A Letter to My Mom

Chapter 3: The beauty of adolescence is destroyed

CHAPTER 3

Seven years passed. Milian is nineteen years old. He no longer bathed the Typhoon, for the man was seventeen years old now. 

However, Milian's task was getting heavier. Desi, her younger sister has already entered the age of ten. He had to go to school, while Desi's body condition was different from other children.

"Mama go to work first. Don't forget! Before Bayu and Taufan go home from school, you should have cooked," Ayudia said.

The woman was getting older and her strength was no longer strong enough to break the stone. He switched jobs. Ayudia works as a laundry laborer in the house of a village official.

"Yes, Ma." 

As usual, Milian was only able to say 'yes' with a smile. Who knew the wounds and cries in his heart? Nothing, not even her mother.

Milian was dressed in thick clothes and covered in a hoodie jacket on the very outside. He called his subscription rickshaw and made sure at the side of the rickshaw was covered with black cloth. Luckily, the owner of the rickshaw was very kind and never complained.

"It's ready, Mili. Anyway it's sorted out," said the owner of the rickshaw called Mang Muslih by Milian.

"Thank you, Mang. I brought Desi first," said Milian.

He went into Desi's room and held the little girl who was now in the fourth grade of elementary school. Muslih waded them out of the house until they sat sweetly in the rickshaw. The horseless carriage moved forward, crossing the village road that was still hollow here and there.

When her younger siblings take a weekend off, Milian often sneaks out to meet up with her peers. Ayudia is also a holiday, so it can accompany and keep Desi at home. However, all home duties remain the responsibility of Milian.

When he came home after a moment of joking with his friend, he also had to accept the tantrum of Ayudia. The state of the house was very messy when Milian left it for a while. It was all because of the action of Bayu who likes to dirty the floor with futsal shoes and Taufan who always messed up snacks in the living room.

"It's your habit! Quickly clean the house! You don't know that you're so tired of working out there for a week. Mama wants to rest at least once a week."

"Yes, Ma. Mili apologized," he said. Again, again, Milian had to apologize even though he was innocent.

Before he left, he had done all the housework. Though only one hour left, but the house was like a ship broke. Milian immediately cleaned the house, then cooked for lunch.

"Sesi won't eat since morning. Suapi there!" Ayudia, Bayu, and Typhoon had three lunches, while Milian had to feed Desi in his room.

"Desi …. Eat, yuk," said Milian.

Desi's face was very moody. The little girl was always at home due to a rare disease condition. Every time he heard Milian go out, he felt envious.

"Snake out again, huh?"

"Yes. Brother only went for a moment to meet a friend," Milian replied.

"So bad, can play outside" he said with a sad frowning face.

Inside that house, maybe only Desi was close to him. Although, the little girl sometimes made trouble for him. However, Milian continued to try to be patient.

"Eat him, Desi eats a lot so he can play outside too," Milian gently persuaded.

Plaque!

Desi brushed off Milian's hand, until the plate in his hand fell off. The sound of the plate breaking was of course attracting Ayudia's attention. Milian just lowered his head and closed his eyes as the woman scolded and hit him.

'Until when do I have to hold on, Pa? Mama still hit me for a mistake I didn't make. Typhoon and Bayu were very happy to laugh at Mili when mom beat Mili.'

The girl could only shed tears inside her room. Rooms that remain unchanged after a dozen years have passed. There's only one thing that's changed there, the door.

Initially, Mili's room had no doors and was only covered in shabby curtains. He was an adult, therefore he could not sleep well if his room was not given a door. It was his first and last request to the mother, asking for the door to her room.

At midnight, Milian's job is just done. He skipped dinner and had no appetite because his stomach hurt. Lately, the pain has been getting stronger.

"Should I go to the clinic?" Milian muttering. He will not think to seek treatment, if the pain can still be withheld. 

The next morning after dropping Desi off at school, Milian left her sister at school briefly to go for treatment. The village doctor was still the same as a few years ago. The doctor's husband was also very good.

"Billi! You sick?" Doctor Saraswati was very surprised to see the pale face of Milian.

"Come, come in" said the doctor's husband Saras.

They found the awkwardness of the disease suffered by Milian. To be sure, he asked the girl to do some tests in the hospital. The girl of course refused.

If he has to go to the hospital, it means having to spend a lot of money, and it takes time that can reach all day. He can't do that. Eventually, Saras' doctor gave up on persuading him.

"There's one test Mili can take, honey. Just check the blood. I'll take the blood sample to the hospital" suggested Saras doctor's husband.

Saraswati also took a special injection to draw blood. That same day, the man took her to the hospital. Milian has to go back to school to pick up Desi.

***

Two days later, Mr. Muslih told Milian to see a doctor. While Desi was studying in her class, Milian rushed to the clinic. Along the way, he prayed that the results would be good.

However, reality is not as beautiful as hope. Doctor Saras delivers the news that is taking down the world of Milian. He is very young, but has to accept the harsh reality.

Milian's tears were dripping in both corners of his eyes.

"This is just a guess, honey. Hopefully this is just a mistake" said Dr. Saras. He tried to comfort the girl.

"really. The results of this blood test can be confused with others. How about we do a CT scan?" 

"I don't have that kind of money to go to the hospital, Doc."

Doctor Saras and her husband are willing to cover all medical expenses. However, his good intentions were subtly rejected. How could Milian receive so much help from them, whereas Milian was unable to give anything to them.

The girl returned to school with a broken heart. End-stage gastric cancer. Although it has not been confirmed one hundred percent truth, but Milian was very sad to hear it.

According to the doctor Saras, if Milian did a thorough examination, he could only confirm the truth. Milian refused not just because he did not want to bother, but he was very afraid. What if he has the disease?

*Connected*