Love for Time

Chapter 7 - Goodbye

After eating and talking to Dimitri, Cheryl returned to the hospital and headed to the floor where the ICU room was located. Om Salim and Aunt Merry were still there, as usual her father went nowhere.

Being in that room was excruciating, especially when one of the sisters came out and called the patient's surname. Over and over again, Cheryl held her breath every time the Sister conveyed something to the family in question.

Two patients are reported to have gone home. Cheryl felt bad when she felt relieved whenever she heard that the death call was not for her family. More precisely, not about Grandma.

That night, Grandma woke up. The faces of Om Salim and Aunt Merry looked so relieved that they rushed to see the Doctor as soon as the permission came out. The first thing that was conveyed to them was leaving Cheryl, the favorite grandson and the only one. The hope is that Cheryl can continue to school and later can get a good job. Live independently and be happy.

Cheryl was silent as soon as she heard the sentences conveyed by Grandma. He had heard, when someone was about to leave, he would usually leave a final message. Could this be Grandma's last message to her?

"Your grandfather's waiting for Grandma, Cheryl. Pray and keep trying. God will always help you." whispered Grandma. He seemed to have no energy but still spoke while smiling gently at him

The thing that cut his heart was when grandma mentioned grandfather. Didn't grandfather have left them for good? My God, Cheryl can only nod with tears constantly melting.

Cheryl will not forget the face of Grandma who is so beautiful and like shining because after that, Grandma went back to sleep and did not wake up again. His condition weakened, and he never returned to the ward.

The next morning, noon until it became night again, he was also unconscious. Cheryl could only cry and whisper hope that she would wake up every time she saw him.

Every time the nurse came out, Cheryl held her breath and prayed that the call would not be addressed to her. But even though the call was not directed at him and his family, he could not breathe a sigh of relief. Cheryl's heart can't be calm. He even stayed up all day and night outside the ICU.

"Cher, are you sure you don't want to rest? I can take you home to Om Salim's house to rest for a while." asked Dimitri who from yesterday kept him company.

Cheryl had already told Dimitri to leave her, but the young man was adamant in his stance. He said he wanted to, at least make sure Cheryl ate regularly. Too tired to argue, Cheryl just let whatever Dimitri wants.

"I still want to be here" Cheryl replied softly.

Dimitri could not say anything, he could only look at Cheryl with concern. Then sighed softly and sat quietly next to Cheryl.

Once again, the door of the ICU room opened and a nurse came out. He called Grandma Fatima's family. Cheryl's heart almost stopped beating. Almost!

As Om Salim and Aunt Merry stood up and followed Sister, Cheryl hurried to follow them. With a questionable and anxious face, they stood around Grandma's bed.

"Please pray for the patient. The doctor will be here soon." said the nurse.

"Praying? Mean Sister?" ask Om Salim.

The woman smiled, "I'm sorry. Let the doctor explain the patient's condition, I don't have the capacity to say anything." Then the Sister checked every hose and watched the screen.

Cheryl also watched the monitor screen, there was one number that continued to decline. He didn't know what it meant, but his gut feeling was clear that something bad was going to happen.

And again, the sister told her to pray. Praying? It's not like Cheryl doesn't believe in God. But the word prayer today is interpreted as a sign of surrender, surrender and can not do anything. Only God has power. Holy hooch! Suddenly Cheryl did not like that vocabulary. Please, do something for Grandma.

Cheryl was glued to her place, looking at the numbers on the monitor which made her even more frightened. His hands were trembling and cold, his tongue was twisted.

A white-robed man came in haste, then checked both Grandma's eyes and wrists. He put a finger on Grandma's neck. With a stethoscope, he examined the chest area. The two sisters looked at him meaningfully.

The man took a step back from the bed and exhaled heavily, then stared one by one at the people around the bed with a sympathetic look. He glanced at his watch.

"Fatima's mother's patient died at exactly thirteen o'clock in the morning" he said.

Salim covered his face and cried without a sound. Aunt Merry wiped the tears that dripped from the corner of her eyes, then hugged her husband. Dimitri immediately embraced the roaring Cheryl - a roar calling to his Grandma.

"What about the formal?"

"When will the house be buried?"

"Where are you going to take her body?"

The nurse's voice asked some questions about Grandma as if it sounded like a bee humming in Cheryl's ear.

He can't and won't hear anything right now. Don't tell her to stop crying, because the one who died was the one she loved. No need to tell him that the dead will live as a memory in the hearts of those who live.

For Cheryl, it's all bullshit. Because the one who lives in the heart is a good memory when with her, and not grandmother. It feels so painful to remember to let go.

Right now, Cheryl just wants to hear how to meet Grandma if she misses him one day. Without Grandma, things would never be the same.

Everything's going so fast, Cheryl doesn't know how it's going. What is clear is the coffin, the place for the body of the grandmother in the public cemetery even the ambulance is ready to deliver the body from the house of Om Salim to the final resting place.

"Are you satisfied?" ask for a voice. It sounds so clear and hateful. Everyone looked at Handoko and then at Cheryl.

Cheryl just exhaled, tired. The faithful Dimitri accompanied could only hold Cheryl's hand, hoping Handoko would not go overboard.

"Here you go, Han." said Om Salim tired. He tried to mediate.

"Can't, Salim. If only this unlucky kid hadn't run away from home, Mama wouldn't have thought. He must be alive. If only she had been obedient to me getting married, Mama wouldn't have had much of a good heart and mind."

Then Handoko turned to Cheryl. "You deliberately made him die so that if he died, his insurance fell into your hands. Aye right?" handoko was full of emotion.

Connect yes....