THERE'S ALWAYS A LEANING PLACE
Part I I

When the long needle pointed at the number 6 while the short needle between the numbers 6 and 7, Via was already in the car that Mr. Nono drove. He went to school from the hospital.

Unlike usual, Via became a quiet child. No smile adorns her thin lips.

"Why, Vi? A sariawan?" ask Ratna, Via's best friend.

Via did not answer. He just shook his head.

"Is there a problem at home? Don't tell me your dad's pissed 'cause you're dating!" ratna said again.

Suddenly Via slid his hand over his face and sobbed. This made Ratna shocked. He had never seen Via cry.

"What's up, Vi? I'm outrageous?" ask Ratna gently.

Via shakes. His voice is still heard.

"Then why? If you want a secret story, mending us to the UKS. How's it?"

Again Via shakes. He took a deep breath, like trying to calm himself.

"Mom, Rat. Mama's sick. Now in the hospital," said Via after a moment of silence.

"What pain?"

"complications. Clearly, your heart and kidneys are damaged. Mama needs a donor."

"That bad? Hasn't your mom been all right?" ratna asked in shock.

"That's, Rat. That's what makes me feel guilty. I, his son, do not know my mother's suffering. What kind of child am I?" lamented Via. Tears started to flow again.

"What's your mama's condition now?"

"Since yesterday it has not been conscious. I'm scared, Rat. I was afraid of losing my mom. I'm afraid I can't see her smile anymore." Crying exploded. He tightly hugged Ratna's body sitting beside him.

Seeing Via crying while hugging Ratna, some friends who were busy chatting looked astonished. Some of them approached.

As soon as she saw someone approaching, Ratna signaled that they would not interfere. They also moved back away.

"You need to stay strong, Vi. Pray for your mama to heal quickly" Ratna tried to comfort. "I'll come with you to the hospital, yeah."

Via nodded. The fingers of his right hand rubbed the cheeks wet with tears.

As soon as the last hour bell rang, Via and Ratna rushed to the gate. Mr. Nono is waiting.

As soon as he saw Via, Mr. Nono immediately opened the car door. Shortly thereafter, the car drove to the hospital.

Just getting to the hospital, Mr. Nono's cell phone rang. Mr. Wirawan's name is on the screen. Mr. Nono immediately received a call.

"Assalamualaikum, sir."

....

"Yes, we just got to the hospital."

....

"Good, sir."

Via looked at Mr. Nono.His gaze seemed to ask for an explanation.

"Papa Mbak Via the phone. Madam in ICU. We go straight to the ICU" Mr. Nono said.

Worry was evident on Via's face. Without answering, he immediately stepped into the hospital. Mr. Nono and Ratna followed Via's steps.

In front of the ICU, Mr. Wirawan stood dumbstruck. His look seemed empty.

"Pa!" the Via call shocked Mr. Wirawan. "How's mom? Does mom need it?"

Mr. Wirawan looked at his daughter. His hands were stretched out and grabbed Via tightly.

"What's your mom, Pa?" ask Via.

"The doctor is trying, Vi," replied Mr. Wirawan.

"We just pray, Vi," said Ratna.

Mr. Wirawan let go of his embrace. Guided Via to a bench on the ICU terrace.

The four of them sat without a sound. All dissolved in each other's minds.

For almost half an hour they were silent. Until a nurse breaks the silence created.

"Family Mother Dewi Wirawan?"

"I" replied Via and his papa simultaneously. They stood up to the nurse who had just asked.

"Please enter. Please wear this shirt" the nurse said, showing her a special dress.

After they put it on, the nurse took her to Mama Via's place. There were doctors and nurses standing by the bed.

"Sorry, Sir. The condition of the Goddess is getting worse. We have done the maximum. Please family wait for the patient because maybe this is his last moment" said the doctor.

Via suddenly drowned. The doctor's words broke his heart. His body slumped to the floor. Mr. Wirawan immediately propped it up, sitting in a chair near them.

Tension was on their faces. Mr. Wirawan tried to calm down, getting closer to his wife's head.

"Ma, thank you for all your affection. Thank you for standing with me and your son. Forgive us for not being able to make you happy" the man said to his wife's ear. Then the word tawhid.

Meanwhile, Via is getting limp. Tears had flooded his paled face.

Shortly thereafter, an ECG near the patient's bed showed a horizontal graph. The doctor and nurse swiftly examined the mother Via.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wirawan immediately grabbed Via's shoulder, shifted the seat occupied by his son in order to provide space for doctors and nurses who were working.

"I'm sorry, sir. With great regret we were unable to save Father's wife. We are sad, "the doctor said.

"Brugggs...." Via fell to the side. His papa's hands were powerless to hold his slender body.

It was a grey day for the Wirawan family. Not only Via and papa, but ART and family driver.

Because it was dark when the body was brought from the hospital, the funeral was decided the next day.

As the short needle pointed at the number 9, a convoy of people in dark clothes moved from the Wirawan family residence towards the cemetery. Mr. Wirawan looked in front, one among the coffin bearers.

After the funeral complex, they headed to a place that had been prepared. The funeral procession went well.

The drizzle began to drip as people began to leave the burial complex. They walked at a quick pace, looking worried about the rain.

However, not with the people who were still near the wet mound. Via, his father, Ratna, and Bu Aisyah, Via's homeroom teacher, crouched near the tomb. Via was still sobbing, reluctant to get out of the place.

"Via, let's go home, yuk! You have to give mama, "persuade Mr. Wirawan.

"Yes, Vi. If you're like this, pity your mom. My mother was not calm there. Your father will increase the burden of having to think about your condition. We're home, yeah! Your mother needs more prayer, not your presence here. You love papa mama, right?" persuade Bu Aisyah gently.

"Via wants to be here. I don't want to leave my mom alone. Poor mama."

"Via, mama will be tormented to see you mourn her passing. Your steps facing the Khalik will be heavy. Do you love mama? Don't aggravate the steps!"

Via looked at his homeroom. Ms. Aisyah looked back at Via's puffy face.

"Be a devoted child to both parents. Since the mother is gone, Via's duty to the mother is to pray for her. Via would, right?"

Finally, Via nodded. He slowly got up with the help of Ratna.

He looked back as he reached the tomb gate. It was hard for her to part with the person who gave birth to her, who loved her sincerely. Her tears continued to fall as she drizzled that morning.

***