The Chased Heaven

You're Changing

The sound of water gurgling from the direction of the kitchen combined with boiling water has become a habit every morning of this house. Preparing breakfast and then eating dishes made by the wife is a mandatory tradition every morning.

But somehow Zulfa's morning seemed to change, she missed breakfast with her husband, she missed washing dishes with her husband and she missed her husband's ignorance while cooking. But why this end he was busy, already this one week happened making Zulfa sad.

Joseph always went in the morning without breakfast and then went home to sleep from exhaustion. Zulfa always thought positively about her husband, maybe he was busy with work and invitations to fill da'wah in some cities.

But this morning Joseph had not yet come out of his room so Zulfa waited to have breakfast with him. Footsteps down the stairs were heard by him making Zulfa look towards the source of the voice.

"Breakfast first, Zulfa cook favorite mas Yusuf lo" he said enthusiastically.

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm in a hurry. You ate it yourself first" kissed Joseph on Zulfa's forehead.

Zulfa did not give up she followed while persuading her husband to have breakfast with her, to be honest she missed Joseph very much. But the rejection Joseph gave made him angry.

"MAS JOSEPH!" zulfa shouted involuntarily, Joseph who wanted to open the door stopped his steps.

Zulfa's tears flowed as Joseph's stern, honest gaze frightened Zulfa into her husband's inadvertent yelling at her.

"You raised your voice Fa?" joseph asked with anger.

Zulfa did not apologize but he instead revealed his heart that made his tears also flow "Mas Joseph is now rarely home, why? did Zulfa do anything wrong".

"Lately Joseph changed, not Zulfa's former husband, not Zulfa's husband whom Zulfa knew. Joseph now preferred to go out of the house rather than stay at home with Zulfa".

"Fa calm down first" said Yusuf holding his wife's shoulder and then pushed aside by Zulfa.

"Didn't you miss mas, every morning we spend time together, breakfast together end it watching tv but now what mas?. You rarely come home late at night and you're out of bed".

"Dear I'm busy".

"What busy, what busy?!. If you are busy why every day, are you tired of me?. Do you." he said, unable to continue, Zulfa was afraid that if his thinking was right, he was too afraid to hear the truth.

"Fa. Come into your room and calm down, I'm not going home tonight. So don't wait for me" Yusuf said, closing the door to his house.

Zulfa's legs were weak for a moment, he could not hold his body so he sat on the floor with his cries. Zulfa held onto her chest which felt tight she hit him several times to relieve the pain.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Zulfa said with regret.

°°°

At 11 p.m., all the streets were quiet, and only the street lights were on, and Zulfa did not take his eyes off.

The lights of the house all died as well as the room he occupied, only the light from outside the house illuminated the room. Zulfa looked up at the street with hope, wishing for her husband to come home tonight but it was not going to happen.

Zulfa stared at the wall clock with my eyes, "Jam eleven" he murmured.

"Why did Joseph not come home yet, was he serious this morning?".

Zulfa cried again, "Why does he have the heart to make his wife cry, where was his words when he would not make her cry? fucking liar".

Drowsiness had approached her, she yawned and closed her mouth tightly. Without shutting the window curtain Zulfa picked up the blanket on the bed she wanted to sleep by the window waiting for her husband to come home.

"Hurry home" please.

°°°

Zulfa weakly cooked the eggs then made a warm tea for her breakfast. The house was so quiet without a husband. She felt guilty wanting Zulfa to cry right now but her tears had run out. Honestly, she was tired of crying.

"When are you coming home?" weak tanyanya.

"My body why is this, dizzy.."

Nausea struck Zulfa, she was eager to spit out her stomach. Zulfa then ran towards the kitchen, precisely towards the sink. He vomited all of his stomach contents but nothing came out, other than it was a very overwhelming dizziness he felt. Quickly he took his phone to contact anyone he could contact.

"Sorry the number you are going to is.." the voice of the operator made Zulfa stop his phone, he briefly stared at the screen that read Joseph's name there and then chose another contact.

"Assalamu'alaikum son, what's wrong?" the male voice across there made Zulfa's heart slightly improve.

"Waalaikumsalam dad please pick up Zulfa at home, Zulfa is not feeling well".

"Ha?. yes dad immediately went there with mom. But Fa how do you call dad, where is your husband?"

"Later Zulfa explained well, please pick up Zulfa now Zulfa's body is not very good".

"Yes, Dad's gonna be there soon".

"Thank you" Zulfa said, ending the talks.

He waited patiently for his father's arrival, staring at the wall clock to relieve his pain. Sometimes Zulfa stared at the screen hoping her husband would return the message.

Mas, Zulfa's staying at Zulfa's parents' house. I cooked Yusuf's favorite meal. I will not go home until my graduation day comes, mas Yusuf do not forget to come.

Send. Send Zulfa and he puts the phone on the dining table. The sound of the car made Zulfa step his foot toward the door of his house.

His lips were pale, his steps were slow, opening the door as if it were heavy for him. When his parents were at the door, he smiled happily. "Mother's father" he said and fell.

Faqih and Aulia who saw her son passed out in shock instead of playing, Faqih swiftly carried her daughter towards the car while Aulia took Zulfa's cellphone and locked the door.

Faqih ran his car anxiously, while Aulia prayed with her hands rubbing Zulfa's sweaty forehead.

"Daddy be careful"

"Yes"

"Zulfa you why baby" said Aulia panicked.

"Pacify yourself, Bun, he won't do anything".

Faqih's car drove through the city of Jakarta and then to the nearest hospital, Faqih held her daughter followed by Aulia who ran to find a doctor or nurse to help them.

"Please our daughter, she passed out we don't know what's going on".

"Yes, mother, we will help your daughter so please calm down first" said the nurse and then closed the door to the room.

Faqih rubbed his face and hugged his wife to calm Aulia down. He knows how anxious his wife is if she's about Zulfa.

"Have we contacted Joseph?" aulia asked Faqih.

"Don't wait, we'll wait for Zulfa. I feel like something's wrong".