The River House

XXXVII. Woman in front of mirror

Disappointment envelops the heart of Grace. She sat in the corner of her bed, staring at the mirror attached to the dresser. The shadow of his face reflected off, revealing a blackened eye basin.

There is no perfect beauty. Good and bad, more and less, are the two sides that will always be in life. Gratitude is the noblest form of the process of accepting circumstances. However, being disappointed in circumstances is also a common thing to happen to humans.

So Graceful. The white woman has one of the things that all women want most. Always look beautiful and charming at every opportunity. Almost everyone who has not known Anggun consider having a perfect life. Moreover, when people know Anggun redacted wealthy businessmen.

Without everyone knowing and realizing it, Graceful life is full of misfortunes. Sadness and disappointment had accompanied him even from an early age.

It started when her parents died in an accident. The age of grace is still far from adult. There are not enough happy memories that Anggun's parents left for her. Even in memory, those memories were faintly visible. His parents' faces did not remember clearly.

After the death of her parents, Anggun was adopted by an established family. Anggun invited to move to the provincial capital, because the work of his adoptive parents there.

At first everything felt good and good. Foster parents love Grace, care for and educate her properly. Happiness finally enveloped the day of Little Grace.

All that changed, when the adoptive parents Anggun successfully had a child from the tube baby program. The program, which they spent years, finally came to fruition. Since then their treatment of Anggun changed. No more attention, less affection, even to eat sometimes they sometimes forget Graceful.

Anggun adoptive parents have long wanted the presence of a child. A marriage that has been running for 8 years feels less without a baby. Various programs they live, but never succeeded.

In the end, some siblings suggested adopting a child. According to people, by raising a child can be 'fishing' in order to immediately have a baby. A myth that is actually noble if done wholeheartedly.

Anggun adoptive parents in fact are not people who hold firmly their responsibilities. The presence of the child they were waiting for, made Anggun exiled. No one thinks of Anggun as part of the family.

Irregular diet, not too good nutritional intake, as well as impaired mental health make Anggun grow teenagers and become adults with weak physical conditions. Doctors say Anggun has a condition called asthenia.

Despite being in a mud pit, the gem will still shine beautifully and seductively. That's Graceful. Her beauty is undeniable. Many men who promised happiness came to him.

Anggun dropped the option on a Lawanto Ferry. Men are ordinary, but materially established. Perhaps many are more established and handsome than Ferry, but Anggun feels they can only accept the grace of Anggun alone. They only see physical beauty, not necessarily willing to accept the fact that behind the beauty, there is a weak body that is very fragile.

Ferry Lawanto, only that man would accept the full Grace. He looks so sincere. His words, attitude, and temperament were really gentle. It has never changed from the beginning of their introduction to the present.

When all began to feel full of happiness, once again Grace fell in the pit of sadness. It started with his hurtful temperament of in-laws and sister-in-law. Until the strangeness of Ferry's personality that makes Anggun tortured.

How can a husband never touch his wife? Maybe it is true, if the purpose of marriage is not just to channel the desire alone. Marriage is a very complex phase of life. But shouldn't desire also come first? How can there be an individual who decides to get married but has no desire for his partner?

Sadness and uselessness and isolation make Graceful tormented. His impaired mental health made his physique even weaker. He keeps trying to find happiness. Find a friend who feels supportive.

Unfortunately now Anggun aware, human face many masks. The other in front of the other in the back. Those who are called friends, it is said that they have a thicker relationship than blood relations in fact no more than strangers who are ready to laugh and gossip from behind.

Clamps

The bathroom door is open. Ferry was seen rubbing her slightly wet hair. Gracefully hurriedly wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

"That gap?" ask Ferry. A smile curled behind his thin mustache.

"Just think about it, Mas. Erfan died tragically, Ali and Andewi were lost. Only a few days later we moved into this house" Anggun said while removing a trace of tears on his cheek.

"It's not the wrong new house, baby. Maybe fate should be like that" continued Ferry, he just remembered Anggun did not know that Ali had died hanging in the house next door.

"I'm going down first. Look Mak Surti, what cooking for people. In any case we all need food" Ferry continued. Gracefully just nodded. He has no appetite for food. Not in the mood to do anything, just want to stay in the room alone.

Gracefully looking at his face in the mirror, as Ferry exited the room. She took a comb, and combed her slightly matted hair. Even with such circumstances Anggun still looks beautiful. A few strands of her black hair fell out, falling on the dresser.

"If this beautiful face is gone, is there anyone who wants to get close to me even if it's just a temple?" muttered Anggun alone.

A few minutes passed, Anggun just silently pensively in front of the mirror. Ferry returned to his room, looking at his wife with concern.

"Why the hell are you?" tanya Ferry sighed softly. Gracefully shook his head uninspired.

"Why are you back? Mak Surti cook what?" Gracefully asked.

"Ah, yes. I want to wash my hands first" replied Ferry walking to the bathroom.

At first glance Anggun saw there was a reddish spot on her husband's hand.

"Mas, why did you Ferry?" ask Anggun worry.

Not yet Anggun moved from his seat to catch up with Ferry to the bathroom, outside the room there was a noise.

There was a female scream, which seemed to be coming from downstairs.

"What else is it?" Graceful panic. His heart is beating fast. Anggun eyes suddenly blurry. The attack of worry, shock and panic in his heart made Anggun's body limp.

...Splice___...