JUDITH

AYAH

After calling his mother, at about eleven o'clock, Yudith and Sister Vero and Ririsma went to the front area of the compound to meet Sister Vero's father who was waiting in the visiting room.

While stepping, Yudith noticed the frenzy of activity outside the complex through the fingers of the iron fence.

The blue car raced against another vehicle. Hikers filled the sidewalk, from their appearance, Yudith believes most are nearby university students who are enjoying a day off with just a walk or maybe going for a culinary hunt.

The D Plaza parking lot across the street is full and many visitors are in and out. Yudith had entered the plaza once, invited Mr. Heru shopping for toiletries.

Once in the visiting room Yudith was introduced to Sister Vero's father. He is a smiling man. During his time there, secretly, Yudith often glanced at the man who seemed to be more than middle-aged.

From the way he chatted with Sister Vero, Yudith was able to judge that the man was the type of father who was close to his children.

Unfortunately, the assessment even ushered in the memory of Yudith in the past. The time where the figure of the man he called father stepped away and never came back until now.

At that time, Yudith was only eight years old. After playing he passed his father on the road in front of the house. His father was very well dressed and carrying a large bag.

"Where is Dad going?" The little girl's round eyes moved up and down examining her father's appearance.

A shady smile adorned the face of Yudith's father. Gently stroking his daughter's head, the man said, "Dad wants to wander, work for money. Get you to school and your mom to get medicine."

The girl who was originally not much of a talk was just speechless. Yudith did not know what it was to wander, but seeing the large bag his father was carrying, he assumed that the father would go far. He was sad, but also did not want to look sad. Eyes that have been glazed immediately rubbed.

The father helped his daughter wipe away the tears. "Don't be sad. Please take care of mom. You have to be independent, don't be a burden to your mother. Understood?"

"When's dad coming home?" Speaking while holding a sob, his voice sounded like it was suffocating. The little girl tried hard to look strong.

Dad went wandering for her sake and mother too. He must not burden the father's steps with grief, that's how he thought.

"Just leave not yet, I've asked when to go home." The man laughed crisply, slightly joking to tease his daughter.

Yudith forced her stiff lips to smile. His eyelids blink quickly to expel the warm liquid that has been pooled. Eventually, the tears fell as well. Rubbing using the back of his hand, he said softly, "Hurry home."

"If you already have a lot of money, I will go home. You're a cool kid, same mom."

Yudith nodded with all her innocence. Let go of the figure of a man whom he greatly respects and loves without any prejudice. Never thought that since then, he would never see her again.

Days passed and the seasons changed.  Yudith longed and hoped her father would return soon. However, during that one year the father had no news at all. Let alone money, a letter his father never sent.

The father's message and his mother's poor health due to wheezing, forced the young girl to become prematurely mature.

While children his age still love to play and only know how to put their hands on their parents, Yudith was able to think of how to ease the burden of the mother who only worked as a farm worker.

Yudith's house is not far from the market, he is often asked for help by his neighbors who open food stalls cooked for shopping when there are forgotten ingredients purchased.

Paklek Jaya store is a subscription. Because of frequent shopping there, Yudith became quite familiar with Pakelek Jaya and his wife, as well as his son.

When the thought of wanting to ease his mother's burden, the nine-year-old ventured to the owner of the grocery store - the richest man in the village - and innocently asked to be hired.

A sane adult would certainly not employ a child. However, it seems like Pakelek Jaya has her own thoughts about Yudith, who is from an underprivileged family with a mother who does not have a permanent job, sickly anyway, but never wants to be pitied.

Instead of refusing, the man asked Yudith, after school, to accompany his two-year-old son to play.

It starts with light work. However, over time Yudith was also trusted to serve buyers.

Strong personality, strong opinion, and stubborn, a combination that is difficult to break down. That's Yudith.

From then on, Yudith never went to play with her friends again. He spent his time studying and working. However, longing for his father could not be distracted by the busyness.

Yudith rarely asked her father for news because he did not want to make her sad. After all, his mother would be happy to share the happiness if there was news from his father. It can't be kept alone.

Four years have passed. One night while eating together, Yudith ventured to ask his mother,

"Mom, where are you really going, anyway? No going home."

Bu Nuni coughed, breathless. Yudith immediately gave him a drink and stroked his back.

Bu Nuni like that was not surprised by Yudith's question, but that was how he was. It is easiest to call it an asthma attack, when in fact Bu Nuni was sick with wheezing or whining. Coughing and breathing have become his friend every day.

"Finally asked too. I thought you'd forgotten your father." The occasional cough was still interspersing as Bu Nuni spoke.

Women whose actual age is not more than forty years old have seen wrinkles and old because their bodies are very thin.

Still stroking his mother's back, Yudith smiled very thinly. In fact she was concerned about her mother's condition, but did not want to show because the woman who had given birth to her was most distasteful.

"About ... When did you come home?" The volume of his voice suddenly decreased. For some reason, Yudith felt that it was better not to ask, but because it had already been thrown, yes, what can be done.

"Not waiting for him!" bu Nuni's voice was slightly high, after which it coughed again. "Indeed, which man do you think can live with this mother-like whiny woman?"

The hand of Judith that was about to stroke the mother's back came to a halt. "Mom why are you talking like that? Dad said he went out looking for money for a cure and Yudith went to school."

Bu Nuni's thin fingers gently combed her daughter's hair. "Dith, listen to me, yeah. Already ...no need to wait for your father again. He's happy with his new family." Without further ado, the woman told the truth.

For too long he kept the harsh reality. Waiting for Yudith to ask, but her daughter did not ask either. Because it was thought that Yudith had forgotten his father, Bu Nuni did not intend to convey the news that he received about two years ago.

Yudith was still frozen. In an instant the mountain of longing in his heart was broken, his chest hurt as well as tightness, throat like stuck until the tongue was mute. The warm liquid seeping from the corners of the eyes he did not care about.

Had his mother been lying, Yudith would have believed him. The twelve-year-old girl thought what the mother had told her was a very reasonable explanation, why the father left without any news at all until now.

Bu Nuni looked sadly, feeling regret for saying it bluntly without preparing his daughter's heart first. At the very least, he should have given his understanding so that Judith would not be in such shock.

"Dith--" Bu Nuni coughed, awakening Yudith from the cold.

The girl hurriedly patted the mother on the back without remembering to wipe away the tears because she was not aware that she was crying.

"Mom took shortness of breath medicine given by Paklek Jaya, kept resting."

"Mother is nothing. It's this usual way. I ask you, you don't have to be sad. Already, just let it go."

Yudith. His mother was frail, but she was a strong and stoic woman. Not wanting to make the mother worry, the girl nodded.

The person he loved and missed so much turned out to have ignored him, even had a new family. Anyone must be hurt, feel betrayed.

In front of the mother, Yudith tried hard, but when she was alone in her room, she cried bitterly under the covers.