HOPE SHEET

LIGHT SEARCH

Chapter 20: The Search for Light

Sulis and Ahmad walked together towards their beloved tree, where they used to sit together and chat. That day, the two of them looked rather moody and anxious. Sulis stared at the overcast sky while tightly grasping his book of hope.

Sulis: Ahmad, do you ever feel like we are losing our way? Like all our hopes and dreams suddenly lost somewhere?

Ahmad: (nodding the head) Yes, Sulis. Sometimes life is hard and we feel trapped in darkness. But we can't give up. It may just take time and effort to find the light in the middle of the darkness.

Sulis: (looking at Ahmad with hope) How do we find the light, Ahmad? I felt more and more immersed in despair.

Ahmad: First of all, we must search within ourselves, Sulis. What makes us happy and excited? What is our true dream that has not yet been realized? We need to find answers to those questions.

Sulis: But what happens if those answers don't get us anywhere? What if the expectations that exist feel pseudo and can not be realized?

Ahmad: (stretching hands, calming Sulis) Sulis, do not be too hard on yourself. Every journey has obstacles and challenges. Not all expectations will come easily. But, with perseverance and persistence, we will definitely find a way to fight for it and make it happen.

Sulis: (nodding slowly) I believe in you, Ahmad. We must seek the light within and around us. Perhaps, if we support and remind each other, our dreams can come true.

Ahmad: That is why we can always rely on friends. We are there to support each other, give hope, and inspire each other.

Sulis and Ahmad sat under a tree, looking at the increasingly clear sky. Although there were still many challenges to be faced, they felt confident that a light of hope would be present in their lives. In togetherness and determination, they begin to walk in new directions, seeking the light that will lead them to the true purpose of life.

Sulis and Ahmad walked along the beach. It has been a few days since they split up after the inauguration of the Sulis bookstore. Sulis still looked excited and hopeful, while Ahmad looked a little tired and worried.

Sulis smiled softly at Ahmad, trying to strengthen the heart of his friend.

Sulis: Ah, Ahmad, I understand your concern. But you should also know, I've thought about this carefully. And I'm sure, if I never tried, I'd always feel sorry. Opening a bookstore was a dream of mine for a long time, and I wanted to contribute to the world of literacy.

Ahmad: I know, Sulis, and I have always supported you. But I also just want to protect you, remind you of the possible failures and risks you may face.

Sulis paused his steps for a moment, then looked directly into Ahmad's eyes.

Sulis: Ahmad, failure will never stop me. If I fall, I will rise again. You are my best friend, and I know you only want the best for me. There will be challenges and risks, that's for sure. But I took the plunge because I believed in my dreams, and I believed in the quality of the books I sold in this store. If I don't try, I'll always regret it and wonder, "And if I succeed?".

Ahmad was silent for a moment and smiled proudly at Sulis' courage.

Ahmad: You are right, Sulis. I really believe you are capable of dealing with all this. I am proud to be your friend. I will always be by your side, providing support and overcoming with you every challenge you may face.

Sulis smiled and felt so grateful to have a friend as good as Ahmad.

Sulis: Thank you, Ahmad. It means a lot to me to have your support. Let's go together on this journey, and together create a beautiful wish sheet for this bookstore.

Then, they walked back down the beach with a new spirit and hope. Their friendship is getting stronger and full of passion to face a challenging future.

Sulis sat alone on the porch of his house, his gaze drifting into the towering hills in the distance. His heart was still burdened by the loss he felt as a result of his separation from Ahmad. Although it had been a few months, Sulis could not eliminate the longing that continuously enveloped him. Ahmad, who suddenly appeared with a cup of warm tea, approached Sulis who was in a daydream. "Sulis, how are you?" Ahmad asked in a soft tone. Sulis looked over and smiled weakly. "Ahmad, I'm good. Even though my heart still has a hard time dealing with all this." Ahmad sat down in the chair next to him, slowly putting a cup of tea beside Sulis. "Sulis, I want to talk to you. I wonder what really happened in our past that made you like this." Hearing Ahmad's words, Sulis looked at him deeply. His eyes glazed over, recalling old events he had never forgotten. "Ahmad, we were once very happy together. I feel a deep love for you. But, one day I found out that you've made a big mistake with me. You've betrayed me with another woman." Ahmad took a sip of his tea, trying to absorb all of Sulis' words with a steadfast heart. "Sulis, I realized my mistake. I have made the biggest mistake of my life. I'm sorry and I promise, it's a past that will never happen again." Sulis sighed and continued, "But, Ahmad, my deep love cannot immediately remove all of those wounds. I still feel disappointment, pain, and fear. I'm afraid to fall in love again, afraid to open my heart to you." Ahmad looked at Sulis with regret. "Sulis, I was hoping you could give me a chance to prove that I had changed. I don't want your presence to be just a sheet of hope that never materializes." Sulis stared at Ahmad for a while, pondering and thinking about his feelings. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Ahmad, I still love you. But my pain can't just go away. We have to go through a lot to fix what's broken between us." Ahmad smiled with relief. "I'm willing to do anything, Sulis. I will prove to you, with a sincere feeling, that I have learned from this mistake. Let me follow your lead in reaching back to the sheet of hope we once had." Sulis smiled, but there was still doubt in his eyes. "Your promise is not enough, Ahmad. We need time to rebuild trust and re-establish the love that was once so strong." Ahmad nodded in understanding. They sat side by side, clenching their hopeful hands, embarking on a long journey to heal their wounded hearts and rediscover their lost happiness.