.I don't want to be a thorn in someone else's marriage. your father did say that you were going to divorce and asked my father to continue the match, but, I know that you and that innocent girl love each other, to undo it I pretended to have had a silent lover all this time, and I loved her so much."

"What's? Divorced?" sergeant Donny with his typical surprised expression. "Till it?"

"This is all because of my fault. Since living here, Elijah has been poorly treated by my family, until he is tired and wants to be separated."

"Why not move? and back to the old house? it'll be quieter there. You two live in love with each other."

"My father threatened to do anything to Elijah's parents, if I left home, because of his parents' heavy debts."

"Devicious... " Say Vania softly. "Then what now? you guys gonna really split up?"

"When I found out that I was in a match, I was so angry that there was a commotion. I decided to go with Elijah, I also did not bother about debt anymore, Suddenly Elijah made a confession that made me very angry and disappointed.he said he was tired of pretending, and his duty as a bride to take care of me was over. No love, no love, all because of duty.until he tore the birthday gift he made himself for me. when the meaning is so deep; love is eternal and true... Now that we've separated, I don't know if we're going to get a divorce or how, actually, I'm not willing, because I still love him so much."

"You know Damian? sometimes a man is too slow to make a decision and too weak to take action, just as you already know my passion is paying more attention to you, but you chose not to tell me sooner that you were married.Till my feelings get deeper, and your wife gets into a mess," Vania paused, then straightened her head looking at me deeply. then continue.

"You say you love her, but even when your wife lies you don't know how you don't realize her love and believe that it's all part of the job. he gave you such a simple gift, but in all of it, he gave everything for you, love, sincerity, compassion, and his life. he poured out and symbolized a small part of his love into a form of hand that you can hold and feel. Just like I did, I made a statue of Phoenix overnight for a few days just for you, pour out my love in it so you know that I really love.I want to give my best.until I forget to eat and rest."

"There may be some things that you don't know, that are in your wife's mind, and that are going on behind your knowledge."

a surprise suddenly pierced my heart.In each sentence Vania, probably because she was also a woman, awakened me and opened my eyes.

"He's not going, don't be sad he's still expecting you" Donny said, patting me on the shoulder.

this moment made me suddenly remember a sentence I should never forget for a lifetime:

When someone loves you, they don't have to say it. You'll know how they treat you.