PARLORS DIE

MY BOY

Aunt Plot

Damn, where are those two kids!

Brash kids.

I could be negligent tonight. I'm less rested. Being a mother is tired, I didn't expect it. Especially having to take care of these kids. How could that woman take care of all the children here. Although my body is strong, or fast, still limited stamina.

I ran, through this dirt road. I don't use footwear. It was because I had to hastily thwart their escape. I know why they ran away. They want to continue living life.

I'm envious, you guys have a strong spirit to stay alive. Moreover, about Reza who even came back for Yayan.

I will no longer make you run away. I need to stay alert and focused. Because of that, I have to go after Kevin and Willy.

I'm not gonna let you guys live, I'm sorry...

How else, I did all this for her.

Since I was thinking too much, I wasn't too focused while walking, my goal was to look for the two of them.

I stared hard around me and kept running. Not long after, my legs were related to something. I don't know what it is.

My face hit the ground and made my vision impaired.

I guess my vision was interrupted not because of the spark from the sand or anything like that, but because my consciousness was beginning to disappear.

[Aunty's Dream]

Mammy?

That's my son, the most beautiful boy. Created in a world that is not perfect. Even though it is like that, I am grateful that in life.

"Yes son, I'm here..."

"Where's Ma'am?"

My son can't see me. Sometimes, my chest feels tight when he's looking for me. I sighed, then approached her.

"Here, on your side."

---

"Mom, how does it feel to see?"

I was surprised by the question he asked.

"It feels... Horrible."

"Why?"

"That hurts."

(Examples: The son of the aunt was blind. Many people were disgusted by her son, including her own husband. He felt a tremendous heartache because of it.)

"Can't see hurts too Mom. I don't know what your face looks like, but I know what it looks like after I hold it. Sometimes it makes me think, why can't I see... Life is boring."

("For her sake" the aunt intended was her child. Therefore he works in a dark company to get both eyes belonging to Nia, because his son is also the same age as Nia. The aunt made a pact with the dark parlor. She has to work if she wants her son to get an eye for seeing the world in return.)

I was surprised by the last words he said.

What am I supposed to do?

~|~

One day I was walking with my son in the woods.

*he kept asking me what is it, where is it, and where is it. I answered it, but I lied.

I wanted to kill myself with him*.

I've prepared a rope, to hang myself. First, I want to hang my son first. After that I.

When I wanted to carry my son upstairs, suddenly there was someone behind us. A man, he wears a simple dress.

"Don't do that."

Just a simple word. He did not scream, nor was he angry or sad.

He only raised one hand to tell me to stop this. He smiled softly, then he walked over to my son, whom I was still carrying.

*He stroked my son's head gently...

No one has ever stroked my son's head since birth, nor my husband or myself.

Just this guy. Truly sincere*...

Since then, we have made a deal.

~|~

Yayan Plot

"Sorry Yan, I'm back." Reza apologized for seeing me reflect.

"No, I'm the one who should apologize. Because I got caught... Everything is like this."

"No, you're not wrong" he interjected.

I smiled and breathed. There was a hint of flying steam, which soon disappeared in the cold air.

"Come to the porch."

Reza invited me and the others to move. We were just sitting. They realized that I was having a hard time walking. My leg... Numbness.

But now my legs are relieved. I tried to stand by holding this iron fence. With a tremble, I managed to stand by holding his balance while holding this iron fence.

It's impossible for me to walk to the terrace there. Without me noticing, I put on a moody expression.

"Let me help."

Reza approached me, he took my hand and put it on the back of his neck.

"Oh, thank you."

I then removed my left hand from the iron fence. Then I tried to walk with Reza's help. When I walked, I lost my balance.

However, I was captured by Sindi. Sindi then put my left hand behind her neck as well, just like Reza. Right now I'm embracing two people, yet it's a little slanted. Because Sindi is short...

As the thought emerged, I smiled slightly and held back a laugh.

"Hey, why are you?"

Reza looked at me in surprise. I said, "It's okay."

"Seriously, it's terrible."

The voice came from my left side, Sindi. He looked at me with his face.

"Why you?" ask me.

"What are you exactly? Laughing to myself."

Sindi made a funny annoyed expression.

"uh? I laugh because it's not balanced, you're short anyway."

"I'm off!"

Sindi threatened.

"Eh, no."

The words came out of my mouth and Reza's mouth at the same time.

Sindi laughed a little. Reza and I smiled. Same with Nia and Deva.

"Now you laugh at yourself, it's terrible." I said that to Sindi.

"This is normal, you were unnatural" Sindi replied to me.

"Yes, I thought Yayan's brother was possessed..."

Nia said that from her innocent mouth. It made them all laugh. While me... Just shocked and awkward in between their laughter. It's mortifying...

Now that we had reached the porch, I sat down and looked up at the sky.

"You remember no, when I just came here, I was so scared and worried. And at that moment, you all approached me and smiled happily."

"Yes I also remember, I am just like you Yan. Initially

I'm just like you. Doubt and worry arise at first... But now, everything is different... They're all good people, and I want to be a part of them."

Suddenly Reza lowered his head and continued his words.

"However, even like this, there have been no how many of our brothers who have been..."

Reza's mouth and voice shook, his eyes began to water. My eyes hurt and started to water. Same with the others. Sindi, Nia and Deva were crying a little profusely. Sindi hugged Nia and Deva, seeing that, I was touched.

"Beni, Dona, Sten, Tama, Anto, Ari, Jaya, Ujang, Janu, Rama, Satria, Bagas, Bima, Agung, Flowers, Choline, Mela, Tania, Indah, Ani, Maya, Pure, Ayu, Ayu, Yanti, Sari, Yumi, Leni..."

Reza mutters. Those are the names of our brothers who are in this orphanage.

"They are all gone..." Reza glanced in annoyance, "I didn't expect any of this to happen."

Those who had already left this orphanage had been happy. With their new families.

That's what I was thinking at first. Turns out it was a big mistake. We are deceived, we do not realize it.

Each one of us, weeps, which is definitely not a happy tear. But I feel like this is not over. The cold night air, with the dim glowing sky of the moon, makes everything look not over yet, there are still many tomorrow and beyond. With that I doubt, what will happen in the future? Even so, these tears were warm enough for the coldness of the night to hit my face.