Engelskraft: Love of Wasted Angels

Old Wounds

The morning sun had already shown its rays and broke through to the sidelines of the curtains hanging on the window. Ailey opened her eyes slowly while accumulating lives. He looked up at the ceiling of the room, thinking about what he would do today.

He had been unemployed for a month and did not seem to be busy that day. The entire cover letter had been delivered yesterday, it seemed like Ailey would only be lazing around in her cramped boarding room today.

Kingggg!! Ailey's phone alarm sounds at exactly 6 a.m. The alarm was not to wake her, as Ailey's biological clock was used to waking her up 15 minutes before the alarm went off.

Ailey then forced herself to get up and pull out a bottle of medicine from her desk drawer. He sighed while reading the bottle of medicine that read Tenolam E. It seems that he has been taking the drug for 7 years. Drugs containing Tenofovir, Lamivudine, and Efavirenz should be taken regularly at the same time. 6 A. M. is his schedule for taking medicine every day, so an alarm is needed so that he does not forget.

“There is still 1 bottle, next month I have to take the medicine again to the hospital.” Mumbled.

Ailey is an ODHIV (People with HIV) who rely heavily on the drug Tenolam E. Because, if he does not take drugs regularly, the HIV virus in his body can reactivate and destroy his immune system quickly. Therefore, as an ODHIV, Ailey should not miss hours of taking her medication. Because if the HIV virus in the body becomes resistant due to irregular drug consumption, years of effort to be able to consistently take the drug becomes useless.

While drinking water to down down the tablets of the drug, Ailey recalled the incident 8 years ago that caused her to be infected with HIV.

Ailey, 17, had just finished studying at a maths school. The distance from the tutoring place with his house is actually not so far, only 4 km. However, because Ailey comes from an underprivileged family, she decides to go home on foot. Instead of having to spend his pocket money to ride an angkot or motorcycle taxi, he better be tired a little and save the rest of his pocket money.

Unlike usual, the day's maths lessons went on long enough that Ailey had to go home at 8pm to do chores first. The lighting was not enough at that time so the darkness of the night was enough to make Ailey goosebumps several times. However, for the sake of setting aside his allowance, he did not heed his fear. After all, he did not believe in ghosts, why think of such absurd things.

Although the distance to his house is not too far, Ailey had to circle the corn garden because the road he usually passed was buried by landslides so that access is still closed. As he passed through the corn garden with illumination, three middle-aged men approached him. With a stare of drunkenness, the three men seemed to be infested by demons. They ambush Ailey and drag her into the corn garden. They stripped the high school lady's shirt and committed a savage act that claimed her virginity. Although Ailey was struggling with all her might, she was unable to fight against the three people. His mouth was gagged with *************** himself by one of the men so that Ailey could not scream for help.

A flash of painful memory made Ailey shed her tears. For many years he could not shake the trauma in his heart. Very sick, even the HIV virus he suffered because of the rape case is not able to replace the pain of virginity that has been snatched by the depraved men.

Ailey put the medicine bottle back in the drawer. Rubbing his puffy eyes, he prayed that the culprit could not live quietly. Even though he knew the perpetrators were already in prison, he wanted them to feel worse than just living in bars.

In the middle of his daydream, a phone ring shocked Ailey. Then the woman swiftly raised the incoming call coming from her father.

“Halo, Sir!” Soft sweep.

“How are you doing, son? It's been almost a week you haven't been contacted.” Ask her father to worry.

“Thank God! Smooth work, Nak?”

“Emmm... Yes, smoothly, Sir! The salary is not so big but still able to live costs here.” Ailey is lying.

“You if you do not feel at home working there because the salary is small, it is better to return to the village. Help you sell in the store. Despite the rough income, but the cost of living here is much cheaper than in Jakarta.” Connect father.

“Take it easy, Sir. Ailey's still here. Ailey promises this year will go home and bring more money.” Ailey tried to calm her father.

“Alright then. Don't forget breakfast, yeah! Soon you leave for work ‘kan?” Continue Ailey's father.

“I..iya. Thank you, yes Sir.” Ailey answered nervously.

“Don't forget to take the medicine! Take care of your health, son.” Connect father.

“Iya, Sir. I drank, just now. I'm ready, sir. If you are late to work, your salary will be cut. Hehe.” Ailey tried to close the conversation.

The phone was turned off guiltily. Ailey is forced to lie because she doesn't want to worry her father. Either way, he must get a job immediately or he cannot keep his promise to return home. Her father was a kara in the village, it was outrageous that Ailey left her father alone without even being looked at by her son, at least that was what Ailey had in mind.

Ailey stood up and pulled the window open and let the sunlight in. Breathing in the morning air he encouraged himself.

“I can definitely! God must have given me a job. Amen!” His mouth to make the birds perched on the power cord fly because of shock.

Ailey propped up her chin with both hands while watching the seedy scene outside. Densely populated house with small alleys as a separator does not look refreshing to the eye, especially the area where he lives is close to the river that smells because of the many activities of bathing, washing, latrines there. However, he remains grateful because he is still given a breath of life and spirit in living his day.

He noticed two clouds moving away from each other above the settlement and gave way to the bright sunlight as if the universe had heard his prayers and hopes all along. Ailey smiled watching the scene with sparkling eyes. Somehow, there is a force that encourages his belief in order to live everything well regardless of the challenge.